We’re going to have a fun but challenging task for today’s beginning of class writing assignment. The idea is to write a short summary of the article that you read for today’s class using only the 1,000 most used words in the English language.
Consider our current project, the 750-Word Expanded Definition. We are relying on definitions and contextual examples of a technical term to better understand it. In a sense, you are doing the work of lexicographers. Lexicographers compile lists of words, study the meanings of words, create dictionaries, and study a variety of things relating to words, including the prevalence of particular words at particular points in time–i.e., which words are used more than others.
This idea of word use in a given point of time brings us to today’s task. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary reports that there are about 470,000 defined English words. Science Magazine tells us that the average 20-year-old knows about 42,000 words.
Why restrict ourselves to using a fraction of words that we and others might know? This exercise helps us think about how to think differently about the words and the concepts that they represent. It is a metacognitive activity that helps us break down more complicated words into less complicated descriptions. Also, it might be beneficial to think about how to use a simplified vocabulary to communicate with someone who doesn’t yet have your level of expertise in the English language.
The idea is to use only the most used 1,000 words comes from the webcomic artist Randal Monroe, who has done this on xkcd.com with the Up Goer Five (or the Saturn V rocket):
To help us with the task, Monroe built a tool called Simple Writer. Type your summary in that box and it will highlight in red any word that isn’t in the 1,000 most used words (according to his calculations). Think about how to break down terms into simple words. Think description. It requires thought and experimentation.
For this writing assignment, I would like you to use Simple Writer to write three or four sentences summarizing the article that you brought to class today. When you have finished writing it, copy and paste it into a memo with a memo head addressed to me and a subject (Summary of Article about X Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words), and write an APA Bibliographic citation for your magazine article to follow your summary. The memo header and the bibliographic entry are not bound by the 1,000 most used English words.
When you’re done, copy-and-paste your full memo into a comment to this post. Your finished memo should look like this:
TO: Prof. Jason Ellis FROM: Your Name DATE: 9/24/2019 SUBJECT: Summary of Article about X Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words Use Simple Writer to help you write a brief summary of your article using only the 1,000 most used English words. Don't worry about including the author's name or title of the article. Write three or four sentences. Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume number(issue number), pages.
If you need additional help with your APA bibliographic citation, check out their guidelines for articles appearing in periodicals here.
To: Prof Ellis
From: J. Corona
Date: 09/24/2019
Subject: Summary of Article about Augmented Reality using only the 1,000 most used English words.
I read this interesting piece of paper. It was about art that comes to life using phones. Now a days a lot of phones come with the power to make art come to life. The phones use a camera to take a picture of the art which then becomes a moving picture within the phone. Its a great way to make art more interesting. It can be a very good way for kids to learn as well. It can get them excited about new things that were not exciting to them before.
Goode L. (2019). Object Lessons, WIRED, 27(9), 42.
TO: Prof. Jason Ellis
FROM: Daniel Lawrence
DATE: 9/24/2019
Subject: Summary of Article about X Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
I was reading a paper about an animal like metal machine that could maybe do a lot in the future. This eight arm metal machine can both move on land and sea, with also future positions in a person getting well. The skin of the eight arm metal machine is thick and can bend a lot, its cool that a person can create a thing like this.
Laschi. (2017). âRobot Octopus Points the Way to Soft Robotics With Eight Wiggly Armsâ. IEEE.
To: Jay Ell
From: Dominick Denis
Date: 9/24/19
Subject: Summary of article about Cell Therapy Using Only the 1000 Most Used Words
A new place is created to make people feel better. The idea is to control the body’s system. The changing of the system controls a part of the body.
Kite. (2019, August). Cell Therapy: a new frontier in cancer treatment. Wired, 79
TO: Prof. Jason Ellis
FROM: Your Name
DATE: 9/24/2019
SUBJECT: Summary of Googleâs Internal Issues by Nitasha Tiku Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
The leading search engine company has had problems coming up over the past three times three years but over the past three years, they’ve become known to people outside the company. First, people have a lot of different views about the direction of the company and this is most seen in how people should be chosen for the company. Second, people have different views about working with states. Finally, there is a lot of talk on how to take care of bad eggs inside of the company.
Tiku, N. (2019, August 13). Three Years Of Misery Inside Silicon Valley’s Happiest Company. WIRED, 27(09), 80â95.
To: Prof. Jason Elllis
From: Eric Llerena
Date: 9/24/2019
Subject: Summary of Article about Ice Giants Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
The paper I came across was quite interesting. It talked about earth and what is around it. It helps people know what is around them when they travel out of earth. This paper helped everyone understand not what is just happening on earth but also out of earth. A man discovered things outside of just earth and that is crazy and important to people.
