Home — Essay Samples — Life — Family Relationship — Extended Definition of Family

test_template

Extended Definition of Family

  • Categories: Family Relationship

About this sample

close

Words: 494 |

Published: Jan 31, 2024

Words: 494 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Traditional definition of family, expanding the definition of family, emotional bonds and connections, importance of family in personal development, family challenges and solutions.

  • Cherlin, A. J. (2018). The deinstitutionalization of American marriage. Journal of Marriage and Family , 80(4), 796-812.
  • Marsiglio, W., Day, R. D., & Lamb, M. E. (2000). Exploring fatherhood diversity. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Umberson, D., & Montez, J. K. (2010). Social relationships and health: A flashpoint for health policy. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51(Suppl), S54-S66.

Image of Dr. Oliver Johnson

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

author

Prof. Kifaru

Verified writer

  • Expert in: Life

writer

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 499 words

1 pages / 535 words

3 pages / 1329 words

7 pages / 3009 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Family Relationship

Social media has become an integral part of modern society, shaping the way we communicate, connect, and interact with others. With the rise of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, the dynamics of human [...]

The importance of stable family structures in preventing crime cannot be understated. Family serves as the foundation upon which individuals develop values, behaviors, and social skills. A stable and nurturing family environment [...]

After reading about Eric and Chandra’s conflict, I believe that numerous issues are contributing to the conflict. Some of the problems include Eric’s inability to hold down a job, lack of assistance with the household duties, [...]

Family, often considered the cornerstone of our lives, plays a crucial role in shaping our identity. From the moment of our birth, our family becomes our first and most influential social group. This essay delves into the [...]

Dear bro, It’s the most anticipated day of the year come again but the tragedy of this day is that unlike all the years that we have spent this day together this year we are so far apart. It feels off kilter and sad all [...]

Socialization is a process through which people learn the social norms of the society in which they live. This process teaches people to behave in the manner acceptable to society. This facilitates social interaction by [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

expanded definition of family essay

expanded definition of family essay

Expanding the definition of family to reflect our realities

expanded definition of family essay

Associate Professor of Applied Human Sciences, Concordia University

expanded definition of family essay

Disclosure statement

Shannon Hebblethwaite receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Société et Culture (FRQSC), the Fondation Luc Maurice, and TELUS Health.

Hilary Rose does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Concordia University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation CA.

Universitié Concordia provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation CA-FR.

View all partners

The second Monday in February is Family Day in parts of Canada. Started in Alberta in 1990 , four additional provinces celebrate Family Day: British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick. (Other provinces have holidays reflecting their heritage.)

Québec is one of few jurisdictions that does not have a civic holiday in February, though the province has generous family leave policies .

This year, to coincide with the emphasis on family, Concordia University and the Vanier Institute of the Family are hosting a conference on families and family life on Feb. 20. The conference will explore some of the tensions and dichotomies embedded in families. For one, how do we define what family means?

expanded definition of family essay

Expanding the definition of family

How we define family (and who gets to do that defining) is an important starting point for conversations on family life. Who’s in? Who’s out? Who actually counts as family? For some, family means married parents with children, or married heterosexual parents with children. For others, it may mean a chosen family, or a cohabiting couple with no children.

For our conference, we are using an adaptation of the Vanier Institute’s definition : a family consists of any combination of two or more people, bound together over time, by ties of mutual consent and/or birth, adoption or placement, and who take responsibility for various activities of daily living, including love.

Our research has identified the need to attend to extended families , including grandparents, aunts and uncles. It also includes the need to extend the definition of family to non-traditional family forms including LGBTQ2S+ families, chosen families, multi-generation families that include grandparents, single parents and people living alone.

It wasn’t until 2001 that Statistics Canada gathered information on multi-generational households, and in 2011 the census first counted stepfamilies and foster children. Families in Canada are diverse and our programs and policies should be responsive to this diversity.

We find that a narrow definition of family can neglect the experiences of single-parent, poor and minority families . For example, research shows that women of colour and low-income women often experience and interpret motherhood differently than white, class-privileged mothers.

expanded definition of family essay

Recently, researchers began to examine how diversity related to race, class and sexual orientation affects grandparent-grandchild relationships. To continue to expand our understanding of families’ experiences, we need to think more broadly about what factors matter in families.

Family realities should be reflected in policy

How we define family impacts social policy like parental, maternity and paternity leave entitlements and child-care tax credits . Caregiver benefits and compassionate leave policies are also tied to family status . Eligibility depends on whether you are a family member.

In health-care contexts, visitors in intensive care units and emergency departments are often restricted to immediate family and grandparents often don’t have rights when it comes to child custody cases. So a comprehensive definition of family influences how we develop programs for families and who is eligible.

Besides needing to expand the definition of family, we also need to look at the messy realities of family and family life. The irony of organizing a public family conference while attending to the realities of our private family lives was not lost on us. As we scheduled meetings and conference calls, we were also planning Skype dates, making school lunches and caring for parents across the country.

We believe that practitioners, service providers and policy-makers need to take into account the complexity of family lives when thinking about family practice, programs and policies. Family scholars and the Vanier Institute of the Family refer to using a family lens: needing to look at the complexity of family and family relations beyond individual family members.

Thinking about families in a broad sense when we develop programs and policies can be challenging. It is much easier to use an individual lens to think about developing children, or aging seniors. But these individual family members, even those who live on their own, live out their lives in the context of families —whether biological or social.

The future of families

When using a family lens, it can be easy to slip into a glass-half-empty approach. Family life educators and social workers struggle with the tension between deficit models of family, and asset or strength-based models of family. Instead of only focusing on what problems families experience, we can benefit from understanding what strengths they have and what makes them resilient in the face of life’s challenges.

Some family practitioners and family scholars would say that in the best of all possible worlds, it would be preferable to remain apolitical as we think about family and as we provide information and assistance to families.

And yet, some of us feel strongly that it is important to look beyond families to society to advocate on behalf of families, or family members, who are at risk.

At our families conference we will be exploring the tension between present and future. Based on our understanding of systems and systemic change, we will emphasize envisioning a different future by including all families — in the broadest sense.

Rather than staying focused on the present, we look towards a future of change by asking the question: “Wouldn’t it be great if …?”

  • Sexual orientation
  • Social work
  • Grandparents
  • women of colour

expanded definition of family essay

Deputy Editor - Technology

expanded definition of family essay

Sydney Horizon Educators (Identified)

expanded definition of family essay

Assistant Grants Officer

expanded definition of family essay

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Student Life)

expanded definition of family essay

Visiting Professor - 2024-25 Australia-Korea Chair in Australian Studies at Seoul National University

  • Free AI Essay Writer
  • AI Outline Generator
  • AI Paragraph Generator
  • Paragraph Expander
  • Essay Expander
  • Literature Review Generator
  • Research Paper Generator
  • Thesis Generator
  • Paraphrasing tool
  • AI Rewording Tool
  • AI Sentence Rewriter
  • AI Rephraser
  • AI Paragraph Rewriter
  • Summarizing Tool
  • AI Content Shortener
  • Plagiarism Checker
  • AI Detector
  • AI Essay Checker
  • Citation Generator
  • Reference Finder
  • Book Citation Generator
  • Legal Citation Generator
  • Journal Citation Generator
  • Reference Citation Generator
  • Scientific Citation Generator
  • Source Citation Generator
  • Website Citation Generator
  • URL Citation Generator
  • AI Writing Guides
  • AI Detection Guides
  • Citation Guides
  • Grammar Guides
  • Paraphrasing Guides
  • Plagiarism Guides
  • Summary Writing Guides
  • STEM Guides
  • Humanities Guides
  • Language Learning Guides
  • Coding Guides
  • Top Lists and Recommendations
  • AI Detectors
  • AI Writing Services
  • Coding Homework Help
  • Citation Generators
  • Essay Writing Websites
  • Language Learning Websites
  • Math Solvers
  • Paraphrasers
  • Plagiarism Checkers
  • Reference Finders
  • Spell Checkers
  • Summarizers
  • Tutoring Websites

Most Popular

Cognition’s new ai tool devin is set to revolutionize coding industry.

