English IV & AP November 2012 “I-Search a Word” assignment (paper #3)
Assignment:
Write a paper of 6 to 8 pages containing an extended definition of a
single word, a commonly used word, but one with an abstract or
intangible quality to its meaning. In your paper you will make full
reference to the sources you have consulted, but the style of the paper
will be a first-person account of your search for the word’s ultimate
meaning and an analysis of what you learn along the way.
Sources: Consult the following sources to include all the necessary information in your paper:
1. The
Oxford English Dictionary in our library—what are the earliest uses and
contexts for your word recorded in the English language. Does the OED
mention the word occurring in either Sir Gawain or Beowulf? What
meanings have evolved over time?
2. A good unabridged or international dictionary—what key definitions does the dictionary give for the word?
3. A
print or online thesaurus—what are the most important synonyms for your
word? Include a list from the thesaurus in the sources section of your
folder.
4. A
Concordance to Shakespeare—in which plays does the word occur? Copy key
speeches containing the word and the plays in which they are found.
Give an example of an interesting or original way in which Shakespeare
uses the word.
5. A
Concordance to the Bible—list the verses containing the word and copy
these verses onto a page in your sources section. How do they help you
understand the full significance of your word? Refer specifically to the KJV (King James Version) and the Revised Standard (RSV) or New American Standard.
6. A statement of what the word means to you, both before and after you conduct your research.
7. For AP students, two
of the following: a poem in which the word occurs, a citation from an
online quotations list, a work of art or music, a book about words and
language, a work of history, a newspaper article, cartoon, television
show, or movie. (One such source is optional for English IV.)
Process:
Gather your findings in a binder. The first thing in the binder you
submit will be the final copy of your paper, then your draft, edited by
two peers and one other person (optional--a third peer, a parent, a
friend), and a section containing the printouts of all your research
materials with sources clearly indicated in full MLA format. Be sure to distinguish between print and online sources.
Rationale:
According to Edward Jenkinson and Donald Seybold, “it is extremely
difficult for anyone to define a word that does not have objective
[meaning]. Yet the ideas, feelings, and emotions that are most
significant in our lives are conveyed [by such words]. . . .Everyone who
uses such words as freedom, rich, or love has slightly different
notions about what those words mean, [yet] we frequently act as if we
are talking about the same thing when we use such words.” Thus, this
assignment is to sift through our assumptions about one abstract word to
find relevant historical information about its uses and meanings
throughout the history of the English language.
Schedule:
· Have your word chosen and approved by me by the beginning of class 29 (November 6 & 7. (Everyone must have a different word.)
· We will spend parts of two classes in the library looking at the OED and other source material.
· Your
blog for class 30 will include your previous understanding of the word
along with a brief statement of why you chose the word. It may be
incorporated in some fashion into your draft later.
· Class 33 & 34, depending on section (November 16 & 19), bring your drafts to class, five pages minimum to earn credit for this part of the assignment.
· Binders
are due in my classroom by 3PM, Tuesday, November 20 for all sections..
Final drafts must also be submitted by that time to turnitin.com
(assignment title: I-Search a Word).
Style:
Write your paper as a first-person account of your search for the
ultimate meaning of your word. Use your sources to make your analysis of
the word credible, but connect those sources to your personal quest for
the word’s meaning, your previous understanding of the word, and what
you learned along the way, both about the word and the research process.
You should both summarize and analyze the information you gather from
your sources in the body of the paper. Information should be cited
parenthetically, linked to a list of Works Cited at the end of your
paper.
What
word interests you sufficiently to spend two weeks researching and
writing about its history and most important meanings? After we review
this assignment during class 28,
November 2 & 5, I will accept email requests for words beginning Monday, November 5 at 1:30 PM. By class 29 (November 6 & 7), everyone must
have selected a word to work with.