Bakich, Micheal (2019). Observe the Ice Giants. Astronomy, 52-55.
TO: Prof. Ellis
FROM: Ervin
DATE: 9/24/2019
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about Octopus Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
This is a writing about should human eat the eight leg sea creature. In the past couple of years, human has begun eating more of this eight leg sea creature and start over-fishing which causes some of these catching places running out of it. Also, some of those white coat people who study this sea animal have shown that eight leg sea creature is not stupid. On the paper that they showed, these creatures have the power to learn and are bright. Human often thinks of other animals to be not able to have thoughts or think, but now that there are studies that show these creatures are able to have thought, should they still be on our plate.
Root, T. (2019, Sept). Octopusâ Garden. Times, 194, 62-67
TO: Prof. Jason Ellis
FROM: Hector Dextre
DATE: 9/24/2019
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about the Battle for 5G Using Only 1,000 Most Used English Words
There is a war about the fifth-generation (5G) network technology between China and the United States. Huawei, the worldâs biggest telecommunications-equipped company, has been accused of theft of intellectual property. The United States has accused the Chinese firm of pervasive criminal behavior designed to undermine this countryâs place in the world.
C. Charlie (2019). The Battle for 5G. Time. 193(21-22) 40-49.
TO: Prof. Jason Ellis
FROM: Jing Sheng Zhao
DATE: 9/24/19
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about X Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
Our state Air Guard is often wants to as a family, and many children follow in their parents by joining. The 2 Brothers in the family, and their father got out as a leader from the 109th Air-lift Wing in 2012 serving more than 22 years in the Guard. This brothers left for training in 2018 and went to classes in job training school, and returned home station after that, they are now in training of the LC-130. Their father also worked for the C-130H.
Wood, C. (2019). Brothers Carry on Family Service Tradition. Guardtimes, Volume 12(3), 7.
TO: PROF. ELLIS
FROM: ALAIN PALMER
DATE: 9/24/19
SUBJECT: Summary of article about Sonos Beam Soundbar using only the 1,000 most used English words.
The Speaker is more than just a speaker box. It is said to be a small, but heavy speaker, and that is full of sounds you will enjoy. The speaker actually has a big kick to it for its small size. This speaker can even share with other computer sharing music today; also can join to home music machine as well. A very important thing is that its human can tell it what to play through voice.
Guyton, C. Sonos Beam Soundbar (September 2019) Maximum PC 93.
TO: Prof. Jason Ellis
FROM: Samuel L. Rivera
DATE: 9/24/2019
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about Twitch and the Work of Play using 1,000 Most Used English Words
I read a paper about a new form of work being created by people who are turning their personal play into a job. People are using playing games as a way of to get the attention of others and make money. The writer writes about what life is like for these people entering this new field of work in gaming behind the scenes. There is a lot more to their line of work than meets the eye and their work is not all fun and games.
TAYLOR, T. L. (2018). Twitch and the Work of Play. American Journal of Play, 11(1), 65â84. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=134153925&site=ehost-live&scope=site
TO: Elvis Duran
FROM: Marco M
DATE:9/24/19
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about Gut probe in a pill using only the 1,000 most used English words.
I am writing to tell you about how people made a new machine that is so small, that the being can eat without feeling hurt while the doctor check his stomach. Using this the doctor can check what and where in the stomach is troubled and can further check other possible problem that is causing low stomach work. It is now being used to help in poorer country where these problems are high.
Humphries, C.(2019) Gut probe in a pill. MIT Technology Review,122(2), 15
TO: Professor Ellis
FROM:âšMustafa Nagi
DATE: 09/24/19
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about X Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
In the paper magazine I read short passage called “Would you be Fooled by an Al Teaching Assistant?”.
It is explaining about researcher in AI which is auto works no needs for someone to control it, and work seven days a week, twenty hours a day. Just post your Questions and get your answer right away.
They find this way very good.
After few months the students have discovered that was program in the computer.
Author. D. Gershgorn (2019). “Would you be Fooled by an Al Teaching Assistant?”.(81)
TO: Professor Ellis
FROM:âšMustafa Nagi
DATE: 09/24/19
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about X Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
In the paper magazine I read short passage called “Would you be Fooled by an Al Teaching Assistant?”.
It is explaining about researcher in AI which is auto works no needs for someone to control it, and work seven days a week, twenty hours a day. Just post your Questions and get your answer right away.
They find this way very good.
After few months the students have discovered that was program in the computer.
Author. D. Gershgorn (2019). “Would you be Fooled by an Al Teaching Assistant?”.(81)
TO: Prof. Jason Ellis
FROM: Burhan Saeed
DATE: 9/24/2019
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about Technical Communication Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
This paper is about a man who went from being a well known writer to the head of that group of people. Who lost his job after the 9/11 blow. Most of the companies moved their companies to different countries. He still didn’t give up on his dream because companies still needed people who are good with talking to people and giving them the information in a way it will make them happy and that will help the company make money.
