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Urban
Planning 489/589 Assignmentslast updated Tuesday, December 3, 2024
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Students are expected to complete all the required readings before the start of class and be ready to actively participate in class discussions. Written assignments and presentations listed below. There will be no final exam. Aim to space your work load (readings and paper assignments) evenly throughout the semester. IMPORTANT: Please read these guidelines about writing, coursework and academic integrity.
"Academic writing has never simply been about producing good papers. It’s about ordering one’s world, taking the confusion that confronts us and turning it into something intelligible, wresting coherence from chaos. And knowing that that doesn’t happen spontaneously or instinctively. That’s not a skill for college only. It’s a lifelong practice. " Corey Robin, "The End of the Take-Home Essay?" The Chronicle of Higher Education, 24 Aug 2023. [link]
Assignment |
Due date |
individual or group task? |
Points (100) |
Format & how to submit |
in-class presentation? |
1. Brief Presentations linked to Session Topics (each student is to do THREE presentations during the semester) 1a. NEW: Optional alternative to a presentation: a short written essay |
various (Sep 3 through Nov 26) - sign up for three presentations here. | individual | 45 total (15 per presentation * 3) |
upload your presentation file to this shared google class folder. | Yes |
| 2. Group Presentation of a Case Study (two steps) | groups of 2-3 | 35 total | |||
| Form groups of 2-3 students | Sep 26 | enter your group names here on this google doc | |||
| - 2a. One to two Page Proposal (single space fine) [each group should schedule a meeting with the instructor at least 1-2 weeks before your presentation to discuss your ideas and presentation approach] |
Oct 8 | 5 | please upload to two locations: Canvas |
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| - 2b. Presentation | four dates: Nov 5, 12, 19, Dec 3 -- you will present on one of these 4 dates | 30 | upload presentation slides to google folder ahead of time | Yes | |
| 3. Last Session: Course Synthesis | Dec 5: slide and presentation (in class) |
individual | 20 (5 presentation; 15 essay) | a. upload presentation slide to this shared google slide file ahead of time b. upload two to three page file (single-space ok) to Canvas |
Yes (short: 3-4 minutes) |
To enhance our thematic class sessions and deepen our knowledge, students will make short presentations on people, places, firms and events linked to specific class topics. Each student is to select THREE (3) presentation topics over the semester.
Format (updated Sep 23):
What is the difference between these presentations (Assignment 1) and the presentation for Assignment 2? Assignment 1: three short presentations; done individually, and presented during regular class sessions (linked to the topic for that session) Assignment 2: ONE LONGER presentation, done as a GROUP, and presented on three dated set aside wholly for presentations: (Oct 29, Nov 5, Dec 3). This assignment also has several intermediate steps: Sept 26 (form groups); Oct 8 (write and submit a 1-2 page proposal) |
Some students may want to explore a course-related topic through an essay format rather than a presentation format. You have the option of substituting a written essay for one of the short presentation assignments. If you choose this option, please do the following:
Format:
Students will organize themselves into groups of 2-3 students. (If you have a compelling reason to work as an individual rather than a team, please let me know and we will accommodate accordingly.)
I have assigned three dates for presentations: Oct 29, Nov 5, Dec 3. I anticipate circa 6-9 groups, so ca. 2-3 groups will present on each day.
Estimated time allocated for each group (presentation and Q&A): 25-30 minutes per group of two (more time for groups of three; less time for solo groups). I will provide a specific time schedule for each presentation date by mid October.
Topics for Presentation: You are to select a case study of either a place (e.g., a neighborhood, city, region, tech park, etc.) or a specific technology/tech sector. (I will provide a list of suggested topics, though you are free to choose your own. Here is a google doc where you will add your proposed topic.). Two requirements: (1) two groups should NOT propose to do the same place or tech sector. (2) Do not pick a topic that is already covered on the course syllabus. Question? don't hesitate to ask for advice about topics.
Dates:
on or before Sep 26: Students organize themselves into groups. Please use this google doc to enter your group members (and if known, your proposed case study).
