⊗ the assignment WRIT 1133

In this essay, you’ll conduct an ethnographic study of an urban space in Human Rights /
Denver. Your essay will have two sections: Humans Write
John Tiedemann
• A descriptive section, in which you paint a vivid picture of what you
discovered in the space you chose, focusing upon those details that bring
out the themes you’ll go on to interpret in the next section.
• An interpretive section, in which you’ll draw upon concepts from Lewis
Mumford’s “What Is a City?” and Sharon Zukin’s “What City? Whose City?”
to make an argument about the meaning of the space you’ve described.
You can use one of the spaces we examined together in class or one of your
own choosing.
⊗ audience
Imagine you’ll deliver your essay at a symposium sponsored by the DU Urban
Studies program and attended by both faculty and Denver natives.
⊗ due dates
Tuesday, May 10: Submit your proposal on Canvas.
Name it “Last name, first name - Essay 3 proposal - WRIT 1133.”
Tuesday, May 17: Submit a draft of your descriptive section on Canvas.
Name it “Last name, First name – Essay 3 – WRIT 1133.” (Give it a
heading: “Descriptive section.”)
Thursday, May 17: Submit a draft of the intro to your interpretive section. (Add
it to your descriptive section draft.)
Conference week, May 23-27: Before your conference, submit a complete
draft of your essay, both sections. Give the sections headings:
“Descriptive section” and “Interpretive section.”
Thursday, June 9: Final draft due.

Essay 3: Writing the City