KAREN RONNING-HALL 2001. How I Followed the Money to Marketing while staying true to Tech Comm. PG 13.
TO: Prof. Jason Ellis
FROM: Your Name
DATE: 9/24/2019
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about âNetflixâs interactive television programâ Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
I read this interesting piece of work. It is about a TV show company leader created a plan. He lets people choose how the story goes while they are watching, like a game. He tried the plan on kids first before making it for big people. Many kids like it, but big people just want to sit down and watch TV instead of trying to make choices for the show.
Hitchens, A. (2019, September). Netflix’s Indecision Maker. WIRED, 27(09), 60â65.
TO: Prof. Jason Ellis
FROM: Tariq Hemraj
DATE: 9/24/2019
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about NASA rebuilding the new Concorde Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
I have read an article over the last few days about a new air plane being built. who used to be known as the Concorde. The company plans on bringing the air vehicle back from the dead. The new plane will get you to the place your going in just half the time of a normal air bus. Their new space travel machine has a new shape with less noise, and use of power
Ramsey, S. (2016, February 29). NASA Begins Work to Build a Quieter Supersonic Passenger Jet. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-begins-work-to-build-a-quieter-supersonic-passenger-jet
TO: Prof. Jason Ellis
FROM: Julia Shin
DATE: 9/24/2019
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about Breakthrough Starshot Project Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
During a space meeting, an idea was brought up that suggests using machines that give off light to make tiny space machines go very fast, up to 20% of how fast light moves. This means that we could reach the nearest star system in just 20 years. Although receiving backing, there are some problems that still remain like: we do not have machines that give off light of that power, the smallest space machines are still too big and can break from the power of the light, there are worries that any of this can be used in ways that could bring pain to people, and more. Despite all this, people in the field of study still believe the idea will be realized in the near future as it does not need new information.
Greene, K. (2019). Next stop: Alpha Centauri. MIT Technology Review, 122(4),67-70
TO: Prof. Ellis
FROM: Fernando
DATE: 9/24/2019
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about Uranus & Neptune Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
A man discovered looking up in space what was a big blue and green round world he wanted to know more about the new world. By finding it exactly where it was in space, so people can know where to look and find more information about the new world that can be easy to understand it. In finding, more about the world the people came upon another world but this one was a blue world and the different moons that where around these big worlds.
Bakich. E, K. (2019, October). Observe the ice giants. Astronomy, Vol. 47, NO 10, 36-43
To: Prof. Jason Ellis
From: Alpha Barry
Subject: Summary of Article about X using only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
Wall Street was set to open higher on these days as he moved to try to with the country, killing after between the world’s top two last week sent into a The 500 its worst run of in late May after both sides more on each other’s goods, and told companies to look for to doing business with .
In a case, he said on the day had to say it wanted to return to the table, adding that talks between the two countries were “more meaning” than any time.
“The feeling today is known, he is trying to walk back,” said Art, the man at the up for the City.
Rana (2019). US STOCKS-Wall St to open higher after Trump eases stance on China trade. Stocks. Volume 3. Page 1.
TO: Professor Ellis
FROM: Devina Budhan
DATE: 9/24/2019
SUBJECT: Summary of Article about AI Assistants Using Only the 1,000 Most Used English Words
I am writing to let you know that pretend brain helpers are going to be doing much more than just playing music and setting an SOS. Every day we count on our pretend brain helper to get us by with using simple words, but a computer company start a system called âBERTâ that learned how to gather missing words by studying a lot of saying. In other words, with this new plan, it would allow pretend brain helper to keep a conversation going and answer to more hard job than simple ones. This is already being used for the computer companyâs better form of helper.
Hao, K. (2019). Smooth-Talking AI assistants. MIT Technology Review, volume 122 (2), 27
To:Professor Ellis
From:Karmoko Sillah
Date:09/24/2019
Subject:Summary of article on exposing your information based on the apps you download using the 1,000 most used english words
According to the article, “The Loophole That Turns Your Apps Into Spies”, the author is giving readers insight into the negative effects of certain software applications, that can access your information without proper authorization. By downloading apps, your information is liable to be obtained by ad networks and data brokers which can cause extreme harm to you. Data is transmitted using SDK which in turn is what allows these unauthorized entities to access your information and annoy you. In order to protect yourself, the author offers the advise that we should be cautious of that which we download, and not to share so much information with apps.
Warzel, C. (2019, September 24). The Loophole That Turns Your Apps Into Spies. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/opinion/facebook-google-apps-data.html?searchResultPosition=1