Writing Skills Exercise I

Answering Multi-Component (or Compound) Questions

Mr. Drusdow

World History I

The Question:• Will Durant, in his The Story of Civilization, strongly emphasized the

importance of food continuity as the fundamental prerequisite of civilization; i.e., it is only after this prerequisite has been met that the features of civilization (e.g., permanent buildings, roadways, museums, job specialization, etc.) can emerge. Do you agree with Durant? Why or why not? If a tribe that is sophisticated in many other ways (e.g., they possess art, written communication, and a fair and moral legal code may be a key component of their culture) still lacks food continuity and thus has not developed the features of civilization, are they still appropriately characterized as uncivilized? Why is food surplus generation alone insufficient as a prerequisite of civilization? Based on these criteria, is it fair to say that Uruk in ancient Mesopotamia qualified as a civilization? Should the much earlier cave-dwelling Neanderthal culture be classified likewise? Why or why not? Also, in an appropriately placed and conspicuous spot in the essay, be sure to propose your own parsimonious definition for the word “civilization.”

Until you break the question down into smaller components, it may look like this to you:

• Jdfhgkhglhslglgnlnl;gksarnklng.hhrtiuhkhkvhhkhgkhkhkhzl;ejtjpuyou090u;jjvgjl;,vgvjghrkhtyori.DHNehnvhvowrn4987fvnhkbibhjbfiuciu44t4vig785y537yvy5y3497ynvqilc47yt7ivtqvn74thvhihcbvbknoyqalhc vkhhuky3ithy6958t8ovyt35985no3hgkjhkvbbkbfkbgwrblncvhckhtkhtchggkwrhtkhtkv hkhwakgi4tk q3git34uhtkhkhvkhkthkv5kh.

First, identify and then separate the information contained in the question from the question itself. It already appears more

manageable!

• Will Durant, in his The Story of Civilization, strongly emphasized the importance of food continuity as the fundamental prerequisite of civilization; i.e., it is only after this prerequisite has been met that the features of civilization (e.g., buildings, roadways, museums, job specialization, etc.) can emerge. Do you agree with Durant? Why or why not? If a tribe that is sophisticated in many other ways (e.g., they possess art, written communication, and a fair and moral legal code may be a key component of their culture) still lacks food continuity and thus has not developed the features of civilization, are they still appropriately characterized as uncivilized? Why is food surplus generation alone insufficient as a prerequisite of civilization? Based on these criteria, is it fair to say that Uruk in ancient Mesopotamia qualified as a civilization? Should the much earlier cave-dwelling Neanderthal culture be classified likewise? Why or why not? Also, in an appropriately placed and conspicuous spot in the essay, be sure to propose your own parsimonious definition for the word “civilization.”

Next, separate AND NUMBER the components of the question so that they can be answered individually.

• (1) Do I agree with the importance that Durant places on food continuity as the fundamental prerequisite for the development of those features of a culture (i.e., buildings, roadways, museums, job specializations, etc.) that enable it to be classified as a civilization?

• (2) Why or why not? What is the basis of my judgment?• (3) If I apply these two criteria (i.e, the presence of both food

continuity and the subsequently emerging features) to tribes that rely exclusively on day-to-day hunting for food, must they still be categorized as uncivilized even though they may be very sophisticated in other ways?

• (4) The generation of a food surplus alone is insufficient as a prerequisite to the development of civilization’s features because_____________________.

• (5) (a) The relevant aspects of the Uruk period of Mesopotamian civilization are ______________; based on these, it seems reasonable to conclude that the Uruk culture does/does not qualify as a civilization; likewise, (b) Neanderthal cultures do/do not qualify as civilizations because_______________________.

• (6) Considering these variables, my parsimonious definition of the word “civilization” is ____________________.

Here’s how to build your draft outline. General statements are appropriate at this stage (like broad brush strokes used when

a painting is begun)—Add details and transitions later!

• (1) Do I agree with the emphasis that Durant placed on

food continuity as the fundamental prerequisite of civilization? YES

• (2) Why? A group that is constantly on the move because it must follow the wild animals that it kills for food faces an uncertain food supply. It is far too preoccupied with its daily survival needs to create and maintain the institutions of civilization. It is only when food continuity (i.e., generating a food surplus and then managing that food surplus efficiently through the implementation of appropriate storage and distribution mechanisms) is in place that the features of civilization (i.e., roads, schools, museums, hospitals, etc.) can emerge.

• (3) If I apply these two criteria (i.e, the presence of both food continuity and the subsequently emerging features) to tribes that rely exclusively on day-to-day hunting for food, must they still categorized as uncivilized even though they may be very sophisticated in other ways? Yes. The uncertainty of the food supply, the constant demand for mobility, and the continual reliance on “the luck of the hunt” makes these communities, though complex, far too focused on meeting their immediate survival needs to create those features which elevate a culture to the status of a civilization.

