Instructions for Glossary Project

Submitted by John E. Drabinski on Tuesday, 9/27/2011, at 9:39 PM

This is an ongoing project. Even though there are dates and names assigned, I encourage you to add detail to definitions and help compile relevant quotations. As well, each definition has a comment thread for discussion.

  • FORMAT: these definitions are wiki-style definitions, which is to say that you all of you should be working collaboratively on one entry for each term in the glossary. One person is assigned to each term, but that is only a starting point.
  • The assigned student has two tasks: One, define the term in detail. Two, provide 1 or more quotations as example(s) from the text.
  • Terms will be defined and redefined across the books and articles we discuss. The quotations (THIS IS KEY!) should stay at the end of the definition. For example, under the entry "marvelous," there will be definitions from Breton's "Manifest" and multiple works by Ménil. When you add a new paragraph to the definition (when a new article or chapter re-defines the term), create the new paragraph between the existing paragraph and the list of quotations.
  • Don't write definitions, etc. in the comments section. Comments are for, well, comments-- for observations, questions, discussion, random epiphanies, etc. Anything else should be in the body of the word's entry. If you make a comment, then think it is essential for the definition, please move it and delete the comment.
  • Please tag each entry. Some of the work of clarification happens in the cross-referencing, and this work is very important. Think about what terms are relevant to the one you're defining. For example: the term "nation" has obvious relevance for "nationality" or "nationalism," but not so much for "cars." Also, tag names when you use them, even if just mentioned in passing or for a point of contrast.
  • If you have put your entry into a comment, go back, move your information to the main body, and delete your comment.
  • Remember that this is a collaborative project. Among many things, it means that more information is always needed and welcomed. Adding to or editing an entry is not criticism, but rather furthering the process of clarification. This ideas are really complex. We need as many reflections as possible!