How your final grade is calculated
10%
15%
15%
10%
35%
15%
Special note:
Academic accommodations are available for students registered with the Office for Accessibility and Educational Opportunity. Students in need of ADA/504 accommodations should schedule an appointment with me early in the semester to discuss any accommodations for this course which have been approved by the Office for Accessibility and Educational Opportunity, as indicated in your AEO accommodation letter.
Attendance and class participation
First, regular attendance is a must for this course. Absences for more than two weeks will impair your participation grade. Absence in more than two classes will affect your final grade, as will repeated failure to take part in class discussions and group exercises (in classroom and on Moodle). Attendance at Urban Studies lectures or other extracurricular events posted on the Moodle schedule is expected unless you notify me about conflicting courses or required events.
As for participation, come to class with the required readings (printed out or on laptop), having read and annotated them by their assigned dates. Be ready to take part in discussions in class and (when assigned) on Moodle. Contribute to group activities in good faith.
Policy on using AI and other technologies: Students are not allowed to use artificial intelligence writing platforms like ChatGPT on any assignments in this course unless I officially permit it for specific exercises or assignments.
Otherwise, I'm happy to let you use laptops and iPads to do the electronic readings and to take notes in class. Be conscientious when using these devices. If you find your reading comprehension suffers because you don't have a hard copy to write notes on, then print the electronic readings out. (Ask me if you would like hard copies regularly.) And please limit your use of laptops and iPads in the classroom to note-taking and internet browsing of course materials only. If your use of these technologies distracts yourself, other students or me, you'll be asked to turn off your wi-fi or your device.
Chicago School response
Students will write a 3-5 page research brief about a non-Chicago city or neighborhood that illustrates or challenges one or more theses of the Chicago School.
Take-home midterm
A take-home midterm will be given out on March 3 It will be due on March 7 (the Friday before spring break).
Capital investment role play and brief
Students will conduct a group role-play exercise in class on Wednesday, March 5. On March 24 (the first class following spring break), each student will turn in a two-page brief discussing the outcomes and lessons of the exercise.
Paradigm city project
Students will work in groups of 4 on a semester-long research project that theorizes the paradigmatic quality of a particular city.
For specific instructions on this assignment, click here.
Take-home final exam
A take-home final will be given out at our last class on May 5. It will be due by May 13 — the last day of the study period.