⊗ 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.
Please choose a space off campus. If have an idea for an on-campus
space, then clear it with me in advance and plan on conducting at least a
few interviews.
⊗ 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
Monday, Feb. 20 Submit your proposal on Canvas by the start of class.
Name it “Last name, first name - Essay 3 proposal - WRIT 1133.”
Monday, Feb. 27: Submit a draft of your descriptive section.
Name it “Last name, First name – Essay 3 – WRIT 1133.” (Give it a
heading: “Descriptive section.”)
Conference week, March 6–10: Before your conference, submit a complete
draft of your essay, both sections. Give the sections headings:
“Descriptive section” and “Interpretive section.”
Saturday, March 18: Final draft due.

Each section should be 1200–1500 words long.

Essay 3: Writing the City