Geography 410/510
Social Geography of Cities
Spring, 2006
260 Condon Hall
CRN 35051/35052
Jean Stockard, Instructor
103 Hendricks, 346-5005
Hours: 2-4, Mondays and by appointment
This course is designed to provide an overview of scholarly knowledge regarding the social geography of cities. We will examine
The historical development of cities, different forms of urban life, and why and how these different forms developed both in the United States and around the world;
The ways in which spatial divisions develop within communities and how these divisions provide economic and social opportunities and constraints for residents;
The nature of community relationships, how they affect individuals’ lives, and how these relationships may have changed over time in the United States with special attention to issues of health, segregation, poverty and race-ethnic relationships;
Political issues within cities including the role of planning and governmental policies; and
Variations in cities around the world and related social issues.
The textbook for the class is Urban Geography, by David H. Kaplan, James O. Wheeler, Steven R. Holloway, and Thomas W. Hodler (John Wiley and Sons, 2004). Copies are available at the University Bookstore and one copy will be on 2 hour reserve in the University Library. Readings from scholarly journals and, occasionally, the popular press, will supplement the book. All of these additional readings will be available on the web. In addition, as explained more fully below, graduate students will be required to read two different scholarly articles related to the readings, write a review essay of the articles, and report on their readings to the class when the material relates to the daily topic.
Requirements for the class will consist of: attendance and active participation in class sessions, a midterm and final exam, an extensive, individual term project, and, for graduate students, two review essays that are shared with the class. For undergraduates these elements will contribute to the final grade in the following manner: attendance and participation (10%), midterm (25%), final exam (35%), and final project (30%). For graduate students the elements will contribute in this manner: attendance and participation (10%), midterm (20%), final exam (30%), review essays (10%), and term project (30%). Graduate and undergraduate work will be graded separately.
Students should read all material before coming to class and be prepared to discuss the material. Students will be called upon at random to discuss the readings, and attendance will be taken.
The exams will require students to integrate and reflect upon the readings and class discussions, including presentations by students. Study questions that will be used as the basis for the exams will be distributed through the class e-mail list throughout the term. Students are responsible for making sure that their e-mail address listed with the University is correct. It is recommended that students use the study questions as the basis for their review and integration of material throughout the term. The midterm exam is tentatively scheduled for May 7. The final exam will occur at the regularly scheduled time during finals week: Thursday, June 14, at 10:15 a.m. Students will be allowed to bring one sheet of paper with notes related to the study questions to the exams, but all exam answers must be written in class during the allotted time. (Both sides of the paper may be used and any font size may be used on the “study sheet.”) Students must bring a blue book for the exam.
The term project is designed to help students develop an in-depth analysis of issues facing a particular city, apply the concepts studied in class, and gain experience in analytic writing and presenting information to others. On the first day of class students will be assigned a city that they will study in depth. The project will have multiple sections, paralleling the areas studied in the class. Each part of the assignment will require students to obtain detailed information on aspects of the assigned city, compare these data to information for other cities, and reflect upon the data and implications in relation to material studied in class. Data sources are all readily available on the web and will be described fully in class. While the assignment is not due until the end of the term, students are strongly urged to work on the project throughout the spring. They may also turn in the project for preliminary feedback from the instructor at any time.
In addition, a class presentation summarizing the analysis will be given in the last two weeks of class. Students will be divided into groups, based on geographic region, for these presentations and will be expected to coordinate with each other in presenting their analyses. Only the final full report and the class presentation will be graded (5% of final grade from oral report and 25% from the written report). In addition to the written reports and the formal class presentation, students should be prepared to describe the results of their projects in class at regular intervals. More complete instructions for the term project will be distributed on the first day of class. Electronic submissions of papers will not be accepted.
In addition to the term project, graduate students will be required to write two review essays. The review essays will focus on scholarly articles related to the material covered in class. On the first day of class graduate students will be given a list of possible articles and asked to choose two for review. Full instructions for the review essays will also be given at that time. The review essays will be due throughout the term, paralleling the content discussed in class. Graduate students will be required to send copies of their review essay to all class members and to discuss the articles in class on the assigned day.