the way we THINK

Project Guidelines and Requirements

For this project, you will be working in groups of 3, chosen by me, the teacher.

As you do this project, keep in mind the following major questions that you should try to answer:

• How do the words we use affect the way we think?
• Does the ethnic background or gender of an insulter (or the one receiving the insult) change the meaning of the words used? Are derogatory words appropriate in any context? If so, what is that context?
• Do most unkind slang terms originate with a harmless word and gain a negative meaning with time, OR, are they harsh words that we slowly become accustomed to using?

Survey

Design a survey about slang (of at least 10 questions) and administer it to at least 15 people. Keep in mind the demographics of the people you survey and use that later as you present your findings on a poster.

Database

Fill out the database provided with records of at least 20 words. Filling out all fields for each record may not be possible, but fill each out to the fullest extent possible to gain maximum points.

Poster

Attractively and clearly present: the results of your survey, a report from your database, and graphs of your results.

Presentation

Make a 5-7 minute presentation on your group's findings. Make your presentation interesting and engaging for the audience; consider asking them questions from your survey or involving them in some way.