12 days ago

What Is Mosaic Plagiarism?

11 days ago

How to Make Chat GPT Rewrite Text?

13 days ago

Which Colleges Have the Worst Vibes? Redditors Are Here for the Drama

Student accuses peer of plagiarism, seeks ways to prove originality of their own essay, what is family definition essay samples.

freepik.com

Lesley J. Vos

The given prompt: Beyond blood relations, how has the concept of family evolved in contemporary culture?

In traditional terms, a family often conjured images of a group connected by the intricate web of blood relations: parents, siblings, and extended kin. However, as the hands of time have ticked forward, the idea of family has undergone a significant evolution, particularly in contemporary culture.

In today’s world, the essence of family is not restricted solely to genetic ties. Instead, it blossoms in the spaces of shared experiences, mutual care, love, and most importantly, genuine connection. The idea that “blood is thicker than water” has been both challenged and redefined as people create familial bonds with those they aren’t biologically related to.

With the rise in diverse living situations, it’s common to find families where members aren’t linked by DNA. Adoptive families are a testament to the idea that the foundations of family go beyond genes. Here, connections are forged with love, understanding, and a mutual commitment to each other’s well-being. Similarly, stepfamilies and blended families break the mold of the traditional family unit, proving that genuine relationships can flourish in spaces beyond blood ties.

Moreover, the concept of “chosen families” has gained prominence, especially within communities that value deep-rooted friendships and bonds. In many instances, individuals, due to various reasons, may become estranged from their biological families. In the void that this creates, they often find solace, support, and a sense of belonging with friends or mentors, essentially building a family by choice, not by birth.

Another dimension of the evolving family concept is the recognition and acceptance of families with same-sex parents. As societies grow more inclusive, the narrative around family has expanded to honor and celebrate diverse family structures. In these families, just as in any other, love, care, and shared responsibilities define the bond.

Cultural exchanges, travel, and global communication have also played a role in reshaping the family’s notion. In an interconnected world, individuals from different corners of the globe meet, bond, and form families, blending cultures, traditions, and values. These intercultural families are beautiful tapestries of shared stories and united dreams.

However, with this expanded understanding of family, contemporary culture also brings challenges. The acceptance of diverse family structures isn’t universal, and many face societal judgment. It underscores the importance of broadening perspectives and understanding that at the core of every family, irrespective of its structure, lie the universal values of love, support, and commitment.

In essence, the definition of family in today’s world is fluid, reflecting the cultural, societal, and individual shifts of our times. While blood relations will always hold significance, the boundaries of family have extended, warmly embracing all forms of genuine connection and mutual care.

As we navigate the complexities of modern life, these evolved family structures offer comfort, reminding us that family is less about who we share our genes with and more about who we share our lives with. In the heartbeats of these diverse families, we find the timeless rhythms of love, care, and belonging.

Follow us on Reddit for more insights and updates.

Comments (0)

Welcome to A*Help comments!

We’re all about debate and discussion at A*Help.

We value the diverse opinions of users, so you may find points of view that you don’t agree with. And that’s cool. However, there are certain things we’re not OK with: attempts to manipulate our data in any way, for example, or the posting of discriminative, offensive, hateful, or disparaging material.

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

More from Definition Essay Examples and Samples

What Is Identity? Definition Essay Sample

Oct 25 2023

What Is Identity? Definition Essay Sample

What Is Respect? Definition Essay Example

Oct 23 2023

What Is Respect? Definition Essay Example

What Is a Home? Essay Definition Examples

Oct 20 2023

What Is a Home? Essay Definition Examples

Remember Me

Is English your native language ? Yes No

What is your profession ? Student Teacher Writer Other

Forgotten Password?

Username or Email

Learn How to Use Extended Definitions in Essays and Speeches

Underwood Archives / Getty Images

  • An Introduction to Punctuation
  • Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
  • M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
  • B.A., English, State University of New York

In a paragraph , essay , or speech , an extended definition is an explanation and/or illustration of a word, thing, or concept.

Randy Devillez in "Step by Step College Writing" says that an extended definition can be "as short as a paragraph or two or as long as several hundred pages (such as a legal definition of obscene )."

Seek out the following for some good examples of extended definition in writing:

"A Definition of a Gentleman" by John Henry Newman from a lecture given in Ireland in 1852.

"A Definition of a Jerk," is a 1961 essay written by Sydney J. Harris.

"Gifts," is an 1844 essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet, philosopher, and essayist.

"Happiness," was first published in 1961 in the "Report to Greco," by Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis.

Lists and Anaphora in "Pioneers: A View of Home" by Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr., an award-winning African-American poet, writer, and activist.

"The Meaning of Home" was published in 1984 by John Berger , poet, essayist, novelist, and screenwriter. 

Observations

"An extended definition may explain the word's etymology or historical roots, describe sensory characteristics of something (how it looks, feels, sounds, tastes, smells), identify its parts, indicate how something is used, explain what it is not, provide an example of it, and/or note similarities or differences between this term and other words or things," notes Stephen Reid in "The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers."

Introduction to an Extended Definition: Family

In "The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought," Marilynne Robinson points out that "We are all aware that 'family' is a word which eludes definition, as do other important things, like nation, race, culture, gender, species; like art, science, virtue, vice, beauty, truth, justice, happiness, religion; like success; like intelligence. The attempt to impose a definition on indeterminacy and degree and exception is about the straightest road to mischief I know of, very deeply worn, very well traveled to this day. But just for the purposes of this discussion, let us say: one’s family are those toward whom one feels loyalty and obligation, and/or from whom one derives identity, and/or to whom one gives identity, and/or with whom one shares habits, tastes, stories, customs, memories. This definition allows for families of circumstance and affinity as well as kinship, and it allows also for the existence of people who are incapable of family, though they may have parents and siblings and spouses and children."

An Extended Definition of Damned

In the film, "Cold Comfort Farm," actor Ian McKellen plays the part of Amos Starkadder, who says: "You're all damned! Damned! Do you ever stop to think what that word means? No, you don't. It means endless, horrifying torment! It means your poor, sinful bodies stretched out on red-hot gridirons in the nethermost, fiery pit of hell, and those demons mocking ye while they wave cooling jellies in front of ye. You know what it's like when you burn your hand, taking a cake out of the oven, or lighting one of them godless cigarettes? And it stings with a fearful pain, aye? And you run to clap a bit of butter on it to take the pain away, aye? Well, I'll tell ye: there'll be no butter in hell!"

Composing an Extended Definition of Democracy

"Sometimes,...particularly when we are thinking seriously about a complicated concept, such as democracy, we use a definition as the basis for an entire theme; that is, we write what may be called an extended definition," says Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren in "Modern Rhetoric."

Purposes of an Extended Definition

Barbara Fine Clouse explains that an extended definition can also serve a persuasive purpose. "More often than not, an extended definition informs . Sometimes you inform by clarifying something that is complex.... A definition can also inform by bringing the reader to a fresh appreciation of something familiar or taken for granted...."

Brooks, Cleanth and Robert Penn Warren. Modern Rhetoric . Abridged 3rd ed., Harcourt, 1972.

Clouse, Barbara Fine. Patterns for a Purpose: A Rhetorical Reader . 3 rd ed., McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Devillez, Randy. Step by Step College Writing . Kendall/Hunt, 1996.

McKellen, Ian, actor as Amos Starkadder in “Cold Comfort Farm.” BBC Films, 1995.

Reid, Stephen. The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers . Prentice Hall, 1995.

Robinson, Marilynne. “Family .” The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought . Houghton Mifflin, 1998.

