e-mail: mzlatic@umd.edu Room number: TDY
1132
The focus of this course is on development of the
American city from the early 19th century to the present. We will explore the
internal structure of contemporary metropolitan areas and the spatial
arrangement of residential, commercial, and other activities. Whenever possible
we will explore specific urban examples, and look more closely at the most
important new directions in urban policy as a response to decline or the need
to improve the quality of life of these settlements.
Text Book:
Levy, John M. Urban
Other
Note: Students
are expected to complete readings in advance and come prepared to take part in
class discussion. Whenever possible, articles and book chapters of major
readings (not the text book) will be posted on Blackboard Course Documents
space.
THE COURSE
REQUIREMENTS
The course will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays at 12:00 1:15.
Classes will consist of lecture and discussion. There will be Midterm Exam on October
12 and Final Exam in December as scheduled by the University check TESTUDO
Final Exams web site. There will be four written assignments 4 to 5 pages each.
The first paper will be discussed in class on September 24, the second on
October 22, the third on November 12, and the fourth on December 3. All papers
must be submitted prior to the in-class discussion and will not be accepted at
a later date.
Papers: 50 percent of the grade (12.5%
each - Further details will be provided on Blackboard and discussed in class,
as well as detailed information about each paper requirements Assignment
space).
(1)
Exploring the history - due 9/22 (it will be accepted but graded as late if
submitted not later than noon on 9/24 10% lower grade for each late day)
This is a paper describing students experience in an urban
area. Student should discuss a neighborhood development, unincorporated place,
or town that he/she is most familiar with his/hers home town. Make sure that
all the details of historical development and transformations are included. Use
government sources and other documents that will clearly define the place, give
historical background, present the political and financial structure of the
place and all other details necessary to get a good overview of the place of the
students choice. All sources have to be properly cited.
(2)
Observing the modern functions - due 10/20 (it will be
accepted but graded as late if submitted not later than noon on 10/22 10%
lower grade for each late day)
Students will be provided with a list of communities/ neighborhoods/developments
to visit. Choose a community from the list you want to explore. Student can not
choose the same community for the first and the second assignment. Groups of 4 to
5 students with an interest in a similar settlement will be formed. Do a
research about the area and prepare yourself for a field trip. Visit the area
and write a paper about your expectations before the fieldtrip based on sources
and observation after the fieldtrip. Summarize the differences in a concluding
paragraph. Each group will have to
present their findings (supported by photos) in a class during a discussion
jointly prepare a slide show of 10 to 15 slides and post it on the web before
the class discussion.
(3) Diversity,
immigration issues and urban reality due on 11/15 (it will be accepted but
graded as late if submitted not later than noon on 11/17 10% lower grade for
each late day)
Two articles will be assigned to read, analyze, and compare
their relevance to the issues of diversity,
immigration, and urban reality discussed in class. The paper will
include summaries of the main points (the thesis) of the two assigned articles,
comments on its different approaches to the issue, as well as their messages.
(4)
Poverty, policies and problems - due on 12/3 (it will be accepted but graded as
late if submitted not later than noon on 12/5 10% lower grade for each late
day)
Two articles will be assigned to read, analyze, and compare
their relevance to polices and problems of poverty discussed in class. The
paper will include summaries of the main points (the thesis) of the two
assigned articles, comments on its different approaches to the issue, as well
as their messages. The articles to be used for discussion papers are provided
on Blackboard in a Course Documents space.
Midterm
and Final Exam: 40% (20% each)
Both
exams are structured as follows: 2/3 of the exam is multiple choice questions
and 1/3 is short answers essays. Midterm exam will include material covered
form the beginning of the semester till October 15 (week 1 7). Final exam
will include material covered form October 20 to the end of the semester (week 8
15).
Class
participation (including attendance and in class discussion): 10%
Attendance will be taken randomly throughout the semester. If you miss
class without prior written explanation (by email) you will be marked
absent. Participation in class
discussion is required; attendance is not enough for receiving full credit for
this segment of the grade.
GRADING SYSTEM
|
Task |
Percentage - Points |
Grade |
|
1. Attendance
and participation in class 2. Four
short papers 3. Two
Exams |
10% 10 points 50% - (12.5% each) 50 points 40% - (20% each) 40
points 100 % 100 points |
A (90 - 100) B (89.9 - 80) C (79.9 - 70) D (69.9 - 60) F (59.9 < ) |
ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS
If you have a documented
disability, you should contact Disability Support Services 0126 Shoemaker
Hall. Each semester students with documented disabilities should apply to
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES
The University System of
Maryland policy provides that students should not be penalized because of
observances of their religious beliefs, students shall be given an opportunity,
whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment
that is missed due to individual participation in religious
observances. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the
instructor of any intended absences for religious observances in advance.
