Final Paper

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DHM 3033 Material Culture

Oklahoma State University

Department of Design Housing and Merchandising

RESEARCH PAPER (This is a literature review.)

Homework (HW) 1-4

This semester you will write a paper about a particular object or artifact or collection of objects or artifacts of

material culture that are made by humans and directly related to your option area in DHM. Be sure to carefully

address all of the physical aspects of your object(s) or artifact(s) (i.e., dimensions/sizes/square footage; color(s),

materiality/fiber content (what is it made of?), maker/builder/artist/designer/distributor/retailer etc. (as applicable),

how was it made? (production method/construction techniques etc.), country or region of origin, cultural

significance, timeframe, target market/user/patron function etc. and utilize material culture vocabulary.

To space out your work on your paper throughout the semester and to give you feedback at multiple stages, there are

4 Homework (HW) deadlines with opportunities to earn points. Homework 1-4 are due well prior to your final

paper’s deadline. All of these items should be submitted as PDFs:

HW 1 Paper Topic (topic is a material culture object specifically related to your DHM/option area)

DUE: Sunday, February 28

Please remember to narrow your material culture object(s) topic down to include a specific timeframe,

country or part of a country, gender, brand, designer, price point etc. as applicable.

For example, your submission should look similar to this:

Student Name: Mary Smith, Topic: 18th century Japanese block prints created by Acko,

DHM Interior Design

Scroll down and be sure you have not used a disallowed topic.

HW 2 REVISED Paper Topic & 6 APA-Formatted References

DUE: Sunday, March 21

HW 3 Revised Paper Topic (succinct paper title) & Paper Outline

DUE: Sunday, April 11

HW 4 Revised Paper Title &

Introduction/Background & Theory Sections of Research Paper

DUE: Wednesday, April 21

(This is any of the actual text of your paper that addresses theory and should be

several paragraphs.)

FINAL PAPER

including title, major/option area, figures, and ALL references etc.

DUE: Wednesday, April 28

All items are due to Canvas in PDF file by 11:59 PM (one minute before Midnight) CST.

It is beyond the scope of this class to teach you how to perform basic tasks such as how to write a literature review

paper or outline, use the library, use APA format, develop in-text citations, develop a reference list etc. If any of

these topics are unfamiliar to you please be sure to seek help from the Writing Center and/or Edmon Low Library

immediately. Also, these may be of use to you:

http://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/outlining

http://osuwritingcenter.okstate.edu/

http://www.library.okstate.edu/

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

http://grammar.about.com/od/il/g/literaturereviewterm.htm

Be very careful that you are submitting to the correct Canvas folder.

Be sure to always write your NAME and TOPIC/PAPER TITLE at the top of your submissions. On the second

line indicate your major (DHM) and your option area: interior design, apparel design or merchandising).

This is an independent and original paper assignment.

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Take care not to submit a topic similar to what you have submitted in another class or similar to another student’s

submission. Be sure your topic and content of your paper directly relates to your option area! Please review OSU

Academic Integrity policies.

Exploring and expanding upon ideas introduced in What Objects Mean: An Introduction to Material Culture or in

assigned readings or guest lectures, write a brief, formal, research report (literature review) focusing on DHM-

related object(s) or artifact(s) (your selection must be related to your option area: apparel, merchandise, or interior

design). You may focus on a specific object or artifact or a group of objects or artifacts from a particular timeframe,

country, people, etc. Please note, your paper may not be focused on a person or animal or intangible object or

concept. You may “read ahead” and include ideas for theories from chapters or readings beyond what we have

covered so far.

• Avoid paper topics on the excluded topics list at the end of this assignment.

• 5 pages text minimum (Papers with less than 5 pages of text will be graded down substantially. For example, 3 pages of text can

only earn 3/5 maximum of the grade, or a 60 D. Note that figures (photographs, tables etc. and captions do

not count towards text pages.)

• 12 point, double spaced typed text with I" margins

• Do not set spacing at larger than 12 point!

• Papers should be written in third person; be formal; utilize excellent grammar; “flow” from idea to idea.

• Include 2 or 3 appropriate and informative small images (no larger than 2” x 2”) (APA calls these “figures”). Images should not be cut and pasted from your textbook or from any class lectures or course resources. Utilize

appropriate APA labels AND use carefully selected captions (titles). Please cite source of each image under

each image’s caption. (These sources do not count towards the sources for the text of your paper indicated

below. These images do not count towards the page minimum). Insert images at the end of the paper.

Engaging in research is an important aspect of this project.

• A minimum of 6 excellent scholarly sources must be properly cited within the body of the literature review paper (in-text citations) and ALSO listed in reference list.

• Text, images (figures), citations and listing of references must conform to guidelines published by the American Psychological Association (APA). You may want to purchase or check out an APA manual

and/or refer to Purdue OWL.