  • Rhythm in Phonetics, Poetics, and Style
  • Topic In Composition and Speech
  • What You Need to Know About Conjunctive Adverbs
  • What Is a Written Summary?
  • The Title in Composition
  • Development in Composition: Building an Essay
  • Supporting Detail in Composition and Speech
  • Definition and Examples of Body Paragraphs in Composition
  • 30 Writing Topics: Persuasion
  • 30 Writing Topics: Analogy
  • Understanding General-to-Specific Order in Composition
  • Understanding Organization in Composition and Speech
  • Unity in Composition
  • Margin (Composition Format) Definition
  • Process Analysis in Composition
  • Book Report: Definition, Guidelines, and Advice

expanded definition of family essay

Family Essay: How to Write, Topics and Examples

expanded definition of family essay

What is Family Essay and Why is It Important

Humans have a natural desire to belong to someone, to somewhere. Families provide the comfort of knowing that someone is always thinking about you. But it is a double-edged sword, as families often breed our insecurities and mental health issues.

The controversy around the family and the ambivalent emotions they cause make it a very interesting subject to write about. Researchers from different fields and backgrounds every year publish a new study of how family relationships and dynamics affect the brain's cognitive function, emotional development, etc.

What is family essay? A paper concerned with the importance of family, the Role they play in shaping individuals, its social significance, and so on is called a family essay. Family essays bring the missing insights, helping people realize how important families are and how much family dynamics could affect members' well-being.

what is family essay

In this article, you will learn how to write an essay about family. You can discover and get inspired by the list of family essay topics our dissertation service team has prepared, and later you can read the most outstanding example of all family essay examples.

What are Some Family Essay Topics

If we had to scale the types of essays from easiest to hardest to write about and choose topics for, we'd put family essays in the piece-of-cake department.

The more we know about the subject, the easier it is to know what you want to talk about. But if you are feeling uninspired, scroll through our list of distinctive family essay topics below and choose the one that hits home.

what is family essay

Family Values Essay Topic Ideas

If you were assigned to write an essay about family, but you are confused and don't know what to write about family values essay can make a great writing experience for a beginner.

Choose from the following topics suggested by our history essay writer :

  • The significance of supporting family members through life's hardships
  • The importance of maintaining close ties with extended family members
  • The Role of empathy and Compassion as family values for an average family
  • The significance of participating in a family event for strengthening family bonds
  • Is spending quality time with your family as important as they say?
  • The benefits and challenges of maintaining strong family relationships across different generations
  • Does a large family teach younger kids kindness and generosity?
  • The importance of open communication in maintaining healthy nuclear family relationships
  • The value of forgiveness in resolving conflicts between family members
  • The Role of trust in Maintaining a healthy relationship with extended family

Consider Writing a Definition Essay on Family

If you are more comfortable with descriptive essays, you can choose to write a definition essay on family. There are endless definition essay titles about family, and you can find some of the most relevant ones on the list below:

  • What makes a group of people a family in the modern world?
  • What nuclear family means: Different perspectives and cultural variations
  • Defining the family system: the complex relationships within a family unit
  • What makes a person a family member?
  • Redefining the Concept of the nuclear family in the 21st Century
  • Exploring the core beliefs that unite family members
  • How the concept of loving family has changed throughout the history
  • Analyzing the expectations within a family unite
  • How the modern standards redefined the understating of a perfect family
  • The Role of life experiences in Shaping the opinion about what family life should look like

Family Tree Essay Topic Ideas

Finding out about your family trees and ancestral backgrounds is the new trend of our century. The academic world is also keeping up with the trend, and more and more students write essays about family.

We recommend doing a research project on family ties and writing a compelling family tree essay. Leave the broad topics behind and choose one of the following:

  • The Role of Genetics in mapping your extended family tree
  • Using family trees to connect with ancestors and descendants
  • Defining the Role of a younger brother in the family dynamic
  • Learning about your family tree through oral history
  • Uncovering extended family mysteries through genealogy
  • Tracing principal family values through the branches of your family tree
  • Discovering the legacy of your elder sister in the family tree
  • How the habits of our daily life link up to our family trees
  • Understanding the importance of documenting and preserving your family legacy
  • Navigating the world of online records and DNA testing

Explore Family Tradition Essay Ideas

We all have that one family tradition; if told to anyone outside our family, they would think we are crazy. If you want to explore such customs, you should write a family tradition essay and give it a personal touch by including your family stories in a section called paragraph about my family.

For inspiration, below you will find the 10 hottest topics about family traditions:

  • How tradition can help families cope with challenges and change
  • The importance of including family members in everyday life to uphold family traditions
  • What are some new family traditions for a small and lovely family
  • Are traditions necessary for creating a happy family?
  • How family recipes for house parties connect the whole family
  • The secret tradition to a happy family: Spend quality time with your loved ones
  • We all love when cousins visit for Christmas, or do we?
  • Should birthday parties include family members?
  • Are some family traditions getting in the way of unconditional love?
  • Do traditions bring us closer to other members of our family?

Looking for Speedy Assistance With Your College Essays?

Reach out to our skilled writers, and they'll provide you with a top-notch paper that's sure to earn an A+ grade in record time!

Example of Essay about Family

To provide a clearer understanding, our team of proficient writers has undertaken the task of creating a family essay example that delves deeper into the subject matter.

Through our meticulously crafted example, you can explore and grasp the nuances involved in crafting great family essays that are not only well-written but also thought-provoking and impactful.

Final Words

Family essays offer a plethora of opportunities to showcase students' academic ability or creativity by sharing poignant and sentimental stories. It is important, however, to adhere to the expected academic standards while writing on these topics.

Get inspired by the extensive list of topics our ' do my essay for me ' writers have offered and start an introspective journey. Following guidelines, as mentioned earlier, and meticulously revising all aspects are crucial components that cannot be overlooked in order to deliver an exceptional piece of work.

In case you find yourself struggling with inspiration or grappling with any aspect related to family essays, don't hesitate - Let our professional essay service team take care of your college essays and guide you towards becoming an exemplary student!

Having Trouble with Your Essay on the Family?

Our expert writers are committed to providing you with the best service possible in no time!

FAQs on Writing an Essay about Family

Family essays seem like something school children could be assigned at elementary schools, but family is no less important than climate change for our society today, and therefore it is one of the most central research themes.

Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions on family-related topics. Before you conduct research, scroll through them and find out how to write an essay about your family.

How to Write an Essay About Your Family History?

How to write an essay about a family member, how to write an essay about family and roots, how to write an essay about the importance of family, related articles.

How to Write a Business Essay: A Comprehensive Guide

  • U.S. Locations
  • UMGC Europe
  • Learn Online
  • Find Answers
  • 855-655-8682
  • Current Students

UMGC Effective Writing Center How to Write an Extended Definition

Explore more of umgc.

  • Writing Resources

Usually when you hear the word "definition" you think of a dictionary or encyclopedia. For example, a juvenile delinquent is an underage person convicted of crime or antisocial behavior. Likewise, a venture capitalist is a person who provides money for innovative projects.

Perhaps you have written a narrative essay about a personal experience in which you are called upon to classify and to analyze causes and effects. All of these patterns and more can be used in your paragraphs to clarify and extend the term you have chosen.

Example: Single Pattern

Sometimes a single pattern will be sufficient to extend the definition to achieve the effect you want for your audience. For example, let's say in an introductory sociology course, you are introducing the term "juvenile delinquent" to the class. You could use the "classify" pattern to clarify how broadly the term in used in this field:

  • Term: juvenile delinquent
  • Standard definition: an underage person who has committed a crime.
  • Pattern: Classify
  • Overall Point: To understand "juvenile delinquent" in this field, it's necessary to know the major types of delinquents.
  • The first type of delinquent is . . .
  • The second type of delinquent is . . .
  • The third type of delinquent is . . .

