Define a piece of jargon (special terminology or the way to use a term) from you

Posted: September 11th, 2023

Define a piece of jargon (special terminology or the way to use a term) from your field of study (major). Use this option if you want to focus on your major for the entire semester.
1. Choose a single term that is very specific to your field that means something different in other fields. I chose the word “joule” which means unit of measurement for energy in physics but is a just a name in english
2. Clearly explain WHAT it means in your field. This will be situational and may contain more comparison/contrast than the other two options for this assignment.
3. Analyze HOW people in your major/profession use it. It may help to compare it to general use or use in another field. My major is electrical engineering
4. Research the etymology (history) of the term in relation to how your field now uses it. à some fields are old and have been using specific terms for centuries (e.g. mathematics); others are newer and have been adopting and repurposing (defining terms to fit their specific needs) more recently (e.g. bioinformatics)
Your audience will be juniors or seniors (11th or 12th grade) students who only speak English. They should be able to understand the term, emoji, jargon after reading your essay. Your diction (vocabulary) and examples should be academic but match their reading ability.
List 3 different sources you will use to help in your research. I will accept any type, for now. Focus on WHAT it means (dictionaries, thesauruses, translator programs), HOW it is used (academic or general research), and the etymology (websites, uses in older or current literature/texts). Do your best to set up the references and in-text citations in APA7
Introduction – This must include your thesis (controlling idea) and any information that “sets up” the rest of the essay. Your “formal definition” will go in this paragraph. Try to avoid “fluffy” information that your audience already knows or does not help define your term/emoji/jargon. The purpose of the essay is “defining the term.” Everything else will support this purpose.
3-5 Body Paragraphs – Each one will have a single topic, contain at least 5 purposeful sentences, and all relate very closely to your thesis (controlling idea). Even your paragraphs that feature your analyses and etymology should support your purpose (to define).
Conclusion – This must also contain at least 5 purposeful sentences. Reiterate your thesis and your main points. Avoid any persuasive statements or new information.
The essay should consist of 550 words minimum.
Reference List – Do your best for now. You must include 2-4 in-text citations and their references. Use whatever style you have learned or start practicing APA7. Reference lists do not count toward your word limits.