Overview
Length:1250 – 1500 words (5 pages double-spaced)
Overview For the final paper, students will be responsible for investigating a place-specific topic in LA or another city/suburb such as gentrification in West Adams, urban (re)development around the LA Olympics, police reform in South LA, the suburbanization of poverty in Irvine, etc. through secondary research (news articles, policy reports, census data, academic articles). Whatever research topic and case that you chose to focus on, you must deploy the conceptual tools and empirical cases from the readings and lectures to analyze, interpret, and form a position on your issue. Key Elements *Number of Paragraphs for each section are suggestions only* Substantive - Introduction: A central question that your essay is going to answer or examine. A clear thesis statement of your argument (1-2 paragraphs) - Background: Historical background of the neighborhood, city, or region in relation to your issue. Demographic context of ethnicity, class, and other census variables (1-2 paragraphs). - Analysis: Combining course readings and outside sources to analyze your issue (i.e. a trend in urbanization, sides of a policy debate, a struggle over urban development, an urban social problem). (The bulk of the paper) - Conclusion: Ties together elements of the analysis back to your argument. (1 paragraph) o Optional alternative to the conclusion above: Policy Recommendation(s) Conclusion. Connecting your analysis to make an argument for policies and practices that can be adopted by governments, NGO’s, individuals or businesses. (1-3 paragraphs). Formal - 1250-1500 words, double-spaced, one-inch margins, with page numbers, and a Title. (Abstracts should not be included in the final paper submission) - Engages with four or more readings from the course. Two of these four should be engaged with substantially – ie more than a single sentence or passing reference, drawing on a key concept or central argument, specific example(s), etc. Uses specific examples and quotations from the texts to support analysis. Lecture material can be cited and count as one of the required course readings and/or Articles/Chapters included in the Honors Section syllabus. - Engages with four or more outside sources (newspaper articles, census data, academic articles, books, podcasts, other media)
- In-line citations (author year: pg number) ie (Smith 1996: 23). - A list of works cited (not included in the word count). I do not care which specific format you chose, but it should be an official format (ie Chicago, MLA, ASA, etc) and be consistent. - There will be a half-letter grade deduction for each day late. No papers will be accepted after Friday Dec 15
This has all the documents from the class