Example: Multi Pattern

Depending on the term, you may find that using several patterns is the best way to help shape your audience's understanding of a term. For example, let's consider the innocent sounding term "arbitration." Maybe you wish to make the point that sometimes legal terms are used to desensitize us from what is really taking place. Consider this example:

  • Term: Arbitration
  • Standard definition: legal process of resolving a dispute
  • Classify Pattern--list and define types of arbitration, including "forced arbitration"
  • Narration Pattern--The FAIR Act seeks to end the use of forced arbitration by U.S. employers
  • Cause/Effect pattern: Multiple examples of the victims of forced arbitration have pressured Congress to act through legislation

Your task in writing an extended definition is to add to the standard/notional definition in a way that will allow your audience to gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the term in a particular context. Whether you do this by adding facts, telling what a term does not include, or applying any of the many development patterns (classify, illustrate, cause/effect, compare/contrast, narration, description), matters not. Only the development of clear understanding between you and your audience should be the ultimate goal.

Video Tutorial: Writing the Extended Definition Essay

Follow along with UMGC's Effective Writing Center as they walk through the Extended Definition Essay.

Our helpful admissions advisors can help you choose an academic program to fit your career goals, estimate your transfer credits, and develop a plan for your education costs that fits your budget. If you’re a current UMGC student, please visit the Help Center .

Personal Information

Contact information, additional information.

By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you intend to sign this form electronically and that your electronic signature is the equivalent of a handwritten signature, with all the same legal and binding effect. You are giving your express written consent without obligation for UMGC to contact you regarding our educational programs and services using e-mail, phone, or text, including automated technology for calls and/or texts to the mobile number(s) provided. For more details, including how to opt out, read our privacy policy or contact an admissions advisor .

Please wait, your form is being submitted.

By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies by reading our  Privacy Policy .

Extended Definition of Family

The word family is subjective since individuals have different perceptions and understanding of the right definition of the word family. Generally, the word family is perceived as a unit of social network amongst individuals related together; that is a composition of a father, mother and children (Sprecher 283). In addition, family include extended members other than the nuclear members, such as cousins, grandparents and other relatives in the same bloodline. The traditional understanding of a family has been replaced by other definitions, which vary from person to person. Therefore, the essay explores the extended definition of the word ‘family’ in society.

There are various definitions and models f family, which include people related based on blood, social class, education level, religion and social interactions in daily activities. Regardless of which model one believes in, family plays a critical role in shaping an individual. For instance, if one is unwell and needs a blood transfusion, the doctors mostly advise the individual to seek help from blood-related family members since they are more likely to be of the same blood group compared to strangers, those not related by blood (Kokorelias 4). In this case, the word family would refer to members of the society related by blood.

Moreover, a family is defined as a group of members of society who share a strong bond of care and social interactions. Members of society who care about one another and help each other when needed. Such a family consists of friends and other members of society who understand the individual’s personality, strengths, weaknesses and way of life. Members of this kind of family are not necessarily related by blood, work, religion or sharing any social group. However, they know, understand and help each other in their time of need.

Nonetheless, family is also defined scientifically as a group of organisms sharing the same attributes and with a taxonomic rank between genus and order. Under this definition, organisms are grouped depending on their taxonomic level and given specific scientific names. Like the other types of families, a family in science consists of organisms sharing similar characteristics, which are used to differentiate them from the others. However, in such a family, members do not know each other but share similar attributes. This type of family differs from the other definitions of the family since this involves all living organisms while the other definitions only facto human beings.

Moreover, the word family refers not only to living things but is also used when referring to a group of items, products, or programs with similar attributes. Television programs, which show relationships between individuals related by blood or bonded together by the institution of marriage, are often referred to as family programs. In addition, this definition also acknowledges the programs to be favourable to be watched by family members without creating an unfriendly atmosphere. This definition constitutes non-living things sharing a common attribute depending on a particular individual’s perspective.

Family can also be defined as the smallest institution of governance formed through a marriage covenant. In this definition, a family is a group of individuals living together in harmony where they have some form of order. This could be a husband, wife and children where the husband is the breadwinner and the wife takes care of family chores. The father and the mother make the rules that the children must follow. This type of family could also consist of a friend living together but with some rules and regulations to govern day-to-day activities. Therefore, the family is the smallest unit of governance where the head helps install law and order.

Therefore, the optimum definition of family should refer to a group of people with similar attributes living together in mutual understanding with some rules and regulations to enforce law and order. However, the definition can be criticized for only referring to members living together; hence a sibling may not be referred to as a family member when he starts to live separately. The definition is also conflicting since it acknowledges the word to only refer to human beings. Nevertheless, it may also refer to non-living things and television programs.

In conclusion, the word family has many meanings and definitions, which vary from one person to another. However, the most acceptable definition of the word family involves members of society who live together with mutual understanding and some rules and regulations governing them. The other definitions are only used in specific contexts, like the scientific definition, which is only used in science. Finally, the word family is subjective, and its definition can only be derived depending on the context of the conversation and the conversing parties. People have different sociolinguistic behaviours depending on the environment, context, gender, and age; hence, definitions of words keep changing. Change is inevitable, and people should be ready to accept the changing definitions of words.

  • What is the significance of your essay?

The essay aims to inform and educate the audience on the many definitions of ‘family’. The essay helps the reader to understand who should be considered as family and helps in sociolinguistic behaviour in society.

  • What areas of your draft will benefit most from revision?

I am not certain if the flow of ideas in the essay is effective because I have yet to use any specific format to arrange them. Therefore, the flow of definitions and ideas would be the most affected.

  • Consider the strengths and weaknesses of your writing. How can you capitalize on your strengths and improve on your weaknesses in future essays?

I have generated several definitions of the word family, which is my strength. On the other hand, I have struggled to formulate the most effective definition for the word family. I could not formulate an ideal definition that would accommodate all aspects of the word ‘family’ in all contexts.

Works Cited

Sprecher, Susan, et al. “Social Networks and Extended Families.” The Routledge Handbook of Family Communication. Routledge, 2021. 277–293.

Kokorelias, Kristina M., et al. “Towards a universal model of family centered care: a scoping review.”  BMC health services research  19 2019: 1–11.

Cite This Work

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Related Essays

Write 700 words on the stigma of mental illness. you can use your own experience or things from the textbook or research some articles (or all three)., has the “war on drugs” in the united states been successful, electoral systems and party politics, challenges that affecting policing of modern day slavery, people trafficking and people smuggling, thematic analysis: concussion incidents in youth sports, madison and hamilton: united or divided in the federalist papers, popular essay topics.

  • American Dream
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Black Lives Matter
  • Bullying Essay
  • Career Goals Essay
  • Causes of the Civil War
  • Child Abusing
  • Civil Rights Movement
  • Community Service
  • Cultural Identity
  • Cyber Bullying
  • Death Penalty
  • Depression Essay
  • Domestic Violence
  • Freedom of Speech
  • Global Warming
  • Gun Control
  • Human Trafficking
  • I Believe Essay
  • Immigration
  • Importance of Education
  • Israel and Palestine Conflict
  • Leadership Essay
  • Legalizing Marijuanas
  • Mental Health
  • National Honor Society
  • Police Brutality
  • Pollution Essay
  • Racism Essay
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Same Sex Marriages
  • Social Media
  • The Great Gatsby
  • The Yellow Wallpaper
  • Time Management
  • To Kill a Mockingbird
  • Violent Video Games
  • What Makes You Unique
  • Why I Want to Be a Nurse
  • Send us an e-mail
  • Free Samples
  • Premium Essays
  • Editing Services Editing Proofreading Rewriting
  • Extra Tools Essay Topic Generator Thesis Generator Citation Generator GPA Calculator Study Guides Donate Paper
  • Essay Writing Help
  • About Us About Us Testimonials FAQ
  • Studentshare
  • Extended Definition of Family

Extended Definition of Family - Essay Example

Extended Definition of Family

  • Subject: Psychology
  • Type: Essay
  • Level: Masters
  • Pages: 5 (1250 words)
  • Downloads: 2
  • Author: jarrod75

Extract of sample "Extended Definition of Family"

  • Cited: 0 times
  • Copy Citation Citation is copied Copy Citation Citation is copied Copy Citation Citation is copied

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Extended Definition of Family

Extended definition about family, extended definition of honor, a two year old child in extended family, family characteristics of intact sexually abusing families: an exploratory study, family owned business, definition of family, family as a primary social group in a society, the family in america, its definition.

expanded definition of family essay

  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • COOKIES POLICY

Extended Family System Essay

Family is considered as the basic unit of the society; better family relations can mold better citizens, and therefore the construction of a family structure that will contribute to both individual and communal well-being is an essential prerequisite of a harmonious community. As Vicky Agarwal states, “A family is s set of human beings related to each other in a non-professional manner, giving rise to a concrete cohesion within the family. Love, care, and affection are the most prominent human values, which are responsible for maintaining these bonds of relationships within a family.” (Agarwal, 2005). Thus, it is evident that whatever may be the family structure, the family is judged based on the mutual communion and the warmth of relationships that its members possess and share.

