1) Choose a place in the UK that is known by more than one name (these can be historical names, modern nicknames, informal names, literary names, etc). At least one (the ‘official' modern map version) of the name should have a corresponding dictionary entry in The Oxford Dictionary of British Place-Names (2011) by A. D. Mills at: www.oxfordreference.com (see Name Studies).
2) Paraphrase Mills' account of the name's origins, and discuss the composition of the name in terms of its structure (for example, simplex, compound, hybrid), the feature(s) it denotes (habitative or topographical), and whether its component elements conform to expected patterns for place-names in the UK.
3) Compare and contrast the official name with the others that you have found. Discuss their structure, meaning, connotations, and where and how they have been used to identify the place. Your essay should take account of the names' historical, social and cultural significance, as appropriate to your chosen place.