Sophomore

Sophomore ( /ˈsɒfmɔr/) is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.[1][2] The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a professional athlete.[3]

Contents

Etymology

The term comes from Greek σόφισμα (sophisma), “acquired skill, clever device, method”[4] in turn from "σοφίζω" (sophizo), "to become wise, to instruct",[5] and the original English spelling was Sophumer.[6] Sophumer is similar to the present participle sophuming, which was formed upon sophum. Sophum is an obsolete variant of sophism, which eventually came from the Greek σοφός (sophos), meaning "wise, skilled, clever"[7] (see Σοφία). Sophomore, as an English word, was established in the seventeenth century.[8] It was not until 1726 that the spelling was established in United States as sophomore. Another theory argues that the term sophomore is probably a compound of the Greek σοφός (sophos), "wise" + μωρός (moros), "foolish, dull".[9][10][11]

Education in the US

High school

The 10th grade is the second year of a student's high school period and is referred to as sophomore year. High school sophomores are expected to begin preparing for the college application process, including increasing and focusing their extracurricular activities.[12] Students at this level are also considered to be developing greater ability for abstract thinking.[13]

College

In the U.S., colleges generally require students to declare an academic major by the end of their sophomore year.[14] College sophomores are advised to begin thinking about career options and to get involved in volunteering or social organizations on or near campus.[15]

Usage in other countries

In some other countries, such as the Philippines, sophomore is also widely used specifically in high schools. It is also used in Saudi Arabia in English-based universities and colleges.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Concise Oxford English Dictionary". Oxford University Press. http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/sophomore?view=uk. 
  2. ^ "Sophomore (1)". Merriam–Webster. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sophomore%5B1%5D. 
  3. ^ "Sophomore (2)". Merriam–Webster. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sophomore%5B2%5D. 
  4. ^ σόφισμα, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  5. ^ σοφίζω, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  6. ^ "Your Argument..is so sillie, as that not some exq[u]isite Sophister, but any punie Sophumer may at first sight discover the feebleness of it." "sophumer". Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. 1989. http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50231045?query_type=word&queryword=sophomore&first=1&max_to_show=10&single=1&sort_type=alpha. 
  7. ^ σοφός, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  8. ^ Hoad, T.F,: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, page 449. Oxford University Press, 1986.
  9. ^ μωρός, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
  10. ^ Online Etymology Dictionary
  11. ^ Merriam-Webster
  12. ^ Sophomore Year: Time to Narrow Down Your Extracurricular Activities
  13. ^ Strauss, Valerie (2006-02-07). "Sophomore Year: Between Lark and a Hard Place". Education section ugkgblj (The Washington Post). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR2006020601581.html. Retrieved 2009-05-26. 
  14. ^ "Do I Need to Declare a Major on My College Application?". Princeton Review. http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/articles/majors/MajorsBook3.asp. Retrieved 2007-10-22. 
  15. ^ "Sophomore Year: Get Involved". A year by year guide. Yale University. http://www.yale.edu/visvi/students/year_guide/sophomore.html. Retrieved 2009-05-26. 
Student in the United States