Group essay 2: the sprawl debate
This group assignment has two components: (1) an in-class debate on Tuesday, November 14, and (2) a 10-pp. essay due Tuesday, November 21.
The debate
Groups 1-6 have been assigned a primary reading that corresponds to their group number. In class on the 14th, each groups will have up to 8 minutes to explain the argument from its primary reading. They will have another 2-3 minutes to answer questions and defend their primary argument. The groups will make their presentations in the order of their group number.
For the initial 8-minute presentation, each group should answer the following questions from their primary readings:
1. What is the main claim about how sprawl (or, in its more favorable name, the suburbs) detracts and/or enhances QOL?
2. How does the article understand QOL: conceptual tensions, philosophical/historical precedents, etc.?
3. What kind of data does the reading cite to support its argument about sprawl? What kind of evidence do these data provide? (Bringing hand-outs is encouraged.)
The goal is to accurately represent the argument of their primary reading, successfully defend the reading's position, and offer insightful questions and rebuttals during other groups' presentations. To be able to do this, groups will need to have read the other five readings by the time of the debate. Group members are welcome to divide the labor among themselves as they see fit: who makes the initial presentation (maybe just 1 group member), who covers the other readings, who prepares the arguments, etc.
The essay
Summarize the debate on sprawl as illustrated by the six readings. The essay may take the format of a simple literature review (with six sections corresponding to each reading, plus an introduction and conclusion), or it may adopt a different kind of narrative. Again, group members are welcome to divide the labor among themselves as they see fit: who writes, who edits, etc.
Group members will share the same grade, which is based on their debate performance and their essay.