In the modern age, the trend towards family structure has shifted to the nuclear system where a father, mother, and their children constitute a compact unit. But a large number of divorce rates, smaller family sizes, break up of familial ties, the growing tension, and unrest, problems connected with child-rearing, and the condition of parents and children living under the same roof as individual alien members in the nuclear family system have all forced people to reconsider their priorities for a better ideal family structure. There is no wonder one reconsiders and feels nostalgia for the age-old traditional family structure of the extended family system. “The basic concept of the joint family system is that more than one family come together under one roof and leads a life of mutual cooperation and interdependence.” (Meenakshi, 2001).

The joint family system proves to be a better structure to meet the needs of the time as it creates a strong sense of belonging to a greater family tie where each member is assigned a defined role and where everyone in the family is cared for and looked after. The eldest male member in the family acts as the supreme head of the family, and almost all decisions are taken by the male members of the family: “Decisions are taken exclusively by the male members and women and children are rarely consulted. They have no say in family discussions.” (The Family). The female members in the family are supposed to manage domestic affairs, including the rearing of children. Despite this male domination and the possible arbitrary decisions of the head of the family, the system is effective for a number of reasons. Divorces among joint family members are very rare; widows, ill members, old people, and children whose parents are dead are properly taken care of in the joint family system. Children in the family receive attention from all the members, and grandparents in the family instill in their minds strong cultural and traditional values. Unlike nuclear families, the responsibility of women becomes easier as it is shared among other female members. As Andrea states,” We have adopted a family form that is restrictive and tremendously costly particularly to the women who now must single-handedly perform what a whole extended family network would have helped us do a hundred years ago….” (The Nuclear Family: Or, if Nuclear’s bad for the Environment, why is it Good for People? 2006).

Despite all these merits, the joint family system suffered a great setback due to a number of reasons. Social changes and man’s inner thirst for one’s freedom have resulted in the acceptance of nuclear families: “In the 1960s, four main societal changes occurred that have had an enormous impact on the traditional family structure. The sexual revolution, women’s liberation movement, States’ relaxation of divorce laws, and mobility if American families have converged to foster family alienation, exacerbate old family rifts, and create new ones.” (Barbara Vol.130, Sept 2001). As people became more educated and industrialization became widespread, they went in search of job opportunities and educated younger generation found it impossible to live under an arbitrary leadership where their freedom of choice was neglected: “The problem arises when there is the interference of family members and uninvited opinion as to how one should live or react in situations.” (Meera Chowdhery, 2001). Another major reason was the spread of women’s education and women liberation movements that found better expression of women’s voice in the nuclear system: “Marxist feminists suggest that the nuclear family meets the needs of capitalism for the reproduction of maintenance of class and patriarchal inequality.” (Jay c, 2004).

Now the question is, how can a system that is capable of addressing many of the present-day problems of family breakdowns be so easily discarded? What we need today is not completely a nuclear system or an extended family system, but a mixture of both. An extended family system where there are provisions for individual freedom and where every member in the family, including children, is involved in the decision-making policy is most recommendable. “Children need opportunities to make decisions, to participate in family decisions and to observe the parents’ decision-making process and results.” (Your Family Strengths: Clear Responsibilities). Communication gaps act as the killer of family unity, and therefore measures are to be undertaken for timely family discussions where each member gets the feeling that he or she is respected. “The best way to be organized as a family is to hold weekly family discussions. By doing this, families enjoy a special closeness and stability.” (Family Discussion). Studies show that in the US, the number of joint families has increased recently: “According to the latest US census data, the number of households with three or more generations living under one roof grew 38% from 1990 to 2000, vs. 8% for those with just two generations.” (Anne Tergesen. Thomson Gale. Cooperative Library System, 14 June 2007). Thus, one can possibly hope for a resurgence of the extended family system with the necessary changes of outlook and practice that suit the modern environment.

Works Cited

  • Agarwal, Vikky. Analytic Views: Joint Family and Nuclear Family . Ezine Articles. Web.
  • Jha, Meenakshi. In Defense of Joint Family System. Bologi.com.
  • The Family . Web.
  • The Nuclear Family: Or, if Nuclear’s bad for the environment, why is it good for people? Andrea.
  • Lebey, Barbara. American Families are Drifting Apart. USA Today. Vol.130, 2001.
  • Chowdhery, Meera. Viability of a Joint Family! Bologi.com. 2001.
  • Jay, c. The Nuclear Family. Buzzle.com. 2004.
  • Your Family Strengths: Clear Responsibilities. Family Ties. SKC Homepage. 2007.
  • Family Discussion. Family Ties. SKC Homepage.
  • Tergesen, Anne. Three Generations. One Roof; More and More Households are Doubling up. Here’s how to make it work. Business Week 3957. 2005. 92. Business and Company ASAP. Thomson Gale. Cooperative Library System, 2007.
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, September 16). Extended Family System. https://ivypanda.com/essays/extended-family-system/

"Extended Family System." IvyPanda , 16 Sept. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/extended-family-system/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Extended Family System'. 16 September.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Extended Family System." September 16, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/extended-family-system/.

1. IvyPanda . "Extended Family System." September 16, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/extended-family-system/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Extended Family System." September 16, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/extended-family-system/.

  • Child Rearing Among Immigrant Communities
  • Child-Rearing Choices and Social Factors
  • Child Rearing Psychological Patterns in Japan and the United States
  • Different Styles of Child Rearing Across the Globe
  • Are all instincts random and arbitrary?
  • Child-rearing Practices of Major Cultural Groups in the United States
  • Rearing of Cattle: Deprecating the Beef Farming
  • Child-Rearing Course for Teachers
  • Roof Spread: The Problem Explanation and Suggestions for Its Solving
  • An Arbitrary Restriction: Current Minimum Age Limits on the Lawful Consumption of Alcohol Are Unreasonable
  • Romanian Families: Comparison to Canadian Ones
  • Implication for Nursing Role in Prenatal Demise
  • View of Abortion: The Question of Human Life and Death
  • Care Plans for Pregnancy
  • Family Factors: Gender, Religion, and Education

Logo for BCcampus Open Publishing

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Common Writing Assignments

9 The Extended Definition Essay

The extended definition essay presents a detailed account of a single term or concept that is central to the content of the course for which the essay is written. What is cryptocurrency? What is a black hole? What is an algorithm? What is symbolism? What is deoxyribonucleic acid? What is National Socialism? Every subject has its own special vocabulary, and teachers will often assign an essay requiring students to present a detailed definition of a key term.

Read carefully this extended definition of feminism.

Example: On Feminism

The word “feminism” describes a popular movement for social justice, based on the premise that women have been and continue to be systemically oppressed by men who do not want to share the greater social, political, and economic power they have historically possessed. But the definition of feminism extends beyond raising the status of one gender; feminism recognizes that equal standards for all people regardless of gender will benefit society as a whole (Montgomery). In this respect, feminism can be interpreted as synonymous with egalitarianism.

