LIB 315 Week 5 Assignment (Final
Paper – Alienation and Nature ).
Alienation and Nature
The Final Paper is a discussion of the relationships between the contemporary
human, religious belief, and nature. The following question should guide your
paper:
“Is
the contemporary human fundamentally alienated from nature?”
Defend your answer to this question, and propose a
course of action in response. If you believe most people today are
alienated from nature, then
- analyze
the root cause of the alienation, and - Defend
your own solution for overcoming alienation.
On the other hand, if you believe most people today
are not alienated from nature, then
- defend
a hypothesis about why so many people falsely think we are alienated, and - Determine
how you would convince them that we are not alienated.
Notice that the overarching question of alienation
leads to other questions. As you think about your response to this prompt,
consider using the following questions to guide your analysis and arguments.
You need not answer all of them in writing, but it will be impossible to write
a good paper if you have not at least thought through these issues.
- What
causes human separation from nature? - How
ought the human spirit respond to nature and dwell within it? - What
does it mean to say that something is natural, and how does the human fit
into the larger web of natural relationships? - How
does spirituality or religion lead to more harmony or greater
fragmentation of the human with nature? - If
we are still connected with nature, what are the attributes of those who
are able to exist within nature while also dwelling within our
technology-dependent society? - If
we are not connected with nature, what are the attributes of our social,
political, familial, and natural relationships that force such
fragmentation? - What
is the most appropriate ethical relationship the human ought to have with
nature? - What
are concrete methods humans can use to reconnect with nature or enhance
their growing relationship with nature? - Are
there some cultures that naturally connect more with nature? If so, what
might we learn from those cultures if we are not part of them?
As you write your paper, explain your thesis about
the primary topic. Think about how you will defend your position. Present
arguments that support your own position while also engaging arguments that
others might use to attempt to refute your position. Try to objectively put
yourself in the place of someone who disagrees with your position and address
the concerns of the other positions using factual evidence and logical
reasoning. Remember that it is not enough to merely state the position. You
must defend each position with evidence and argumentation.
The paper should be 8 to 10 pages in length (excluding title and reference
pages), and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center. Utilize at least eight scholarly sources throughout your paper to
support your own original argument. These sources should come from the course
materials as well as the Ashford University Library. Each
reading/selection/chapter from This Sacred Earth: Religion, Nature, Environment
is a separate source.
Writing the Final Paper
the Final Paper:
- Must
be 8 to 10 pages in length, double spaced, and formatted according to APA
style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. - Must
include a title page with the following: - Title
of paper - Student’s
name - Course
name and number - Instructor’s
name - Date
submitted - Must
begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement. - Must
address the topic of the paper with critical thought. - Must
end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis. - Must
use at least eight scholarly sources, including a minimum of six from the
Ashford University Library. - Must
document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center. - Must
include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as
outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Required Resources
Required Text
- This
Sacred Earth: Religion, Nature, Environment - “Sacred
Rivers, Sacred Dams: Competing Visions of Social Justice and Sustainable
Development along the Narmada” William F. Fisher (pp. 695-711)
Article
- Ivakhiv,
A. (2008).Green film criticism and its futures.
Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment. Retrieved
from http://www.uvm.edu/~aivakhiv/GreenFilmCrit.pdf
(The article provides a survey of environmental interpretations of film.)
Multimedia
- Suzuki,
T. (Producer), & Miyazaki, Y. (Director). (1997). Princess Mononoke
[Motion picture]. Japan: Studio Ghibli.
Recommended Resources
Article
- Mancilla,
A. (2011).Avatar
vs. Mononoke. Philosophy Now, 83.
Retrieved from http://philosophynow.org/issues/85/Avatar_vs_Mononoke
(This article contrasts two environmentalist films.)
Multimedia
- Cameron,
J. (Producer & director). Avatar[Motion picture]. United
States: Lightning Storm Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, & Ingenious
Film Partners. - Seth,
A. (Director). (2002).Dam/Age: A film with Arundhati Roy
[Documentary]. United Kingdom: BBC Films. Available from
http://youtu.be/QQ2iViE31bc
(This is a documentary about the Narmanda Dam project discussed in the
textbook.)
Book
- Brereton,
P. (2004). Hollywood utopia: Ecology in contemporary American cinema.
Briston, GBR: Intellect Ltd. Retrieved from the ebrary database.
(This book provides a survey of environmental themes in film history.)