• (4+5b) Why is food surplus generation alone insufficient as a prerequisite of civilization? A community of Neanderthals can generate a food surplus by killing a huge mammoth. But, without the proper storage and distribution mechanisms, the kill will only feed the community for a day or two before beginning to rot and attracting other scavenging animals with whom the Neanderthals must now compete. And so, within a few days the Neanderthals must hunt again! Therefore, food surplus generation alone is insufficient as a prerequisite of civilization, since without the proper storage and distribution mechanisms intact the community is soon faced with the necessity of another hunt to procure fresh meat, thus preventing them from using this energy to establish and maintain the features of civilization.

5a) The relevant aspects of the Uruk period of Mesopotamian civilization are

______________; based on these, it seems reasonable to conclude that the Uruk

culture does/does not qualify as a civilization.

• I want you to work through this one yourself once we have discussed the Uruk period in Mesopotamian history!

• (6) Considering these variables, my parsimonious definition of the word “civilization” is a culture that, because it has developed a continuous food and water supply, is not constantly preoccupied with procuring the basic necessities of survival. Because these fundamental needs have been resolved through the establishment of food continuity, the culture has been able to create the economic, political, moral, and artistic features that enable it to be properly classified as a civilization. Further, its agriculture, its domestication of animals, and its industry allow it to remain in a fixed location instead of constantly uprooting itself to follow the migrating herds for food and skins. Written records preserve its cultural and technological heritage and detail for future generations successful strategies for adapting to environmental changes.

Combine your separate answers. Edit, add transitions, details and number each component:

• I agree with the importance that Durant attributes to food continuity as the prerequisite for civilization (1). A group that is constantly on the move because it must follow the wild animals that it kills for food faces an uncertain food supply. It is far too preoccupied with its daily survival needs to create and maintain the institutions of civilization. It is only when food continuity (i.e., generating a food surplus and then managing that food surplus efficiently through the implementation of appropriate storage and distribution mechanisms) is in place that the features of civilization (i.e., roads, schools, museums, hospitals, etc.) can emerge.(2).

• Yes. The uncertainty of the food supply, the constant demand for mobility, and the continual reliance on “the luck of the hunt” makes these communities, though complex, far too focused on meeting their immediate survival needs to create those features which elevate a culture to the status of a civilization.(3).

• A community of Neanderthals can generate a food surplus by killing a huge mammoth. But, without the proper storage and distribution mechanisms, the kill will only feed the community for a day or two before beginning to rot and attracting other scavenging animals with whom the Neanderthals must now compete. And so, within a few days the Neanderthals must hunt again! Therefore, food surplus generation alone is insufficient as a prerequisite of civilization, since without the proper storage and distribution mechanisms intact the community is soon faced with the necessity of another hunt to procure fresh meat, thus preventing them from using this energy to establish and maintain the features of civilization (4+5b).

• I LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR DISCUSSION OF THE URUK PERIOD IN MESOPOTAMIA! (5a).

• To me, the word “civilization” means a culture that, because it has developed a continuous food and water supply, is not constantly preoccupied with procuring the basic necessities of survival. Because these fundamental needs have been resolved through the establishment of food continuity, the culture has been able to create the economic, political, moral, and artistic features that enable it to be properly classified as a civilization. Further, its agriculture, its domestication of animals, and its industry allow it to remain in a fixed location instead of constantly uprooting itself to follow the migrating herds for food and skins. Written records preserve its cultural and technological heritage and detail for future generations successful strategies for adapting to environmental changes (6).

REMEMBER…• YOUR ESSAY SHOULD FLOW SMOOTHLY, SO ADD

ELEGANT TRANSITIONS BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS AND SENTENCES—LET’S PRACTICE THIS NOW BY GENERATING SOME POSSIBLE TRANSITIONS BETWEEN THESE COMPONENTS!

• DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECK TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT EACH COMPONENT QUESTION IS ANSWERED

• DECIDE WHAT LEVEL OF DETAIL IS APPROPRIATE FOR ADDRESSING EACH COMPONENT

• DON’T BEGIN OR END YOUR ESSAY ABRUPTLY (i.e., create a smooth introductory sentence as a “lead in” to your work and add a short paragraph or summary statement as a conclusion.)

Finally…find your own voice as a writer by using your own verbiage and organizing the essay in a manner which reflects your own careful thinking about this

question! For example, your opening statement could be your definition (6) prefaced by a sentence designed to

grab the attention of the reader!

• Although everyone knows what the word “civilization” means, few people are able to define its distinguishing characteristics. To me, the word “civilization” distinguishes a culture that...