Geography 1130 - Critical Essay

Due November 27 (25% of your Grade)

There are many different kinds of essays written for university courses, and a critical essay is one of them. To put it rather simply: A critical paper begins with a critical problem. This may sound easy enough but too often papers tend to be descriptive in that they describe problems as other see them, repeating back what is found in the source material used for the essay. A critical paper is basically an explanation, though there is an element of persuasion in its attempt to convince readers that the explanation is valid. And the paper almost inevitably reports information in support of its analysis. Research, primary and/or secondary, may be used to validate the explanation. But, the paper’s primary function is to present the writer’s interpretation and conclusions. The dominant purpose is explanation.

A critical essay will usually take a concept, an issue, or a method that has been taught in the course and apply it to new material. Although your effort is focussed on explaining that material, you are also developing and demonstrating your ability to use the concepts and methods introduced in the course, and used by geographers. The length is not as important as the quality of your argument, however, plan for 8 to 10 pages (approximately 2,000 to 2,500 words).

So, where do you begin? Pick an urban issue/problem/concept that you are interested in, or use the textbook to find your topic. There is a list handy in your table of contents:

City growth/urbanization
Urban land use, Urban planning
Housing in the developed and developing world
Retailing
Globalization/Economics
Poverty, Social justice, Health
Third world urbanization
Rural to urban migration
Third world employment/unemployment
Environmental impacts of urbanization

You may already have an issue in mind, this is a flexible assignment, the topic is up to you. Once you have picked the issue, choose a city or region to focus on. Is there a particular city you want to write about? Choose one you have an interest in.

Your focus is on this one issue and how it affects and is affected by the city you’ve chosen. You will need some basic information about the issue—descriptions, statistics, etc. But, as in your city reports, the emphasis is on the why, the how—the reasons behind the issue—explanation, not description.

Sources are important. You need a variety, including academic journals, your textbook (does not count towards your five sources), newspapers, websites…This is up to you—it all depends on your chosen topic. I will be looking for a variety, and I do expect at least 5 sources—do not rely solely on the internet! Beware of websites, they can lead you into untenable arguments. Be cautious about who publishes the site and what their angle might be. You must also include a bibliography or references cited list. Go to the library or Writing Centre and get a handout, use the College Style Sheet--the method of citation is up to you—but choose only one!

You must include a map! This can be your only figure included, but you must identify where your city is located—and make sure to refer to any figures in the body of your paper. Where you include them is up to you, either in the body of your essay, or in an appendix.

Use the library’s databases, good ones are Geobase and Ebscohost. And journals to look for include: The Canadian Journal of Urban Research, Cities, Development and Change, Environment and Planning, European Urban and Regional Studies, Journal of Transport Geography, Journal of Urban Economics, Journal of Urban Studies, Journal of Planning and Development, Annals of the Association of AmericanGeographers, Canadian Geographer, Society and Space…

Websites that might be useful include: Now, even though I recommend these, it doesn’t mean they don’t have an angle, all writing has an angle/view/opinion and identifying it will help with your own argument.

A note about plagiarism--it will not be tolerated. There is absolutely no excuse for it, you must cite the source of every piece of information you use that does not come from your own experience or knowledge. This is true of maps, of diagrams, of quotations, of paraphrased discussions from a book. Any source you use must be cited and listed in your bibliography. Give yourself credit for the interviews of people, the telephone conversations, the discussions with other instructors. It shows you’ve worked hard at finding information for your essay. And if you are ever in any doubt—ask! Read Plagiarism Avoided: Taking Responsibility for Your Work. (1999), it is on your required reading list.

Papers must be proofread for clarity, grammar, and spelling errors. This should not be overlooked, I don’t care if it is 3:00am the night before the essay is due, you need to proofread! Do not rely on spellcheck and the thesaurus (ass does not equal as), use your dictionary to check the choices offered—these are often inappropriate and occasionally offensive and/or humorous.