Assignments and Grading

Students are expected to complete all the required readings before the start of class and be ready to actively participate in class discussions. Students will also make group presentations, write five short response papers and one regional mapping/representation exercise. There will be no final exam. The work load (readings and paper assignments) is fairly evenly spaced throughout the semester. Please read these guidelines about writing, coursework and academic integrity

Group Presentation

The class will divide into five presentation groups -- one for each module (no presentation for the "history and politics module" or the "Atlanta & Detroit module"). (Group size will vary from 2-4 students depending on class size.) Each group is responsible for making a major presentation on the last day of their respective modules. These presentations may include images, maps, multimedia, handouts, etc. Students are encouraged to make creative, analytical, engaging, visually rich presentations that (a) address the themes of the module, (b) add new material on the theme not covered by the course readings, (c) identify and answer several critical questions raised by the module, and (d) encourage discussion. Group members should be ready to answer questions posed by the class members. Groups should begin meeting at least several weeks before their scheduled presentation date and begin preparations. Use this preparation time to read outside documents on the theme, prepare visuals, develop your presentations structure, themes and main analytical points, and develop a division of labor within your group. (Note: the goal is NOT to summarize all the readings in the module; instead, explore more deeply and innovatively some of the themes and ideas that emerge during the module. Your presentation should complement and augment the module's readings, not duplicate them.) These are major presentations; you are expected to put a lot of work into preparation.

Group Formation will begin early in the semester, so please plan ahead and be ready to express your preferences.

Five Short (3 page) Response Papers

The course is organized into modules, each on a specific theme. For each module, I will issue a question that relates to the course readings. Each student is to write an original response to the question. The goals of the assignment are to encourage all students to actively engage with the readings, to keep up with the weekly reading assignments, and to continuously relate the readings to major questions in regional planning. The answers will be due in class on the assigned date. Late assignments result in point reductions. [Note: you are to complete all five response papers, including for the module that includes your group presentation.]

• due dates: Oct 12, 30, Nov 9, 25, Dec 14
• 3 pages (double-spaced)
• Print your name and the question number (e.g., "Q2: Chicago") on the top of the first page. No need for student ID numbers.
• Please use a single staple in the upper left-hand corner. be sure to include page numbers
• Write concise, analytical answers.
• Refer to readings where appropriate (including materials found on the Internet), using proper citations (either use full citations in footnotes or use a bibliography).
• These assignments are NOT a place to simply create study notes or purely descriptive summaries of the readings.  Instead, use your essays as a place to demonstrate knowledge of the readings, to address critical debates in regional planning, and to explore connections between various ideas in the readings planning. Because there is no major term paper required for this course, you should put as much serious effort and thought into the sum of these short assignments as you would put into a major, formal paper.
• You may strongly agree with the readings for the week, vehemently object, be ambivalent, or not be moved either way.  In any case, be thoughtful, reflective, critical and nuanced in your answers. 
• You are encouraged to discuss the readings with other students.  However, each student is expected to submit his/her own individual, original responses.
• additional writing advice