Directly copying sections from a source is not allowed. The absence of quotation marks (for direct quotes) is

considered plagiarism. However, papers should utilize minimal, if any, direct quotes. Every time you utilize

the ideas of others, you must summarize and cite the sources. Do not cut and paste tables from other sources. Be

careful to avoid casual language. Papers should exhibit synthesis.

• ALL paper topics should include a focus on one or more of the theories introduced this semester. The report should clearly and completely identify the theory, include a brief history of theory and who proposed the theory,

a definition/ explanation of the theory(ies) and include the application of one or more of the theories to

material culture in either a historical or contemporary application in your context. Be careful to include experts’

information and/or opinions from excellent outside sources in the body of the research paper. Use scholarly

theory resources for your paper. Your textbook alone will not be sufficient. Build on the information in your

textbook by finding and citing other scholarly sources.

• Only indicate your own reflections regarding the application of the selected theory towards the end of the paper. Make it clear what are your opinions and conclusions vs. expert’s opinions.

• Subheadings (e.g., 1700s-1800s, theoretical background, application of theory, etc.) are strongly encouraged and perhaps these are based on your outline.

• Since we are using OSU objects extensively throughout the course as examples, no OSU apparel or spirit items are allowed for topics/titles.

• REMEMBER - Only one attempt at submitting work to Canvas, in submitting an assignment, is allowed per item. The instructor will not consider second or third versions of assignments for ANY reason.

If an item is blank, an old version, in an incorrect file format, submitted in the wrong folder or not to any

folder online or has no name, etc. it will receive a grade of 0. Please be VERY careful when submitting to

Canvas as you are only allowed one submission. Please be sure that you are using a reliable computer and

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connection and are fully organized.

• Remember, for HW 1-4 and Final Paper submit PDF files only.

• The Final Paper should include your name and title (topic) at the top of the submission, your major and option area. Remember to include in-text citations in the paper for each new thought,

synthesize, paraphrase and include ALL APA-formatted references at the end of the paper. For the

Final Paper submission you do not need to include the outline you created earlier. Do not include an

abstract, key words or executive summary.

Avoid plagiarism.

You may not use any topics or content that you previously submitted for an assignment for this class or another

class.

You may not use any OSU objects or artifacts for any homework or assignments this semester.

You may not use any objects or artifacts specifically covered in your material culture textbook.

(Please review all chapter headings in textbook!)

You may not use any of these DHM 3033 previously selected general subjects for your upcoming papers: cowboy

hats or boots, stirrups, spurs, Dr. Martens footwear, Flapper dresses, shoulder pads, Burj Kalifa, Charleston Homes

Regency Dress, mantillas, George Nelson furniture Marc Jacobs products, sofa, mannequins, Hand of God, Red rose

dress Marie Antoinette dress, Marshmallow Chair, petticoat, Islamic tile, reticule purses, crocodile or alligator

handbag, Halston apparel or accessories, leggings, Chateau Chambord, Victorian cabinets, Robie House, wedding

dresses, little black dresses, dream catchers, swimsuits, bikinis, burkinis, saris, kimonos, Barcelona Chair,

eyeglasses, sunglasses, crosses, crucifixes, wedding rings, engagement rings, fireplaces, Coco Chanel apparel,

sewing machines, Oval Office, Colosseum, Selfridges department store, Lolita apparel, Louis Vuitton handbags or

apparel, long gloves, corsets, Isabelle de Borchgrave Art from paper, football jerseys, Harajuku Street Fashion

apparel, platform shoes, Eames house, Great Pyramids, Chinese Quiapo, Korean Hanbok, golf apparel, tennis

apparel, Jovani Prom Dress, Anthropologie’s store design, Andy Warhol art, 18th century Georgian homes, tiny or

small houses, Gaudi’s Park Guell, Dior products of any sort, shapewear, Louboutin Red bottom heels, St. Peter’s

basilica, Poodle skirts, Alligator Leather Shoes, Louis XVI Dresser, Tomb of Doges, miniskirts, Peacock Chair,

Dancing House, Persian Rugs, Yves St. Lauren products of any type, Christian Dior products of any type, pleated

skirts, Bellbottom pants, 18th C. Colonial dresses, Tartan Kilts, American Streetwear, sneakers or athletic shoes of

any type, Aztec art, Newsboy caps, Zoot Suits, leather jackets, Punk apparel, pearl jewelry, Gucci Dresses, Taj

Mahal, Pop Shops, wheelchairs, trench coats, mirrors, busts, Wassily Chairor Burberry products of any types.

Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) 2020 Standards

This assignment addresses Standard 9. Communication

Interior designers are effective communicators.

Student Learning Expectations:

Students are able to

c) express ideas and their rationale in written communication

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