Definition

=Definition ** Definition **: a way to make since of a term in text so that the reader can better understand the immideate and future information in the text. Definiton can begin an argument by defining what a topic means to the writer. It is nessary to get into the mind of the reader and in turn, realize the purpose and main points of the text. People use it to set a clear, main point to the reader so that the piece conveys a clear idea. ** Examples: ** **__Drew's Example:__** The example I found of definition was from Eric Claptons autobiography, //Clapton//. It is on page 81. We were all so excited. To me America was the land of promise. When i was eight or nine years, I had been given a prize at school for neatness and tidiness. It was a book on America, filled with picutres of skyscrapers, cowboys and Indinas, cars, and all sorts of other stuff, and what I did first when I knew we were going was to make a short list of all the things I had fantasized about doing if I ever went there. I was going to buy a fringerd cowboy jacket, for example, and some cowboy boots. I was going to have a milk skake and a hamburger. Stigwood had booked us into a hotel on West Fifty-fifth Street called the Ghorham, a real fleapit, from which we emerged dalily to perform... In this paragraph, Clapton defines what American means to him. American is a vague topic consierding that many people around the world have extreemly different views and hense defintions about what American is. To Clapton, America is the land of promise and oppurtunity, a very cliche statement about it but nevertheless, that is his defintion of it. He has a set view of what america and American life is, somewhat like the typical American dream. Clapton defins that America is oppurtunity and he is excited to go there. Clapton, who at this time was in the upcomming British trio, Cream, was egar to go to America and be sucessful. And, since Clapton defines and thinks that American is full of oppurtunity and is a nice place, he was looking forward to going there. Claptons defintion of America accomplishes alot. He not only tells us a little bit about his past, which throughout the autobiography is a big topic, but he also conveys his feelings to us. I think Clapton telling us about his youth and America in the same topic has some underlying meaning and if the reader can uderstand it, the paragraph really appeals to their pathos. Clapton, who had not had the best childhood, was always looking to discover new things and move on with his life. America, which he defines as basically the land of oppurtunity, provides a door for him to walk through to accompish his childhood dreams of doing something with his life. This really appeals to pathos because you feel Clapton's pain and then you also feel his sense of getting better and moving on, which is very powereful and many people can relate to. = =REAL WORLD EXAMPLE:= In George Washingtons farewell address which he gave September 17th, 1796, he, among other things, defines what governemnt should mean to people is. Washington says, "It is justly so; for (governemnt) it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very Liberty, which you so highly prize." Washingtons quote basically states that government is what causes Americans life to be so good. Government was what got Americans their independence which they worked to hard to get. Government is the source of Americans prosperity and freedom which they also had spilled so much blood to recieve = = = = = = = = =**__Alex's Example:__** **Alex's Example: I Am America by Stephen Colbert** (Just look at the left hand side of the page for the link)=