Instructions for assignment:
Rubric for final Essay: (50 points)
1 Beginning: The essay does NOT address the main question or issue, and it is obvious that the author has not retained any information from the course.
2 Developing: The author attempts to address the main question or issue but fails. The author has retained some information from the course but does not fully understand its meaning or context and cannot clearly convey it to others.
3 Accomplished: The author competently addresses the main question or issue but does not add much new insight into the subject. That said, it is clear that the author has learned a great deal in class and is able to communicate this knowledge to others.
4 Exemplary: The author directly addresses the main question or issue and adds new insight to the subject not provided in lectures, readings, or class discussions. The author has retained nearly all of the knowledge presented in class. The author can synthesize this knowledge in new ways and relate to material not covered in the course.
| Requirements | 50 points |
|
Word Count & Depth
Requirement: 1,500+ Words |
10 points |
| Grammar & Mechanics | 10 points |
| Flow & Structure | 10 points |
|
Research Quality
Requirement: 3 Sources |
10 points |
|
Formatting Requirement: MLA Style |
10 points |
Key infrastructure networks to focus on include:
- Transportation infrastructure: Roads, rail, shipping
- Energy infrastructure: Power sources (coal, petroleum, wind, water…),
- Industrial production: Key centers of industry
- Telecommunications infrastructure: Telephone, television, internet accessibility
- Utilities: Water, sewerage, waste management
- Coastal infrastructure: Flood protection, seawalls, ports, etc.
Learning Objectives
In the interest of being as transparent as possible, this assignment has been designed to meet three objectives:
- This assignment will enable you to critically apply the knowledge developed throughout the course of this semester to a specific city. As such, it will enable you to empirically ground and internalize several of the key concepts from this course.
- This assignment will introduce you to the process involved in conducting and writing academic research. You will work through all stages involved in carrying out research and preparing different ways to present research findings.
- This assignment will develop several transferable skills. In the course of completing this assignment, you will gain valuable experience organizing and carrying out individual and collaborative research and writing.
References and citations:
- You should use references whenever you are conveying information that is: a) not common knowledge; and/or b) not your own idea; and/or c) a direct quotation.
- In text, you can cite as follows:
o Some people argue that suburbanization is an exclusionary activity (Davis 1992).
o Davis (1992) argues that suburbanization is an exclusionary activity.
o “Suburbanization is an exclusionary activity” (Davis 1992: 349).
- You should always include a reference list at the end of your paper. EVERY item you reference – whether it is an academic journal article, book, government policy, UN study, website, etc. – MUST be properly referenced in the ‘references’ section of your paper. While there are many formats to choose from, for this particular assignment the format you follow is not important, but it should approximate the standard MLA citation format. Some examples for formatting a reference list are:
- Book:
o Davis, M. 1992. City of Quartz. New York: Random House.
- Journal article:
o Goss, J. 1995. The Magic of the Mall. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 72(4): 438-478.
- Website:
o Carbonfund.org. ‘Why Should I Offset. www.carbonfund.org/offsets.html. Accessed 17 October 2018