Oct 8: Each group submits a 1-2 page Proposal (single space-text is fine) on the topic/themes for their presentation, including a ranked preference regarding the three presentation dates (Oct 29, Nov 5, Dec 3).
October: each group should formally meet with the instructor to discuss your project ideas and presentation structure. (You can sign up via my office hours page).
Upload your proposal to TWO LOCATIONS:
See suggested elements of the proposal below.
Note: feel free to use this table format as a template for your proposal: you can retain the left column text and then add your own text to the right column.
To facilitate this, I have created copies of this format and put them in the google directory.
Elements of your presentation proposal (note, some of these sections might be quite short, others more detailed). Please aim to be concise and avoid repetition across sections. |
example (hypothetical -- but based on some previous research I did) -- NOTE: my answers below might be shorter or longer than what you find need to describe your proposed case study. |
| title | Berlin: is the former center of European electronic high tech sectors reemerging (after the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989) as a thriving tech center? |
| names of student in the group | Max Reinhardt, Lotte Lenya |
| a precise description of the case study (e.g., the geography and/or the technology and/or tech sector); if useful, also describe the relevant time period (e.g., contemporary, or what historical period, etc.) | Location: the city of Berlin, and where useful, include the surrounding suburbs. Two time periods: to provide historical context, we briefly examine the dominant role that Berlin played as a center of both electricity technology and communications technology from the mid 1800s to the 1930s; we then examine the post-1989 era when the wall is removed, the German capital returns to Berlin and the city begins a new era of urban revitalization and growth. |
| central question(s) that guide your project case study | To what extent is Berlin expanding its role as a thriving high tech sector? If so, in what sectors? What are the forces/factors (locational, governmental/policy, cultural, economic, etc.) that serve as either locational advantages or obstacles to the city's high tech sectors? |
| context of project (that is, put your specific case study and question in a larger context of course readings, outside readings, scholarly or public debates/controversies; etc.) | Berlin was known as Elektropolis for nearly a century (ca. 1850s-1930s), and dominated the electricity and electronics sectors in Germany and Europe. This dominance was accelerated by the city's considerable advantages as the capital of the Prussian and then (starting in 1871) the newly unified German nation, including the tight interactions between the national government, the military and tech firms (such as Siemens and AEG). With the defeat of the German Nazi Empire in 1945 and the Allied-occupied division of both Germany and Berlin, much of the city's high tech sector was either destroyed or relocated to other cities in Germany and beyond. With the end of the cold war and the fall of the Berlin wall (1989), and the return of the capital to Berlin (in 1999), the city and national government have embarked on a concerted effort to attract both public and private investment to the city, emphasizing the city as a center of technology and the knowledge economy. |
| proposed structure/content of your presentation. e.g., how might you organize it? What do you anticipate to be the central elements and key themes? | Our tentative sequence of topics: 1. brief introduction to the case, the question (1 minute); 2. Context/history (Berlin's old role as a tech center before WWII; Berlin's subsequent loss of this role during the cold war; the transition after 1989) (3 minutes); 3. What happened after 1989 (the fall of the wall and unification), including public and private investments in the city (5 minute); 4. answer the question: has Berlin once again become a dynamic, important European tech center? (5 minutes) 5. implications/interpretations (2 minutes) |
| your methods (e.g., analysis of the literature, field work; observation; making maps and graphics, writing text; interviews, either in person or remote; etc.) That is, describe, in simple terms, how you will prepare for your presentation? | We will search for both historical and contemporary literature on the city (both scholarly and journalistic). We will also look for useful photographs and tables/graphs/maps to illustrate our presentation (and be diligent about documenting our sources). We may also look for a short video (or a brief excerpt from a longer video) to animate the presentation (this might include a current promotional video aiming to attract tech firms or tech workers to Berlin). We will also look at government literature, web pages, etc. used to both document the tech sector and employment trends, and also examine the web sites used to attract and promote the city as a tech center. If useful, we might arrange one or several interviews with relevant people/experts in Berlin (given the distance, done remotely). Our student group will meet periodically to develop a clear structure for the presentation, and assign tasks to each member. We will use google docs etc. to share materials. |