Feminist scholars divide the movement into three phases or “Waves.”  First-wave feminism emerged in the early twentieth century in the form of a fight for the rights to vote, to own property, and to qualify for work in fields historically reserved for men. Second-wave feminism emerged in the 1960s as baby boomers entered university and demanded admission to programs that traditionally favoured men, such as engineering, medicine, and forestry, as well as “equal pay for work of equal value” (Montgomery).  Third-wave or post-feminism is the movement’s twenty-first century incarnation, devoted essentially to ending all forms of gender discrimination. Some even argue that a fourth wave has recently emerged, one that is concerned with the portrayal of women in social media.

While there is no clear consensus as to when first-wave feminism began, most accept that it emerged as industrialization progressed in the nineteenth century. Martha Lear coined the term in 1968, though the first wave focused on what we now consider basic issues of inequality (“What Was”). One of the earliest feminists was Mary Wollstonecraft, who mostly wrote in the late eighteenth century advocating that societies, and individuals specifically, should have rights that the state provides. Most other philosophers and writers of the time ignored women and Wollstonecraft was among the first to call for gender equality. After the American Civil War, Elizabeth Stanton and Susan Anthony rallied support for what they saw as one of the first great obstacles to greater freedom: the right to vote. Others, such as Barbara Leigh Smith, saw employment and education for women as critical areas to focus on.

Throughout the nineteenth century, Biblical interpretation of women’s role in the house and family prevented their ability to advance feminist ideals. To counteract the power of the church’s sex-based hierarchy, Stanton produced an influential work called The Woman’s Bible , in which she argued for equality using biblical references. This helped to provide religious justification, at least for some, for emerging feminism in the period. Furthermore, the National Woman Suffrage Association became a prominent organization, and in 1869, John Allen Campbell, the governor of Wyoming, became the first governor to grant women the right to vote (“What Was”). And when women replaced men in factories during the First World War, many realized that women did have equal skills to men. In Canada, women won the right to vote in most provinces during the war. In 1921, Agnes Macphail became the first woman in Canada elected to Parliament.

In the US, women had to wait a bit longer. Feminist organizations lobbied indefatigably and eventually convinced Congress that women should have the right to vote. Finally, in 1920, women won the right to vote across the United States. While the process itself was contentious, featuring hunger strikes and even mob violence, the gradual acceptance of women as voters can be considered the culminating success of first-wave feminism.

“The Progressive Era” took place in the 1930s; women’s social and political activism grew, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt advocated for the appointment of women to positions within the administration. Her cause was further advanced during the Second World War when, again, women had to take over the work enlisted men were forced to abandon. After the war, however, North America saw a new emphasis on domesticity. When the soldiers returned, women were almost uniformly fired and forced back into their duties of domestic chores and child-raising (Bisignani). Second-wave feminism was a reaction to this post-war obsession with the ideal of the contented housewife and suburban domesticity, a lifestyle that often isolated women and severely limited their choices and opportunities.

Feminism’s second wave truly began in the early 1960s and focused not just on legal barriers to civil equality but also examined social inequalities. Second-wave feminists sought to change discriminatory policies on sexuality and sexual identity; marriage and child-rearing; workplace environment; reproductive rights; and violence against women. They formed local, regional, and federal government groups on behalf of women, resulting in human rights and women’s equality becoming a growing part of the North American political agenda. Finally, they created new, more positive images of women in both pop culture and the media to fight the negative stereotypes commonly in circulation, primarily that of the “happy housewife.”

The second wave of feminism included many landmark moments. In the 1960s, many government health agencies approved the oral contraceptive pill, and in 1963, the Equal Pay Act was passed in the US. In 1968, Coretta Scott King assumed leadership of the African-American civil rights movement and expanded the platform to include women’s rights. This led to Shirley Chisholm becoming the first African-American woman elected to Congress. In 1972, the passage of Title IX ensured equal funding for women’s opportunities in education, and the first women’s studies program in the US opened at San Diego State University. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the second wave came in 1973, when the Roe v. Wade case resulted in women’s access to safe and legal abortion (Bisignani).

Third-wave feminism began in the 1990s and still exists today (Demarco). There are many different outlets and angles of feminism now, but the most important values of the third wave include gender equality, identity, language, sex positivity, breaking the glass ceiling, body positivity, ending violence against women, fixing the media’s image of women, and environmentalism.

Third-wave feminists assert that there is no universal identity for women; women come from every religion, nationality, culture, and sexual preference. Different forms of media such as fashion magazines, newspapers, and television favour white, young, slender women, a fact which negatively impacts all women and results in body anxiety. To combat this anxiety, modern feminists have fought for body positivity, quashing the opinions of those who believe that overweight people are lazy and unhealthy. Feminists want society’s view of women to expand, to recognize, for example, that it is possible to be beautiful enough to be a model, but also smart enough to be an astronaut or a CEO.  But considering that, in 2017, only 18 out of 500 Fortune CEOs and 22 out of 197 global heads of state were women, it is clear that third-wave feminism has not yet removed the glass ceiling (Demarco).

The emerging fourth wavers speak in terms of “intersectionality,” whereby women’s oppression can only fully be understood in the context of marginalization of other groups, who are victims of racism, ageism, classism, and homophobia (Demarco). Among the third wave’s bequests is the importance of inclusion; in the fourth wave, the internet takes inclusion further by levelling hierarchies. The appeal of the fourth wave is that there is a place in it for everyone. The academic and theoretical apparatus are now well-honed and ready to support new broad-based activism in the home, in the workplace, on the streets, and online.

No one is sure how feminism will progress from here. The movement has always included many political, social and intellectual ideologies, each with its own tensions, points and counterpoints. But the fact that each wave has been chaotic, multi-valanced, and disconcerted is cause for optimism; it is a sign that the movement continues to thrive.

Works Cited

Bisignani, Dana. “ Feminism’s Second Wave .” The Gender Press , 27 Jan. 2015, https://genderpressing.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/feminisms-second-wave-2/. Accessed 25 March 2019.

Demarco, April. “ What Is Third Wave Feminist Movement? ” Viva Media , 17 March 2018, https://viva.media/what-is-third-wave-feminist-movement.  Accessed 26 March 2019.

Montgomery, Landon. “ The True Definition Of Feminism .” The Odyssey , 8 March 2016, https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-true-definition-of-feminism. Accessed 27 March 2019.

“ What Was the First Wave Feminist Movement? ” Daily History , 19 Jan. 2019, https://dailyhistory.org/What_was_the_First_Wave_Feminist_Movement%3F. Accessed 28 March 2019.

On Feminism

Study Questions

Respond to these questions in writing, in small group discussion, or both.

  • “On Feminism” is an extended definition essay, but it has qualities of what other rhetorical modes explained in this chapter?
  • What are the main differences between first- and second-wave feminism?
  • What are the main differences between third- and fourth-wave feminism?
  • Respond to the conclusions the author offers in her final paragraph. Do you agree with what she writes?
  • In academic writing assignments, paragraphs should be unified, coherent, and well-developed. Analyze two body paragraphs from this essay, commenting on the qualities of effective paragraphs they illustrate.

Writing Assignment

Write an extended definition of approximately 750 words on one of the following terms: Marxism, irony (in literature), recession (in economics), pentathlon (as Olympic sport), dressage, algorithm, neutral zone trap, cryptocurrency. You may also select your own topic or one provided by your teacher.

Composition and Literature by James Sexton and Derek Soles is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

expanded definition of family essay

Definition Essay

Barbara P

Definition Essay - Writing Guide, Examples and Tips

14 min read

Published on: Oct 9, 2020

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

definition essay writing

People also read

Interesting Definition Essay Topics for Students

Definition Essay Outline - Format & Guide

Share this article

Many students struggle with writing definition essays due to a lack of clarity and precision in their explanations.

This obstructs them from effectively conveying the essence of the terms or concepts they are tasked with defining. Consequently, the essays may lack coherence, leaving readers confused and preventing them from grasping the intended meaning.

