A more personal approach

ESSAY OF DEFINITION

GLORIA NAYLOR “MEANINGS OF A WORD”

CHRISTINE LEONG“BEING A CHINK”

Prejudice is a problem that most people face at some time in their lives. The word “prejudice” comes from the root word “to judge” and the prefix “pre” meaning “before.” In human terms, prejudice means that someone in a situation has judged another person before knowing that individual as a person. For example, someone might assume that someone who is Arabic would be someone who is anti-American and dangerous. A person who prejudges another person only sees that person as an example of a type, not as an individual.

BORING

My friend Omar experienced prejudice recently at the airport. When he approached the check-in counter, he was waved over to the table on the side and the offi cials examined each item in his suitcase. They took out his computer and turned it on to check each drive. They unwrapped all of the presents he was taking back to his family in Iraq and even punctured some of the fi lled chocolate candies. They took out each item from his meticulously packed suitcase and watched while he repacked each item. What they did not know was that Omar is an American and a patriot of the most loyal type. They were prejudging him based on appearances.

A BETTER EXAMPLE WOULD INCLUDE SPECIFIC DETAIL

Annotate the essay.Look for ways the author makes poverty real.What is the writer’s definition of poverty?

READ THE SAMPLE ESSAY ON POVERTY

To define “poverty,” this author describes the experiences of a character or persona to “show” poverty, not just tell about it.

How does the author illustrate the concept of “poverty?”

What effect did this description have on your ideas of what “poverty” is?

AFTER READING

Much to my dismay, we will have to make these more personal.

You have to tell the truth, even if it is not nice.You may use I more.You should use you sparingly. Do not preach. Do not

try to motivate us. The only you should be similar to Leong’s usage.

Even personal examples should sound formal. Use elevated diction. Speak intelligently about your experiences.

Every paragraph must be specific and necessary to your definition.

MORAL OF THE STORY

ANOTHER EXAMPLE