URSI 602 Assignments

Classwork

This is primarily a case-study and discussion class, although I may bring in an occasional guest or indulge in the occasional lecture. You are expected to do the reading assigned from the texts and be prepared to discuss them in class on the assigned date. There will also be in-class projects which will contribute to your grade. Attendance at all class meetings is presumed.

Reading

The course calendar lists the dates by which textbook chapters and other readings must be prepared for discussion, as well as other activities for the day.

Projects

There will be 2 writing projects, 4 in-class projects, 2 "other activities," and 1 oral report to the class:

• Writing Projects:
  1. The first writing project is a case study of planning-in-practice. You may use historical, participant-observation, or interview method. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate the relevance (or irrelevance) of class concepts to planning practice. This project is due February 25.
  2. The second writing project is a brief essay arguing for your concept of what public planning should be. This project is due March 11.
• In-Class Projects:
  1. There will be 2 "skill-development" exercises (one on the uses of history, one on resolving values conflict). You will do the exercises in pairs, and each pair will receive a common grade. These exercises are each worth 5% of your grade.
  2. There will be 2 case studies which will ask you to decide which approaches are best applied in concrete situations. You will work on the cases in teams of 5, and everyone in the team will receive a common grade. These projects are each worth 10% of your grade.
• "Other" Activities:
  There are 2 other activities--a pre-test and your presentation of the "story of planning"--which will not be scored, but are worth 5 points apiece.
• Report on Reading:
  Each student will select one of the "Auxiliary Readings" and post a report on that reading to the class by the assigned date. These reports and the common reading from the text will be the basis of weekly "close reading" discussions in the class.

Final Exam:

The final exam for the course will be a practice run of the AICP Exam. 70% is a passing score for the AICP. For grading purposes, 70% or better will be graded an "A," 60-70% a "B," etc. Your score on this exercise will be worth 10% of your grade.

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