Tarps are a great addition to any camping kit as they have multiple uses:

As a ground cloth under your tent to help protect the floor and increase water resistance (just be sure none of the tarp extends beyond the tent walls)

Create a shaded area for dining or just hanging out

Hang above your tent for more rain protection or shade during the day

Make a wind break against wind coming into the camp site

Create a standalone shelter for camping at night when a tent isn't available

Make a door mat of sorts in front of your tent to keep from bringing mud inside

This one we're renting is about 10' x 12' so it's plenty big for most camp uses, and it has sewn-in grommets for flexible configuration in setup.

If you want something lighter, consider buying some Tyvek instead; anything you can do with a tarp you can just about do with Tyvek, but at a fraction of the weight.