Some students are nervous about writing so to start your writing process, why not be creative and make up a word to venture into the writing world? Remember when you were a child and maybe had a made-up language or words? Or maybe you created a word your use in your social media postings that has taken on a definition of its own?

Neologism

STEP 1: Each of us encounters moments or experiences when the right words don’t seem to exist for the emotions and ideas we wish to express. Consider some of these moments in your own life, and then choose an emotion or idea that you have trouble communicating. Instead of attempting to communicate this emotion or idea using an already existing vocabulary, create a new word or phrase to describe it. For example, when I am about to face a challenge of something I have never attempted before, the word I use is flutternoia (a combination of fear and excitement before attempting an important challenge).

Even if you’re struggling to create a new word, you can use an existing word and change the definition or combine two words. Use your creativity!

Many times, new words become increasingly popular and get added to the dictionary, especially words related to new technologies. Consider words like selfie, vlog, phablet, or meme. Some of student-created neologisms include:

• Absoluternal: that which is both timeless and unchangeable
• Jackosaurus: a deceased and much-loved relative whom the student believed she would spend the rest of her life trying to get to know more about and preserve in memory

STEP 2: Once you have created a new term for the feeling or idea you wish to convey, explore the word in an essay, giving both explanations and examples for appropriate applications. How and when will it be used, and why? The essay should be at least 250 words; 1 page double-spaced, in MLA format.

STEP 3: Post your essay in the discussion forum.

STEP 4: Complete a thorough review of at least ONE of your classmate’s neologism papers and answer the following questions:

• What do you think of the new word? Do you see it gaining in popularity?
• What are the strengths of the paper? What do you like about it?
• What would you say is the thesis statement of this paper? Are there topic sentences too? Explain.
• What points in the paper do you feel need improvement? Are there any mistakes or errors? Please be specific, but kind; this will help you and your classmates.
• Does the entire paper have fluidity? Are there any parts that you feel are “misplaced” or should not be in this essay?

Rubric