Resources At a Glance
The Basics
1. DICTIONARY: Look up your word in a well-researched dictionary. You’ll need to list the meanings that matter to you.
2. THESAURUS: Find the first group of synonyms listed in a good thesaurus. You may find that you’ll use these synonyms as substitutes for your word as you explain this part of your search in your personal commentary. Consider looking up antonyms of your word as well.
Classic Texts
3. BIBLE (you may substitute another spiritual text, such as the Torah or Koran): There are online concordances of the Bible, and most good print copies have a subject index.
4. LITERATURE: You can consider something classic, such as Shakespeare (there is an excellent on-line concordance called Opensourceshakespeare.com), or perhaps a text you’ve studied in school such as The Great Gatsby. Or you can choose another novel or short story. Regardless, the text must be at an adult reading level (no Dr. Seuss here) and you must have actually read it.
5. MYTH: Find a published version of a story from mythology that relates to or includes the use of your word. You may want to choose several myths to show cross-cultural similarities or differences in the meaning of your word.
6. QUOTATION: Your requirement is only one quote, and it can come from any published (print or online) compilation of quotations. Consider choosing several and revealing different threads of meaning on your word.
Contemporary Uses of the Word
7. POEM or SONG LYRICS: Avoid self-published poems and songs--they’re often terrible (i.e. a site like HelloPoetry is NOT acceptable). Choose a poem or song by an artist who has been published (though you may find the poem or song on the internet).
8. MAGAZINE or NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: Look for your word in the daily or weekly news. Consider how its use today may be heightened or changed from other uses you’ve found.
9. MOVIE or TV SHOW: Find a movie or TV show that reflects your word in some way. Like with the literature category, this must be a TV show or movie that you have seen.
10. POP CULTURE: Find your word in something that’s getting a lot of attention right now. This category means some intense searching and listening--attention must be paid to the world around you. Perhaps find something that shows your word’s opposite, too. Possible genres include:
People Perspectives
11. INTERVIEW I: Interview an adult about the meaning of your word (this adult may not live with you). Write up an interview sheet with your questions and the person’s replies and make sure you get the name, date, location, etc. Have the person sign your notes.
12. INTERVIEW II: Interview an adult at CovCath: a school administrator, a teacher, a coach, an activity advisor, or a staff member. Make an appointment with the person you wish to interview and follow the good manners that we all know you have.
THAT’S RIGHT. THERE ARE 12 REQUIRED SOURCES.
Optional Resources
A. INTERVIEW III: This one might prove interesting. Try to interview three people--a child, one of your peers, and an adult--asking each the same questions. Then compare their responses and opinions. The same directions apply as in the above interviews.
B. POLL: Another option is to conduct a poll or survey here at school (or somewhere else). Remember to write up your questions carefully and thoughtfully so that others take it seriously. Try to get a good cross-section of age/grade levels. Again, make sure you don’t leave this until the last minute when every student in the school is being asked to fill out some kind of questionnaire, and therefore are not taking it seriously.
C. MYSTERY RESOURCE: Perhaps you have your own idea for something not included on this list. Talk to me before you proceed and I’ll probably give you approval. You might even want to share your idea with others in the class.
1. DICTIONARY: Look up your word in a well-researched dictionary. You’ll need to list the meanings that matter to you.
2. THESAURUS: Find the first group of synonyms listed in a good thesaurus. You may find that you’ll use these synonyms as substitutes for your word as you explain this part of your search in your personal commentary. Consider looking up antonyms of your word as well.
Classic Texts
3. BIBLE (you may substitute another spiritual text, such as the Torah or Koran): There are online concordances of the Bible, and most good print copies have a subject index.
4. LITERATURE: You can consider something classic, such as Shakespeare (there is an excellent on-line concordance called Opensourceshakespeare.com), or perhaps a text you’ve studied in school such as The Great Gatsby. Or you can choose another novel or short story. Regardless, the text must be at an adult reading level (no Dr. Seuss here) and you must have actually read it.
5. MYTH: Find a published version of a story from mythology that relates to or includes the use of your word. You may want to choose several myths to show cross-cultural similarities or differences in the meaning of your word.
6. QUOTATION: Your requirement is only one quote, and it can come from any published (print or online) compilation of quotations. Consider choosing several and revealing different threads of meaning on your word.
Contemporary Uses of the Word
7. POEM or SONG LYRICS: Avoid self-published poems and songs--they’re often terrible (i.e. a site like HelloPoetry is NOT acceptable). Choose a poem or song by an artist who has been published (though you may find the poem or song on the internet).
8. MAGAZINE or NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: Look for your word in the daily or weekly news. Consider how its use today may be heightened or changed from other uses you’ve found.
9. MOVIE or TV SHOW: Find a movie or TV show that reflects your word in some way. Like with the literature category, this must be a TV show or movie that you have seen.
10. POP CULTURE: Find your word in something that’s getting a lot of attention right now. This category means some intense searching and listening--attention must be paid to the world around you. Perhaps find something that shows your word’s opposite, too. Possible genres include:
- VIDEO GAME
- ONLINE VIDEO/MEME
- TWITTER HASHTAG/TIK TOK
- ADVERTISEMENT
People Perspectives
11. INTERVIEW I: Interview an adult about the meaning of your word (this adult may not live with you). Write up an interview sheet with your questions and the person’s replies and make sure you get the name, date, location, etc. Have the person sign your notes.
12. INTERVIEW II: Interview an adult at CovCath: a school administrator, a teacher, a coach, an activity advisor, or a staff member. Make an appointment with the person you wish to interview and follow the good manners that we all know you have.
THAT’S RIGHT. THERE ARE 12 REQUIRED SOURCES.
Optional Resources
A. INTERVIEW III: This one might prove interesting. Try to interview three people--a child, one of your peers, and an adult--asking each the same questions. Then compare their responses and opinions. The same directions apply as in the above interviews.
B. POLL: Another option is to conduct a poll or survey here at school (or somewhere else). Remember to write up your questions carefully and thoughtfully so that others take it seriously. Try to get a good cross-section of age/grade levels. Again, make sure you don’t leave this until the last minute when every student in the school is being asked to fill out some kind of questionnaire, and therefore are not taking it seriously.
C. MYSTERY RESOURCE: Perhaps you have your own idea for something not included on this list. Talk to me before you proceed and I’ll probably give you approval. You might even want to share your idea with others in the class.