Paper Assignment

I got some time after class today to put together a description of the longer paper I want you to do for this course (see below). And to save paper I am going to post it here. You will note that it is not due for roughly a month and a half.

Sociology 230
Paper Assignment
9/30/08

A. Chapters 7 & 8 in The Geography of Nowhere contain some of author, James Kunstler's, most hard-hitting and perhaps controversial criticisms of the kind of housing subdivisions and suburbs we've been building in America for roughly the past half-century. In this paper I want you to identify and discuss any FIVE such criticisms he makes in these two chapters, and then discuss the relevance of these points to an existing subdivision or suburb around Spartanburg or other city you may be familiar with and can visit. Based on your observations, would you agree or disagree with Kunstler's points? Moreover, I want you to discuss how that place you observed might be improved if you had the political and financial capital to do so. Finally, as an Appendix, I want you to take TWO photographs of the place you observed: one of what you see as the BEST aspect of that place, and one of what you see as the WORST aspect. As a caption to each photograph, provide a brief explanation as to your choices of best and worst.

B. The paper should be roughly 8 pages, including the appendix. Please be sure to indicate the page number(s) of any passages from The Geography of Nowhere that you quote in your paper. Also, if you do consult any additional sources, including Internet sources (which is NOT required), please list them in a bibliography at the end.

C. This paper is due TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH, at which time we will begin class presentations of your paper. This assignment counts 50 points (40 for the paper and 10 for the class presentation).