In this essay, you’ll continue your role as historian by researching the history of your name.
What is the origin of your name? How did you get it?
Who chose it? How did they (whoever that might have been) decide on your name?
How has it shaped and
defined you?
How do you feel about your name? Have your feelings changed, and if so, why?
Does your name have any personal or cultural connection to your family?
What does your name mean? Who or what does your name remind you of? Do you know what you
would you have been named if you had been born a boy/girl? If so, what would it have been? Any other points of interest about your name?
“What’s In A Name?” In the course we have seen the importance of names. Specifically, the name/title given for the top governmental official of the “new” United States (president) or the naming of states and territories (some for old European cities, others with Native American connections). We’ve also seen how and why African Americans (many of those newly freed) named their children or even renamed themselves. In this essay, you’ll continue your role as historian by researching the history of your name. What is the origin of your name? How did you get it? Who chose it? How did they (whoever that might have been) decide on your name? How has it shaped and defined you? How do you feel about your name? Have your feelings changed, and if so, why? Does your name have any personal or cultural connection to your family? What does your name mean? Who or what does your name remind you of? Do you know what you would you have been named if you had been born a boy/girl? If so, what would it have been? Any other points of interest about your name? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You may use the questions noted above to help guide you along, but they are only a guide. You can add new points of interest or subtract as you feel appropriate. The questions should help in fostering critical thinking from a historical point of view. You may focus on any part of your name: First, last, middle or your full name. Requirements: pay close attention 500-750 words MLA Style Word doc Double Space Arial or Times Roman font-12 point 1 inch margins This is your final essay. Close scrutiny will be given not only to the content of your paper, but its structure. Typos, grammatical and punctuation errors, and incomplete sentences will cause your paper to be downgraded. I highly encourage all to let another person review your work before submission. Often a second set of eyes will catch things you may overlook. Use separate paragraphs. No papers with one long paragraph. Do not use subheadings. Use transitions and topic sentences to move to new points of interest or emphasis. If your research results in using outside sources, make reference to the source within the body of your paper or cite with a footnote. Either is acceptable. Attach/upload your Word document (Blackboard has problems converting other formats) to the Blackboard assignment page. Do not write in the “Write Submission” or Comments section. This is a first person essay. Be creative. Have some fun with it, but remember to approach the assignment as you would any other.