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.hhrtiuhk
hkvhhkhgkhkhkhzl;ejtjpuyou090u;jjvgjl;,v
gvjghrkhtyori.DHNehnvhvowrn4987fvnhk
bibhjbfiuciu44t4vig785y537yvy5y3497ynvq
ilc47yt7ivtqvn74thvhihcbvbknoyqalhc
vkhhuky3ithy6958t8ovyt35985no3hgkjhkv
bbkbfkbgwrblncvhckhtkhtchggkwrhtkhtkv
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...