I want you all to go find the Oxford English Dictionary (on-line or hard copy --makes me no nevermind), which ought to become your best friend now and forever as soon-to-be-certified Carers-About-Language.  The OED is the best dictionary extant and the only one you should refer to when doing research, or even when looking up unfamiliar words.  The complete definitions and etymologies it gives, as well as the copious examples it provides, mean that it's the only word-reference for true geeks.

So, your first assignment, due on Wednesday, January 21, is to go to the OED and look up the word "assay."  I want you to copy out each definition (defs only) which you think will be relevant to this class and, in particular, to the sorts of writing I'm asking you to do in your "assays" in this course.  Then I'd like you to draft one paragraph where you coalesce the various definitions into your own understanding of "assay."

(Note:  This assay does not have to be thesis-focused and, since I'm asking you for "your own understanding" it can certainly include the pronoun "I.")