Introduction
The Origin of Words
Modern English did not happen over night. It evolved over time, taking in words from other languages around the globe. "Etymologies are not definitions; they're explanations of what our words meant and how they sounded 600 or 2,000 years ago," states the Etymology On-Line Dictionary.
Generally, the dates beside a word indicate the earliest year for which there is a surviving written record of that word. Know that over 50% of the English language has Latin roots; however, no one really speaks Latin.
So where do all these words come from? You are going to find out!
Task
You are to complete a thorough research on the origin of a particular word. Your research should include:
1) the definition(s) of the word
2) the origins of the word--in what language did it originate?
3) idioms and phrases where the word has been used over time including today
4) various pronunciations of the word (if applicable)
When you have completed your research, you are to compose a 1 to 1.5 page research paper on the word itself. Make sure that you include the resources you used in a work cited page at the end of your paper. THIS IS A MAJOR GRADE.
Photo Credit:Handwriting with pencil. 2007. Photograph. www.keewee.com.sg, Singapore. Web. 19 Feb 2012. <www.googleimages.com>.
Process
Select one of the following words:
heart ice
horse dog
house short
hand game
apple book
nail man
shoe ball
bread ring
bed brush
Step One: Go to each of the websites listed on the introduction page and find all the information you can about your word. You want details. Copy the information to the Eytmology Worksheet, a word document. You will find this information below. Save the document under your name in the Thaw Space. DO NOT USE MY DOCUMENTS. If you do, all your information will be erased. Make sure you list the SOURCE for the information you copy. These are your notes for your paper.
Step Two: Open the attached file for the specifications for the paper you are writing. Look at the sample paper to get an idea of the final product.
Step Three: Compile your information, following the sample paper. Make sure you are not just putting together a string of information. Make your paper interesting. You may want to search the internet for information about your word such as song lyrics and poetry. If you use either, make sure they are published, not a person's personal blog post. Again, cite the source!
Step Four: Use the citation machine website to create your Works Cited page. Works Cited information must be in alphabetical order. See the attached page for information.
Photo Credit: dictionary.jpg. N.d. Photograph. AllFacebook.com, New York City. Web. 18 Feb 2012. .
Conclusion
Once you are completely finished with your paper, print it out and turn it in to be graded by me. Remember, you need both your paper and Work Cited page.
Teacher Page
Research/Gathering Sources. Students
determine, locate, and explore the full range of relevant sources addressing a
research question and systematically record the information they gather.
Students are expected to: (A) follow the research plan to compile data
from authoritative sources in a manner that identifies the major issues and
debates within the field of inquiry; (B) organize information gathered from
multiple sources to create a variety of graphics and forms (e.g., notes,
learning logs); and (C) paraphrase, summarize, quote, and
accurately cite all researched information according to a standard format
(e.g., author, title, page number).
(22) Research/Synthesizing Information. Students
clarify research questions and evaluate and synthesize collected information.
Students are expected to: (A) modify the major research question as
necessary to refocus the research plan; (B) evaluate the relevance of information to
the topic and determine the reliability, validity, and accuracy of sources
(including Internet sources) by examining their authority and objectivity; and (C) critique the research process at each
step to implement changes as the need occurs and is identified.
(23) Research/Organizing and Presenting Ideas.
Students organize and present their ideas and information according to the
purpose of the research and their audience. Students
are expected to synthesize the research into a written or an oral presentation
that:
(A) marshals evidence in support of a clear
thesis statement and related claims;
(B) provides an analysis for the audience
that reflects a logical progression of ideas and a clearly stated point of
view;
(C) uses graphics and illustrations to help
explain concepts where appropriate;
(D) uses a variety of evaluative tools (e.g.,
self-made rubrics, peer reviews, teacher and expert evaluations) to examine the
quality of the research; and
(E) uses a style manual (e.g., Modern
Language Association, Chicago Manual of Style) to document
sources and format written materials.