We’ll be looking in peer groups at your definition essays and then I’ll be around to dispense wisdom like so many cinnamon tic-tacs.

But first, let’s look at two definition-like essays that combine simple images and personal reflection.  Coffee and Cables.

Image Credit: My Life with Cables, Abstract City Blog, nytimes.com

So, we should have a rough draft today for our definition essays.  In pairs, either have a conversation with your writing buddy or show some of your ideas having to do with your term. In class, we’ll take a few terms and talk about our reactions to them. Next, check out the terms on Wikipedia and/or Kosmix note 3-4 ideas that might be useful to you in a blog post.

Finally, let’s take a look at what genius is before I let you go and work on your definition essays.

HW: Definition essays ready for me to look at.

We’ll look briefly at a short essay on Beauty and I’ll note the pre-write and hypertextual elements of the Definition essay. How do the images and videos assist the essay in explaining the writer’s point?

Then, we need to get everyone else a final grade on their Personal Essay.

HW: Defintion Essay Rough draft (pre-markup) due on Monday (A-day).

Image Credit: blog.modernmechanix.com

I’ll give a short presentation of the Definition essay and then I’ll ask you to read…The Art of the Rant.

In an individual blog post, answer these questions:

1. What is a rant according to the author and why does the baseball example qualify?
2. How has the rant changed in the age of the Web?
3. Does this essay of definition look at negation, categorization, history, analysis, comparison, examples, results, or causes?
4. Quote from the article in a blog post to note which elements of the definition essay the author focuses on?
5. Are rants bad?  Should we indulge in them for no other reason then catharsis or expression? Or is the world already too mean?

The second half of class, you should either finish your personal essays or go on to figure out what you’re definition essays will be all about.

Quick write: What does it mean to be happy? What’s the best way to become and/or stay happy? Describe a time when you’re happy.

Then, we’ll hear a 15-minute speech from a famous psychologist on happiness: Dan Gilbert.

After a discussion, I’ll segue into the idea for the next assignment: The Definition Essay. (pre-write, assignment).

Then, you get to edit and–hopefully–get a grade on your Personal Essays.

HW: Finish Personal Essay. Choose a word for the Definition Essay.