READING ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT
Due: Thursday, September 29th by 11:59 pm on Quercus Assignments
20% of total grade
Instructions:
This assignment asks you to select a reading from the course syllabus and write a 4-5 page, double-spaced, critical analysis of the reading.
You are expected to choose ONE reading from either Week 2, Week 3, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, OR Week 10 on the syllabus. Please take a skim of the reading first to see if it is suitable for your critical analysis. Please send Prof. Bunce an email with your selected reading by the evening of Wednesday, September 14th (selections will be confirmed on a first emailed basis, so the sooner you send an email the more chance you have of receiving your first choice of reading. Please also send a second choice of reading, just in case).
Once your reading selection has been approved by Prof. Bunce, please write your critical analysis with attention to the following questions in your writing (you may use a few sub-headings based on this range of questions if this assists you with the structure of your writing). Please be critical and analytical in your writing (expand upon points with your own analysis instead of only describing the reading) :
What is the topic of the reading and what contextual background information is provided by the author(s)?
What is the main argument of the reading? What are some sub-arguments that you might be able to identify?
What research methods, if any, does the author(s) use and why/how did author(s) use these methods?
What are the main research points/research findings that are discussed in the reading? In your opinion, how convincing are these points/findings?
In your opinion, what is your assessment of the reading? What are its strengths? What are its weaknesses?
In your opinion, how could the author(s) have improved this reading?
In your opinion, what is the significance/relevance of this reading for the study of (urban) environmental geography? Did you learn anything new from this reading and if so, what did you learn?
You are also expected to guide a class discussion about the reading during the week that it is assigned on the syllabus. This class could be before or after the September 29th due date for the written assignment. For example, if the reading is on the syllabus for Week 3, then you will be leading the discussion of this reading in Week 3. For this, you are expected to provide a 5- minute informal verbal overview of the reading (no need for slides) focusing on the author(s) main argument, methods where appropriate, key findings, and conclusion. You are also expected to have 2-3 questions that will spark a discussion and facilitate the class discussion (call on class peers in turn). This activity is meant to be informal and will not be directly graded but will be qualitatively factored into the participation grade for the entire course.
