Paper 1: Due 3/6
Instructions: For this paper, construct your own argument about Sebastian Jungers book Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging. Support your argument with evidence, examples, and quotes. Be detailed. Use precise language.
Your paper should have a clear structure and few if any grammatical errors (discipline) but it should also explore new ideas and potentialities (creativity). Below is only a limited list of topics. You are free to write on another topic of your choice so long as it is related to Tribe and you have a clear thesis.
Guidelines: 1000 – 1,500 words (about a 4 to 6 page paper) double-spaced in MLA format you will lose credit if your paper is under the length requirement.
– Make a new and interesting argument about Tribe. By argument, I mean “add to what he already said” or “argue against him.”
– Consider Tribe to be your primary source for this paper. By “primary source,” I mean, “use the book as your main focus.” Use at least two direct quotes from the book. Cite using MLA format.
Example:
The author laments the “predicability of life in an American suburb,” but he fails to recognize that his cozy existence was a privilege that most people, including many Americans, could not afford (xiv). Because Junger comes from the well-watered glades of American suburbia and is dissatisfied with its predictable comforts, he comes to romanticize war and conflict in less-privileged and economically depressed areas, namely the Middle East.
– Use at least one secondary source for this paper. Preferentially, limit your source to a journal (such as The San Diego Union Tribune or The New York Times) or scholarly source (such as one found on the articles database on the Library website:https://palomar.libguides.com/howdoifindarticles (Links to an external site.)) or a book or online source that is reputable (such as well-done Netflix documentary, not a poorly-produced one, and it’s up to you to distinguish).
Example:
Although the author argues that western culture’s focus on the individual does not satisfy our ancestral and tribal needs, he fails to recognize that the western value of individualism has many benefits, especially for people who fail to fit into the boundaries of their assigned tribes. There are many alternative “tribes” in America, from sports teams to church groups to Pride centers, and Junger fails to see our individual freedom to choose our own community as one of the west’s best values. Americans have the right and the desire for individual freedoms, and our freedom to shape our own destiny outside of tribal force reflects our Enlightenment foundations. An example of an individual who chose to shape his own path and form a new tribe is found in the documentary film Free Solo about climber Alex Honnold. While Alex did not fit in with his family or have any friends in high school, he discovered the individual sport of rock-climbing, and through it, met a new community of people. Alex acknowledges that he learned from a community of climbers, yet he still prefers his individual climbs, saying “I like the simplicity of soloing. You’ve got no gear, no partner. You never climb better than when you free-solo” (Free Solo).
-Please include a brief “Works Cited” at the end of the paper including all of your sources. (Do your best with the Works Cited, but do not worry about getting it perfect for this paper. We will focus more on secondary sources for Paper 2. A great source for Works Cited can be found here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_basic_format.html (Links to an external site.))
Topic A:
Sebastian Junger’s book Tribe argues that modern capitalist society in the West fails to meet the needs of our tribal selves. For thousands of years our ancestors lived in tight knit social groups and shared a common sense of purpose and sacrifice for the greater good of the group. The author asserts that Western capitalism focuses so heavily on individualism that we now fail to see any common purpose, leading to social fragmentation and an increase in depression and suicide.
Do you agree? What does Junger FAIL to mention? What did the author NOT discuss? What kind of evidence does he use? Does he have a selection bias? If you agree with his argument, what piece of ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE might you bring up to bolster his argument? If you do not agree, what additional evidence might you add to refute his findings?
Junger seems to find many faults with American individualism, but he does not seem to offer many solutions to his complaints. Are there alternative “tribes” he does not consider? Do we not forms tribes using online technology and groups?
Ideas to consider:
How does selection bias influence the author? What evidence does he select to discuss? What evidence might he be leaving out?
The more depth your paper provides, the better. More breadth you cover, the more likely the reader will get confused. I implore you to stay focused: why not choose one or two topics of discussion at most?
Potential topics include but are not limited to: gender and sexuality; PTSD and war; the communal vs. the individual; technology (caution: this is a loaded phrase and needs further definition… in other words: what kind of technology? If you mean smart phones, say it; technically, a pen is technology); national political groups.
Junger has many critiques, but not many solutions. What specific solutions might you suggest?
Suggested (not required) structure:
Paragraph 1 – Start with a two or three sentence summary of the book Tribe. Always include the author and title. A short summary of the book is necessary because you must assume your reader has not read the book. Next, transition to your argument. The easiest way to do this is to say “Although Junger says X, I argue Y.” This is your thesis. You are adding to Junger’s argument. You do not need to completely disagree with him, or you can, but you must always think of a thesis as adding something to the conversation.
Body paragraphs (about 2 to 4) – Include evidence or ideas that Junger does not include. These paragraphs must support your thesis statement. Include quotes and analysis from Tribe and quotes and analysis from your secondary source(s).
Concluding paragraph – Summarize your argument and extend the paper towards possible future discussion.
Topic B:
Talk about trash! At the conclusion of his book, Junger sees litter and trash as a form of cultural decay. Do you agree with him? If so, what are some solutions to trash? Some topics to consider: plastic production and the lack of large-scale recycling (for example: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled (Links to an external site.)); ocean and river plastics and initiatives to clean them (such as plastic-fighting drone technology: http://www.ellipsis.earth/ (Links to an external site.)); or plastic bag bans in Rwanda, Kenya, and now much of Africa. You may think about trash and litter in the media, or even local clean-up groups.
Topic C:
Does Junger romanticize war? Is he a privileged “dude” who, bored with his to-do quotidian suburban life, fetishizes the dangers of war and exalts human violence simply because he never had to experience it? Is he wrong that violence is one of the best ways for us to bond with one another? Are there not many examples in which war and violence does not lead to bonding, but to destruction? Is he a war tourist?
Evaluation standards for this paper:
1) The paper includes an engaging title.
– Is my title interesting? Does it introduce my argument appropriately?
2) The paper has a clear and coherent thesis that details your position.
The thesis is an argument, not a summary of your sources.
– Does my thesis take a position? Does it make a definite claim? Is it clearly stated on the first page? Is it interesting? Is my thesis too broad?
3) The introductory paragraph outlines the scope of your paper.
– Does my intro frame my paper? Do I avoid broad or reductive statements? Do I avoid statements such as in a world where or people everywhere or it is human nature to? Does it avoid the watered-down lead-in?
4) The paper is organized clearly with a clear structure. Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence that signals the paragraphs intent.
– Do my topic sentences highlight the importance of each paragraph? Do they make a claim that supports my thesis? Are there transitions both within each paragraph and between each paragraph, maintaining a readerly flow?
5) The paper is supported by ample and appropriate evidence.
– Has my paper remained focused on the topic, the passages and their context? Are my claims supported with carefully chosen evidence or quotes? Have I followed through by explaining and expanding on each quote? Are my claims convincing and intelligent?
6) The paper properly paraphrases and cites information from its sources. It uses MLA style guidelines.
– Have I cited my sources correctly? Are my sources reliable and scholarly? Do I confuse other authors voices for my own (plagiarism)?
7) The paper is written with a scholarly style.
– Is my writing concise? Have I omitted needless words or phrases? Is the tone correct for an academic paper? Does my writing flow? Does it use scholarly diction?
8) The paper properly uses grammar and mechanics
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