| an initial, brief list of source materials (i.e., a bibliography, including journal articles, newspaper articles, books, web pages, government documents, etc.) For the proposal, this understandably will be a rather short and partial list. (e.g., 3-6 sources). You will no doubt find and use many more sources between the proposal and your presentation. |
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| Briefly list any concerns you may have about doing this project (e.g., the scale and scope, finding materials, language issues -- e.g., researching an international city where most materials are not in a language you know). | This is a potentially huge topic, so our main concern is to keep it focused and within the 16 minute presentation time slot. For example, how do we tell the long and complex history of Berlin as a tech city in a short period of time? Also: how do we define "tech city" and high tech firms? What sectors should we include (e.g., computers, biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, etc.). Do the Germans have a distinctively different definition of "high tech" compared to the US? |
Finally, please list your ranked preference (1, 2, 3) regarding the three presentation dates (Oct 29, Nov. 5, Dec 3) Note: we can discuss the option of starting one week later, resulting in these dates: |
1st choice: Nov 5; 2: Dec 3; 3: Oct 29 |
instructor will provide feedback on group presentation proposals, and a tentative schedule of presentations.
Nov. 5, 12, 19 and Dec 3: Presentation dates. (Note: each group should upload their presentation slides to the shared class google slide file BEFORE the presentation date.)
Note: your slides should include...
Some general advice about constructing and delivering strong presentations [NEW]
Note: other than the one-page proposal (Oct 8) and your google slides, you do NOT need to submit any other written materials. The focus on this project is on developing a strong, analytical, well-documented and engaging presentation. Do strive for a good mix of providing context, analysis, and critique (and not just description).
Points: 35 total (5 for the proposal; 30 for the presentation itself)
| A reminder: Please conscientiously use complete citations. Basic principle of citations: Give credit where credit is do. If you are using outside ideas, text, data, graphics, etc. always point the reader to the source. Direct quotes should ALWAYS be put in "quotes" with a full citation. And avoid paraphrasing outside text: either directly quote the text (and put in quotation marks) OR write in your own original voice/style/interpretation. The reader should easily know what text is yours and what text is from other sources/voices. See my citation guide. (Once you get into the habit of citing sources it becomes second-nature and easy over time, and you will then avoid the messy and troublesome problem of plagiarism.) |
Link to shared google slide file
This last session will provide an opportunity to reflect on the course, and develop a set of conclusions and/or principles that you learned and explored in the course this semester.
TASK: Each student is to prepare a concise, insightful distillation of what have been, for you, the most important or resonant (or disconcerting) lessons/principles/ideas/themes in your encounters with technology, urbanization, tech districts, innovation, smart cities. I welcome a range of approaches and themes, and I encourage you to be rigorous and creative.
Advice: To refresh your memories of the topics over the semester, review the syllabus, your class lecture notes, copies of the class lecture slides (in Canvas files), copies of the mini presentation slides, and the group presentation slides.
You are to prepare several items:
(a) FOR THE LAST CLASS (Dec 5):
a brief (3-4 minute) oral presentation that concisely highlights your central points. For this presentation, prepare a slide to be shared with the class on this shared google slide file.
[NOTE: one slide will do, but if you find it easier to present your materials on two slides, that is also an option.] Consider various formats, including diagrams, maps, tables, illustrations, a concept map, a flow chart, a numbered list.,a storyboard, a comic strip, a Socratic dialogue. Use supplementary text where appropriate to elaborate specific ideas/points.
(b) FOR MONDAY (Dec 9):
A two to three-page narrative (single-spaced fine) that concisely explores these ideas. [to be uploaded to Canvas by Monday Dec 9]
As with all assignments, use your own distinctive writing voice, and put any borrowed text in quotes and correctly cite. This includes any use of ChatGPT or other AI output. Please see my citation guide for details (including how to avoid the serious problem of plagiarism which, yes indeed, includes use of AI-generated text without explicit acknowledgment.)
