Grammar for Writing: Level Blue — Chapter 12

Exhibit: Treasures of Our Heritage Imagine that you've just been named curator of the National Treasures Museum in Washington, DC. Your first task as curator is to create an exhibit of treasured national documents that represent American culture. For example, your exhibit could include the original Declaration of Independence. What else would you choose? Choose three documents from American history to be displayed in your first exhibit of national treasures. Then, write an expository paragraph about each item to be included in an exhibition catalog. STEP 1: Initial Search First do some research that will help you decide which documents to include in your exhibit. You might choose historical documents from the founding of the nation, from one of the nation's wars, or from a social movement such as women's suffrage or civil rights. Start with an Internet trip to two great national treasuries of historic Americana - the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. Library of Congress Smithsonian Institution Museum Visitors Guide Take detailed notes about the items you research, three of which might eventually be chosen for your exhibit. You will want to list as many as ten, then narrow your choices to a final three. Choose your treasures carefully, keeping in mind which aspect of American life each one represents. You may wish to choose three documents that all relate to the same era or historical movement. STEP 2: Expanded Search Complete your search by reviewing each item in your final list. Note its size and condition, as well as any special handling it will require. Also note details to be printed on the descriptive label that will appear next to it. Then, do a general search of additional information about each item. Select treasures that would intrigue your audience, that have a fascinating history, or that are remarkable in a particular way. STEP 3: Draft Your Catalog Copy In one paragraph you must tell the story of the American document you've chosen to display. That's quite a challenge. Start by explaining the historical significance of the item. Include the descriptive material for the label displayed beside each item. Conclude by noting anything remarkable about the document's restoration and/or preservation. Your catalog copy must provide a lot of information in very few words. Watch for ways to express an idea as succinctly as possible. Sometimes a three- or four-word phrase can be trimmed down to one word. For example: "in order to" can often be reduced to "to" except, of course, in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence! Here are a few other wordy phrases: caused injuries to (injured) at an early date (soon) gathered together (met) take into consideration (consider) STEP 4: Revise Your Catalog Copy Reread your copy, and think about how to make it more interesting and more informative. You want visitors to the exhibit to learn about the documents. If you are part of a writing group, have the members read your work and suggest ways to improve it. If not, ask family members or friends for feedback. Make a list of three superlatives to choose to describe each item. (For information on using degrees of comparison, see Grammar for Writing, Level Blue, pages 209-211.) STEP 5: Proofread Your Catalog Copy Proofread your work carefully. A catalog is a permanent record of an exhibition. Catalogs are often beautifully designed and printed on heavy, glossy paper to provide the best color and detail for the images. As the museum's curator, you don't want typos, misspellings, or grammatical errors to mar the excellence of your first catalog. STEP 6: Publish Your Work Assemble a catalog for your exhibit. Print out your catalog copy, and arrange it alongside the catalog copy from the other members of your writing group or class. Copyright ©2007 by William H. Sadlier, Inc. All rights reserved.