Paper instructions:
write 300 words as it required. follow the
requirement.
The things left behind or thrown away can hold more
information about the people doing the discarding then
their cities and monuments. While archaeologists of the
early 20th century sought the tombs of kings, modern
archaeologists place a greater focus on the homes and
middens of the most common socioeconomic classes.
The trash of the common member of the culture is far
more instructive than the tombs or houses of the
economic elite.
For this assignment I want you to record everything
your throw away for one week. If you live in the
dorms gather data on your roommate’s garbage as
well. If you are part of a household or live off campus
record what is thrown away at your residence. It is not
necessary to take out your trash and go through it, but
if you eyeball it and discuss with other people in your
residence what they have discarded you should be able
to obtain the needed information. Then tell me, in an
essay of at least 300 words, what you think your refuse
says about you and possible those that you live with.
The interpretation is the tricky part and I often
advise students to imagine the garbage belonging to
someone else, perhaps a neighbor. What does the
refuse tell you about the household? Can you gauge
the socioeconomic class of the household? Can you
tell how many individuals were part of the household or
if the refuse was even from a single household? What
is the political or economic system of the culture? Put
careful thought into your analysis. I will be expecting
you to be able to describe how the items of refuse
provides the information you present as well as painting
an image of the culture that created the refuse.
Please include your list of things that were thrown
away; though it does not count toward the minimum
length requirement, it is necessary for me in order to
grade your assignment.