• Your first paragraph should be a description of the item (WHAT). Is it a toy, a tool, a book? What is it made of? How did it get into the box (ask Dr. Clark) or where (besides Amazon) could you obtain one? Include an image of your item in your uploaded document (no larger than 3x3").
• Your second paragraph should explain the place of origin of the object/what place it represents (WHERE). Include a map of that place in your essay (no larger than 3x3"), labelled with a citation or website where you found the map. (Hint: Your book and the associated web site with your book is the best place to begin.)
• Your third paragraph should explain the time represented by your object (WHEN). Is there a date associated with your object? Is it old? New? (Hint: the object may be new, like a costume, but represent something old, like the Renaissance. The object may be a toy, like Cheburashka, but represent something from the past, like the USSR.)
• Your fourth paragraph should link your object with a person or with a group of people, such as an ethnic group, religious group, economic class, or nation. (WHO) So, who would use the object, or who is represented by it? You may have a tricky one, like a card game about flags, in which case, postulate who would use the game.
• Your last paragraph is your WHY paragraph. Discuss WHY this object is important to understanding Europe/Western Civilization. You may address a topic such as:
o Religion
o History
o Geosranhv
o Ecology
o Politics
o Culture: Art/Dance/Music/Literature
For more assistance in writing on material culture, see : Daniel Waugh, "Material Culture/Objects," World History Sources, Center for History and New Media, George Mason University.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/worldhistorysources/unpacking/objectsg, de.pdf. (Last Accessed April 14, 2015).
Irene Bierman, "Material Culture/Images," World History Sources, Center for History and New Media, George Mason University.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/worldhistorysources/unpacking/imagesrr n.html (Last Accessed APril 14, 2015).