Could you prove that a true patriot is someone who refuses to go to war for his country? Ultimately, come up with your own word to define.

The goal of this assignment is to redefine a word in an unusual or unexpected way. For example, you could choose to define family as those people who share a community or common experience, such as with cancer survivors. Perhaps you could define success not by how many toys or money one has but by how many close friends a person claims. Maybe you want to redefine virgins as an endangered species, or explore how bullies are really terrorists. If your best friend is a Yankee, could you exaggerate some of his behaviors to redefine the term and get in a few humorous digs? Could you prove that a true patriot is someone who refuses to go to war for his country? Ultimately, come up with your own word to define.

The best essays make compelling observations and avoid cliches. Select abstract, obscure, frequently misunderstood, or commonplace words that can be reinterpreted, rather than relying on simple concrete nouns that have limited potential, such as car, house, tree, cat.

Visit an academically based online dictionary (Im a big fan of the one at dictionary.com). Select a word you wish to explore, and develop a logical order for your essay. For example, present the words etymology in the first body paragraph. Discuss the most common, practical understanding of the word in the second paragraph. In the third body paragraph, reveal the new way others should relate to your word.

Make sure that your theme has a strong introduction; a clear, directive thesis sentence/statement; well developed and organized body paragraphs; and a summative conclusion that “wraps up” the ideas you have expressed in your paper. This five-paragraph theme should be no less than 500 words and (ideally) no more than 750 words. Consider the tone you wish to set as you develop your essay. Careful writers will begin with an outline. Successful essays will offer many examples of the word at work. Remember to include a Work Cited page and for the reference. The entry should look something like this:

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