But don’t worry!

In this guide, we will delve into effective techniques and step-by-step approaches to help students craft an engaging definition essay.

Continue reading to learn the correct formation of a definition essay. 

Order Essay

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

On This Page On This Page -->

What is a Definition Essay?

Just as the name suggests, a definition essay defines and explains a term or a concept. Unlike a narrative essay, the purpose of writing this essay is only to inform the readers.

Writing this essay type can be deceivingly tricky. Some terms, concepts, and objects have concrete definitions when explained. In contrast others are solely based on the writer’s understanding and point of view.

A definition essay requires a writer to use different approaches when discussing a term. These approaches are the following:

  • Denotation - It is when you provide a literal or academic definition of the term.
  • Connotation - It is when the writer provides an implied meaning or definition of the term.
  • Enumeration - For this approach, a list is employed to define a term or a concept.
  • Analogy - It is a technique in which something is defined by implementing a comparison.
  • Negation - It is when you define a term by stating what it is not.

A single or combination of approaches can be used in the essay. 

Definition Essay Types

There are several types of definition essays that you may be asked to write, depending on the purpose and scope of the assignment. 

In this section, we will discuss some of the most common types of definition essays.

Descriptive Definition Essay 

This type of essay provides a detailed description of a term or concept, emphasizing its key features and characteristics. 

The goal of a descriptive definition essay is to help readers understand the term or concept in a more profound way.

Stipulative Definition Essay 

In a stipulative definition essay, the writer provides a unique definition of a term or concept. This type of essay is often used in academic settings to define a term in a particular field of study. 

The goal of a stipulative definition essay is to provide a precise and clear definition that is specific to the context of the essay.

Analytical Definition Essay 

This compare and contrast essay type involves analyzing a term or concept in-depth. Breaking it down into its component parts, and examining how they relate to each other. 

The goal of an analytical definition essay is to provide a more nuanced and detailed understanding of the term or concept being discussed.

Persuasive Definition Essay 

A persuasive definition essay is an argumentative essay that aims to persuade readers to accept a particular definition of a term or concept.

The writer presents their argument for the definition and uses evidence and examples to support their position.

Explanatory Definition Essay 

An explanatory definition essay is a type of expository essay . It aims to explain a complex term or concept in a way that is easy to understand for the reader. 

The writer breaks down the term or concept into simpler parts and provides examples and analogies to help readers understand it better.

Extended Definition Essay 

An extended definition essay goes beyond the definition of a word or concept and provides a more in-depth analysis and explanation. 

The goal of an extended definition essay is to provide a comprehensive understanding of a term, concept, or idea. This includes its history, origins, and cultural significance. 

How to Write a Definition Essay?

Writing a definition essay is simple if you know the correct procedure. This essay, like all the other formal pieces of documents, requires substantial planning and effective execution.

The following are the steps involved in writing a definition essay effectively:

Instead of choosing a term that has a concrete definition available, choose a word that is complicated . Complex expressions have abstract concepts that require a writer to explore deeper. Moreover, make sure that different people perceive the term selected differently. 

Once you have a word to draft your definition essay for, read the dictionary. These academic definitions are important as you can use them to compare your understanding with the official concept.

Drafting a definition essay is about stating the dictionary meaning and your explanation of the concept. So the writer needs to have some information about the term.

In addition to this, when exploring the term, make sure to check the term’s origin. The history of the word can make you discuss it in a better way.

Coming up with an exciting title for your essay is important. The essay topic will be the first thing that your readers will witness, so it should be catchy.

Creatively draft an essay topic that reflects meaning. In addition to this, the usage of the term in the title should be correctly done. The readers should get an idea of what the essay is about and what to expect from the document.

Now that you have a topic in hand, it is time to gather some relevant information. A definition essay is more than a mere explanation of the term. It represents the writer’s perception of the chosen term and the topic.

So having only personal opinions will not be enough to defend your point. Deeply research and gather information by consulting credible sources.

The gathered information needs to be organized to be understandable. The raw data needs to be arranged to give a structure to the content.

Here's a generic outline for a definition essay:

Are you searching for an in-depth guide on crafting a well-structured definition essay?Check out this definition essay outline blog!

6. Write the First Draft

Drafting each section correctly is a daunting task. Understanding what or what not to include in these sections requires a writer to choose wisely.

The start of your essay matters a lot. If it is on point and attractive, the readers will want to read the text. As the first part of the essay is the introduction , it is considered the first impression of your essay.

To write your definition essay introduction effectively, include the following information:

  • Start your essay with a catchy hook statement that is related to the topic and the term chosen.
  • State the generally known definition of the term. If the word chosen has multiple interpretations, select the most common one.
  • Provide background information precisely. Determine the origin of the term and other relevant information.
  • Shed light on the other unconventional concepts and definitions related to the term.
  • Decide on the side or stance you want to pick in your essay and develop a thesis statement .

After briefly introducing the topic, fully explain the concept in the body section . Provide all the details and evidence that will support the thesis statement. To draft this section professionally, add the following information:

  • A detailed explanation of the history of the term.
  • Analysis of the dictionary meaning and usage of the term.
  • A comparison and reflection of personal understanding and the researched data on the concept.

Once all the details are shared, give closure to your discussion. The last paragraph of the definition essay is the conclusion . The writer provides insight into the topic as a conclusion.

The concluding paragraphs include the following material:

  • Summary of the important points.
  • Restated thesis statement.
  • A final verdict on the topic.

7. Proofread and Edit

Although the writing process ends with the concluding paragraph, there is an additional step. It is important to proofread the essay once you are done writing. Proofread and revise your document a couple of times to make sure everything is perfect.

Before submitting your assignment, make edits, and fix all mistakes and errors.

If you want to learn more about how to write a definition essay, here is a video guide for you!

Definition Essay Structure 

The structure of a definition essay is similar to that of any other academic essay. It should consist of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. 

However, the focus of a definition essay is on defining and explaining a particular term or concept. 

In this section, we will discuss the structure of a definition essay in detail.

Introduction 

Get the idea of writing an introduction for a definition essay with this example:

Body Paragraphs

Here is an example of how to craft your definition essay body paragraph:

Types of the Term/Concept 

If applicable, the writer may want to include a section that discusses the different types or categories of the term or concept being defined. 

This section should explain the similarities and differences between the types, using examples and anecdotes to illustrate the points.

Examples of the Term/Concept in Action 

The writer should also include real-life examples of the term or concept being defined in action. 

This will help the reader better understand the term or concept in context and how it is used in everyday life.

Conclusion 

This example will help you writing a conclusion fo you essay:

Definition Essay Examples

It is important to go through some examples and samples before writing an essay. This is to understand the writing process and structure of the assigned task well.

Following are some examples of definition essays to give our students a better idea of the concept. 

Understanding the Definition Essay

Definition Essay Example

Definition Essay About Friendship

Definition Essay About Love

Family Definition Essay

Success Definition Essay

Beauty Definition Essay

Definition Essay Topics

Selecting the right topic is challenging for other essay types. However, picking a suitable theme for a definition essay is equally tricky yet important. Pick an interesting subject to ensure maximum readership.

If you are facing writer’s block, here is a list of some great definition essay topics for your help. Choose from the list below and draft a compelling essay.

  • Authenticity
  • Sustainability
  • Mindfulness

Here are some more extended definition essay topics:

  • Social media addiction
  • Ethical implications of gene editing
  • Personalized learning in the digital age
  • Ecosystem services
  • Cultural assimilation versus cultural preservation
  • Sustainable fashion
  • Gender equality in the workplace
  • Financial literacy and its impact on personal finance
  • Ethical considerations in artificial intelligence
  • Welfare state and social safety nets

Need more topics? Check out this definition essay topics blog!

