Academic Writing

Write an essay in the following format answering this question: According to Wright, our civilization might be ‘falling into the biggest progress trap in human history’. Explore his concept of progress/progress traps and relate this to the idea of the ‘overheated engine of human progress’ (Godrej). What roles do politics, economics and ideology play in fueling the ‘runaway train’ of our civilization? Would slowing down the train be enough, or do we need to change tracks? Introduction: Define – What is Progress? What is a Progress Trap? Thesis and 3 arguments Body Paragraph 1: I. Part II: What question or topic should your essay address, next? a. For example, it makes sense to address the question, Why is the study of past ‘progress traps’ important, according to Wright?, before the question, ‘how can we avoid progress traps today?’ --> - use the fallen civilizations of Easter Island, Sumer, Rome, and Maya as well as examples from the stone Age b. Note: you may need to devote separate paragraphs to different illustrations of your understanding of the concept(s) (e.g. what progress traps caused specific past societies and civilizations to collapse? Body Paragraph 2: I. Part III: How will you incorporate Godrej’s text? a. You could start by asking: what does he mean by the ‘overheated engine of human progress’? or, ‘What is climate change, and how might this be related to Wright’s idea of a ‘progress trap’? "If in the year of 2030, carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere remain as high as they are today, the likely result is two degrees centigrade of warning ….this is the point beyond which certain major ecosystems being collapsing. Having until then, absorbed carbon dioxide, they begin t release it. Beyond this point in other words climate change is out of our hands. It will accelerate w/o our help – a classic runaway train." Use Source: Godrej, Dinyar. “Overview of Climate Change” from The No-Nonsense Guide to Globalization, New Internationalist Publications, Limited, 2011, 12-36. Body Paragraph 3: II. Part IV: How will you integrate your other secondary sources? a. One aspect of Wright’s argument that you need to address are the 3 systemic causes of the collapse of civilizations (which he borrows from Tainter) i. Runaway train ii. House of cards iii. Dinosaurs iv. Try to think of all of these (not just i.) in terms of political, economic and ideological dimensions. For example, he uses the concept of a ‘social pyramid’ to explain how societies are socially stratified (unequal) This might have political (neoliberal governments?) and economic (concentrated economic power) dimensions as well as ideological (what is ‘market fundamentalism’ and the ‘myth of progress’?). Conclusion:Answer the question: Would slowing down the train be enough, or do we need to change tracks?