Notice should be provided as soon as possible but no later than the end of the
schedule adjustment period.
IMPORTANT
o
All
announcements and assignments for this class will be posted on Backboard. Check
it regularly.
o
For assistance
students have to come to the office during regular office hours.
o
All written
assignments have to be submitted on Backboard by the due date. There will be no
excuse for late submission of any of the papers. Discussions will follow the
submission and papers can not be submitted after a discussion.
o
Student who does
not appear in class to participate in discussions, do not take a test, or do
not submit required written assignments on Blackboard will be given a score of
"0" for each segment of the requirements. No hard copies will be accepted.
o
It is strongly
recommended to come to the instructors office with an outline and/or draft
paper during office hours. Explanations
of the requirements and help in how to structure a paper, and remarks for
necessary content improvements could be discussed with the instructor.
o
It is strongly
recommended to seek help with writing a paper, citations, or even English
structure and grammar from the
o
The Student
Honor Council proposed and the University Senate approved an Honor
Pledge. It reads: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or
received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination." All
students have to act accordingly as papers will be checked electronically for
plagiarism.
Schedule of classes
and readings
September 3 week 1 Overview
of the course, syllabus, assignments, requirements
Introduction
to Urban
September 8 10 week 2 The Origin of the City and the American Industrial City
Levy Chapter 1 and 2
http://www.archive.org/details/CityTheP1939_2 (film)
September 15 17 week 3 Urban growth - The Emerging of Metropolitan America
Levy
Chapter 3
+Siegel
- The death and life of
+Bernstein, Palmeri and
Crockett, An Inner City Renaissance
+
September 22 24 week 4 Suburban Era Levitt
+Peter Bacon Hales, Building
1st short paper due: Exploring
the urban history - due 9/22, Discussion on 9/24
Sept. 29 Oct. 1 week 5 Forms -
+
+Amy Gardner - Plan to Remake Tysons Corner
+ Lewis
-A Chance to Make a
City
Government
Levy
Chapter 4 and 5
October 6 8 week 6 City Finances
Levy
Chapter 6
The
Economy of the City
Levy
Chapter 7
+Jehl - As Cities Move to
Privatize Water Atlanta Steps back
+Gardyn - Packaging Cities
October 13 15 week 7 Planning the City/ Smart Growth
Levy
Chapter 8
+ Bruce Katz,
The Federal Role in Curbing Sprawl
+Swope -
Unscrambling the City.doc
+Schmidt,
Sprawl The New Manifest Destiny. PDF
Midterm: 10/15
October 20 22 week 8 Where
we live Housing provision and policies
Levy Chapter 9 10
+ Frey -City Families and Suburban Singles
Observing the modern functions - field trip
experience: discussion short 5 minutes presentations for each site
2nd short paper due: Observing modern functions - due 10/20,
discussion follows on 10/22
October 27 29 week 9 Housing Markets
+John Powell and Kathleen
Graham, Urban Fragmentation as a Barrier to Equal Opportunity.
+Quigley and Raphael, Homelessness in the
Homeless
+Quigley
and Raphael, Homelessness in the
November 3 5 week 10 Migration
and urban growth
November 10 -12 week 11 The immigrants who they are, where they live?
Levy
Chapter 11 12
+Edward Glaeser
and Jesse Shapiro, City Growth and the 2000 Census: Which Places Grew, and Why
+Card - Immigration into
American Cities
November 17 -19 Week 12 Poverty
and policies
Levy Chapter 13 14
Paper on
diversity and urban reality - due 11/17, discussion follows on 11/19
Note:
Articles required for a discussion paper:
1. Frey - Melting Pot Suburbs - A Census 2000 Study
of Suburban Diversity,
2. Avlon, Segregation in
November 24 (no class on 26) The Older American Cities,
+G.
Thomas Kingsley and Kathryn L.S. Pettit, Concentrated Poverty: Dynamics of
Change. Urban Institute, 2007
December 1 3 Week 14 Crime and the city
Levy
Chapter 15
+Urban
crime, Crime and
Justice, Vol 4
Paper on poverty, policies and problems
due 12/1, discussion follows on 12/3 (Articles
required for a discussion paper: Abramsky - Crossing
the Line and Levitt - Understanding Why Crime 2004)
December 8 10 Week 15 Future Urban American / How to Revive
Summary
of the course
December
---? Week 16 Final exam date will be posted on Blackboard at a later date (see
also the University schedule for date, time, and place)