Posted: November 17th, 2015
Instructions:
Using the questions developed in your visual and spatial analysis, write a 1000 word essay on a topic of your choosing that applies urban design theories/concepts to the same case study. The essay should incorporate descriptive analysis generated in the visual and spatial analysis along with additional research.
Themes, theories, and concepts for your topic may include, but are not limited to:
The purpose of a research question
A strong research question does the following: indicates the research topic, explains what your research problem is, and indicates why your reader should take this problem seriously.
Brainstorming Formula:
I am trying to learn about ________ because I am trying to find out who/what/where/whether/why/how _________ in order to help my reader understand _________.
The research problem addresses the question: So what if you can’t answer the research question? What’s at stake? It asks you to look at the bigger picture of what matters.
Example: I am studying stories of the Alamo because I want to understand why voters responded to them in ways that served the interests of local Texas politicians.
[So what?]
I am studying these stories in order to help readers understand how regional self-images influence national politics.
**Use this formula to direct your research and help shape your thesis statement**
During the 1980s, stories of the Alamo were reworked as a cautionary tale about foreigners, namely Mexicans, whose immigration status was contested at both state and national elections. Local Texas politicians focused on the Alamo as a way of pushing forward a xenophobic, racist platform, but their emphasis on local history did not resonate beyond the state’s borders, as evidenced by the liberalization of immigration policy.
Find and Observe
Avoid the “data dump” or summary report of information
Use questions to focus the research stage of the project
Different Types of Sources:
Primary Sources
**Your visual, textual, and spatial analysis IS your interpretation of these primary sources**
Secondary Sources
Tertiary Sources
How to Find Sources
Research Database for Architecture
http://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/resources/shore-moffat-library/selected-web-resources
Recommended Research Sources
Architecture:ca/a-z/subject.cfm?subject=7″>http://resource.library.utoronto.ca/a-z/subject.cfm?subject=7
Landscape Architecture:http://resource.library.utoronto.ca/a-z/subject.cfm?subject=185
Design:http://resource.library.utoronto.ca/a-z/subject.cfm?subject=130
Urban Studies:http://resource.library.utoronto.ca/a-z/subject.cfm?subject=87
A note on web-based sources:
Be careful about self-published Academia.edu essays. Many of these are term papers by undergraduate and graduate students. They are not considered reliable sources.
You should never trust personal websites.
Evaluate Sources
Just because a source exists does not mean you should use it! Before spending time fully reading and summarizing a source, do a quick assessment of whether or not it will be useful:
Summarize Information
In your own words, summarize the most important information in each of your sources. Focus on prioritizing what is significant rather than trying to list every single detail. If you have specific questions or criticisms about your source, be sure to include them in your notes for later use.
How not to plagiarize:
Endnote citation format:
Endnotes are located at the end of the essay text, not at the bottom of the page or as in-text parentheses.
Book:
First name Last name, Book Title (Publication location: Publisher, Date), page number.
Subsequent citations: Last name, Book Title, page number.
Essay in a book:
First name Last name, “Title,” inBook Title, ed. First name Last name, page numbers (Publication location: Publisher, Date).
Subsequent citations: Last name, “Short version of title,” page number.
Article in a journal:
First name, Last name, “Title,” Journal name, Vol. 1, no. 2 (Month or Season, Year): page numbers.
Subsequent citations: Last name, “Title,” page number.
Webpage:
First name Last name, Title of webpage (Publisher if any), available from Full URL.
Subsequent citations: Last name, Title of webpage.
It is absolutely essential that you property cite all sources and indicate within the text how and why you are using that source. Otherwise I cannot tell whether it is your idea or someone else’s.
Examples of how to integrate your references into your essay:
Assignment SubmissionChecklist:
Grading rubric:
Approximate
weight |
Content
(15% weight) |
Content
(20% weight) |
Content
(25% weight) |
Composition
(25% weight) |
Composition
(15% weight) |
Overall impression: adds new insight and synthesizes research and analysis about the topic and site, engages with a course theme, theory, or concept. |
Clear thesis (argument/interpretation) that lets the reader know what the author is communicating and why it is worth knowing about (the so what?) |
Evidence is compelling, accurate, and effectively used. Relevance of sources is clear. Ideas are connected to the evidence. Visual and spatial analysis effectively used |
Organization of text is logical, intro includes hook main argument, and roadmap, topic sentences relate back to the thesis, effective concluding remarks. |
Written in a clear and effective language, free of distracting spelling, grammar, and syntax errors, sources properly integrated and cited |
Endnotes Examples:
[i] First name Last name, Book Title (Publication location: Publisher, Date), page number.
[ii]Last name, “Short version of title,” page number.
[iii] First name, Last name, “Title,” Journal name, Vol. 1, no. 2 (Month or Season, Year): page numbers.
Place an order in 3 easy steps. Takes less than 5 mins.