Definition Essay Writing Tips

Knowing the correct writing procedure is not enough if you are not aware of the essay’s small technicalities. To help students write a definition essay effortlessly, expert writers of CollegeEssay.org have gathered some simple tips.

These easy tips will make your assignment writing phase easy.

  • Choose an exciting yet informative topic for your essay.
  • When selecting the word, concept, or term for your essay, make sure you have the knowledge.
  • When consulting a dictionary for the definition, provide proper referencing as there are many choices available.
  • To make the essay informative and credible, always provide the origin and history of the term.
  • Highlight different meanings and interpretations of the term.
  • Discuss the transitions and evolution in the meaning of the term in any.
  • Provide your perspective and point of view on the chosen term.

Following these tips will guarantee you better grades in your academics.

By following the step-by-step approach explained in this guide, you will acquire the skills to craft an outstanding essay. 

Struggling with the thought, " write my college essay for m e"? Look no further.

Our dedicated definition essay writing service is here to craft the perfect essay that meets your academic needs.

For an extra edge, explore our AI essay writer , a tool designed to refine your essays to perfection. 

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Get Help

Keep reading

definition essay writing

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refunds & Cancellations
  • Our Writers
  • Success Stories
  • Our Guarantees
  • Affiliate Program
  • Referral Program
  • AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

expanded definition of family essay

Main Content

IMAGES

  1. The Importance Of Family Essay Example

    expanded definition of family essay

  2. Definition Of Family Essay Examples

    expanded definition of family essay

  3. Family Definition Essay

    expanded definition of family essay

  4. Essay About Family: How to Write It? What to Include?

    expanded definition of family essay

  5. The Importance of a Family’s Structure Free Essay Example

    expanded definition of family essay

  6. Definition of Having Complete Family Free Essay Example

    expanded definition of family essay

VIDEO

  1. my family essay 5 lines

  2. My family essay

  3. 10 lines essay on my family in english

  4. DÉFINITION OF TYPES OF FAMILY & FUNCTIONS

  5. 10 Lines On My Family || Essay ||Paragraph|| 2023

  6. Researched Definition Essay: Writing a Counterargument

COMMENTS

  1. Extended Definition of Family: [Essay Example], 494 words

    Family is an integral part of human experience and plays a crucial role in shaping individuals' lives. Whether through love, support, or shared experiences, the concept of family extends beyond traditional definitions. This essay aims to explore the evolving definition of family, the emotional bonds and connections that define it, its ...

  2. Expanding the definition of family to reflect our realities

    Family realities should be reflected in policy. How we define family impacts social policy like parental, maternity and paternity leave entitlements and child-care tax credits. Caregiver benefits ...

  3. Family Definition Essay

    Long Essay on Family Definition 500 Words in English. At the point when one considers family, the main implying that rings a bell is: "Family is a gathering of individuals that comprises of guardians, kids and their family members." obviously, every individual characterizes family in an unexpected way. In any case, the thing that matters is ...

  4. What Is Family? Definition Essay Samples

    In essence, the definition of family in today's world is fluid, reflecting the cultural, societal, and individual shifts of our times. While blood relations will always hold significance, the boundaries of family have extended, warmly embracing all forms of genuine connection and mutual care. As we navigate the complexities of modern life ...

  5. Definition Of Family Essay

    Definition Of Family Essay. 854 Words4 Pages. Family is characterized with common aspects such as parents, grandparents, and siblings but there are so many other ways to distinct family. The word family is commonly defined as a group of individuals that have the same ancestors, and gather for holidays and other special events.

  6. Extended Definitions in Essays and Speeches

    Updated on September 12, 2019. In a paragraph, essay, or speech, an extended definition is an explanation and/or illustration of a word, thing, or concept. Randy Devillez in "Step by Step College Writing" says that an extended definition can be "as short as a paragraph or two or as long as several hundred pages (such as a legal definition of ...

  7. Family

    Recent News. family, a group of persons united by the ties of marriage, blood, or adoption, constituting a single household and interacting with each other in their respective social positions, usually those of spouses, parents, children, and siblings. The family group should be distinguished from a household, which may include boarders and ...

  8. Essay about Family

    The Role of trust in Maintaining a healthy relationship with extended family; Consider Writing a Definition Essay on Family. If you are more comfortable with descriptive essays, you can choose to write a definition essay on family. There are endless definition essay titles about family, and you can find some of the most relevant ones on the ...

  9. Family, Community, Society (article)

    The great American agenda. The American War of Independence sparked a social as well as a political revolution. The Declaration of Independence proclaimed self-evident truths: that "all men are created equal" and possess certain "unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.".

  10. What is the Family?

    In the human perspective, a family is a group of persons connected by kinship, compassion, or sharing of residence. In a number of societies, the family is the basic unit for the socialization of children. A basic family unit is made up of a father, mother, and children, and is known as a nuclear family, however, this unit can be extended to ...

  11. Writing an Extended Definition

    In the End. Your task in writing an extended definition is to add to the standard/notional definition in a way that will allow your audience to gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the term in a particular context. Whether you do this by adding facts, telling what a term does not include, or applying any of the many development ...

  12. Extended Definition of Family

    The word family is subjective since individuals have different perceptions and understanding of the right definition of the word family. Generally, the word family is perceived as a unit of social network amongst individuals related together; that is a composition of a father, mother and children (Sprecher 283). In addition, family include extended members other […]

  13. Extended Definition of Family

    The extended definition of family as given in the Oxford dictionary also refers to "all descendants of a common ancestor" or "a group of people from a common stock" and "a group of related things", It also refers to Language family as "all the languages ultimately derived from a particular early language, regarded as a group".

  14. Extended Family System

    As Vicky Agarwal states, "A family is s set of human beings related to each other in a non-professional manner, giving rise to a concrete cohesion within the family. Love, care, and affection are the most prominent human values, which are responsible for maintaining these bonds of relationships within a family." (Agarwal, 2005).

  15. The Extended Definition Essay

    9 The Extended Definition Essay ... Biblical interpretation of women's role in the house and family prevented their ability to advance feminist ideals. To counteract the power of the church's sex-based hierarchy, Stanton produced an influential work called The Woman's Bible, in which she argued for equality using biblical references. This ...

  16. Definition Essay

    An explanatory definition essay is a type of expository essay. It aims to explain a complex term or concept in a way that is easy to understand for the reader. The writer breaks down the term or concept into simpler parts and provides examples and analogies to help readers understand it better.

  17. How to Write a Definition Essay: Outline, Examples

    So what is a definition essay?As the name suggests, a definition essay is an essay that explains in detail a certain term or concept. However, instead of being limited to a simple dictionary definition, which normally takes a few phrases, such an essay contains an extended definition that includes additional details, such as examples, descriptions, an analysis of this term and other related ...

  18. Extended Family Definition Essay

    The traditional definition of family is a intimate group of two or more people who live together in a committed relationship, care for one another and any children, and share activities and close ties. I would define a family as a group of two or more people who share an emotional bond with one another, by blood or not.

  19. Extended Definition Essay

    give specific examples that illuminate your unique definition of the word. The final extended definition essay should be about 2 pages, typed and double spaced. Structure: Introduction—Hook, background/context, thesis (your unique definition) Body Paragraphs—Topic sentences, definition strategies (evidence), analysis of how your evidence

  20. Extended Definition Essay Topics

    An extended definition essay takes a term, concept or idea and defines it in great detail. An extended definition essay may consider the structure, function, or underlying meaning of the topic at ...

  21. PDF Sample 2 Extended Definition Essay

    AN ESSAY OF EXTENDED DEFINITION What is Love? Introduction (Leads reader into the essay by example. Note that it is divided into two paragraphs because of the natural shift) Thesis statement (Uses classification to define the subject) Paragraph One (Outlines the first category using example to define) Paragraph Two (Continues with category one ...

  22. Watch Extended Family Episode: The Consequences of Writing Things ...

    We and our partners use cookies on this site to improve our service, perform analytics, personalize advertising, measure advertising performance, and remember website preferences.