Weed-out class (noun)
pronounced like "seed""doubt""lass"
Definition: A class made purposely difficult in order to force students to realize that their future studies may be harder than they thought. Sometimes, students are so intimidated by the class that they reconsider and even change their majors.
Attested: I first heard the word at the beginning of this year when people were describing one of the classes they were taking.
Example: You're taking that math class?? Everyone fails it you know; it's a weed-out class.
Etymology: The word to describe this type of class originated because this class, in a sense, "weeds" people out. People who cannot handle the hard work may drop the class or even change their majors. Thus, only the best prevail while the "weeds" quickly wither.
- Heidi Nguyen
Work (noun)
Definition: Something everyone has to do, but is rarely enjoyable unless your lucky
Attested: I first encountered work at age 4, when I finally became curious where my Dad was going everyday.
Example: "I've got so much work to do!"
Etymology: The term work is a derivative of crow spelled backward. The crow is often a symbol for death. Thus it's relation to work. Overwork can lead to death. After finishing high school, we start working, either at college or elsewhere, and don't stop until we're 60. It is usually very unenjoyable unless you are one of the lucky few that finds the kind of work you enjoy doing.
Dave Britton
Writing Seminar
Rhymes with "fighting men in are"
Definition: A mandatory writing intensive class for freshmen.
Attested: When looking at the engineering requirements of the different schools, I saw that at Cornell you had to take two Freshman Writing Seminars.
Example: "I have yet another writing seminar paper due tomorrow!"
Etymology: In 1966, the college of Arts and Science offered "Freshmen Humanities Courses", to "revitalize the teaching of writing". In 1975, the program, called First-Year Writing Seminars, had many more offerings. As the name implies, Writing Seminars are writing intensive seminars, or small classes, usually taught by graduate students. There is a choice of over fifty seminars one can take, ranging from Shakespeare to Technology.
- Naim Darghouth