The essay is around 2000 words (max 2100 – min 1900, bibliography, notes, headings, tables, and title page included) and must be double-spaced. Turnitin counts every single word in the submission and I will use that counting to assess whether the word count has been met. ANY ASSIGNMENT THAT DOES NOT RESPECT THE WORD LIMIT WILL INCUR A 20% DEDUCTION (this includes all assignments with a word count above or below the limit). Use 12-size font.
Only one submission is permitted on D2L so make sure you are submitting your final copy: IF YOU SUBMIT THE WRONG COPY, YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO RESUBMIT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Zipped files are not acceptable; make sure you upload a word document or PDF file.
Objective: Throughout a critical analysis, you are expected to demonstrate an understanding of one aspect of the geography of Toronto. You are also required to show an active engagement with the subject and be able to formulate an original perspective on it. The goal of the essay is to examine how life in the city is shaped and affected by the constant interaction between place and the people who inhabit it.
You can choose among the following topics:
Gentrification in the City of Toronto
Neoliberalism impact on the City of Toronto
Ethnic neighbourhoods in the city
The commodification of diversity in Toronto
The Creative Class in Toronto
Toronto’s homelessness crisis
Public transit in the city: challenges and opportunities
Transportation differences between the inner city and the suburbs
Toronto: a multicultural city where racism persists
Housing in Toronto: the affordability crisis
If you are interested in writing about a different topic from those listed above, please contact the instructor.
Evaluation: The essay requires the student to carry out an analysis of the subject, and make and justify an evaluative, comparative or explicatory judgement. The essay will be evaluated based on clarity of organization, logic, syntax, and grammar of student writing.
Follow an essay format and make sure your paper includes an introduction (clearly indicating topic, a thesis statement, and how you plan to structure your paper), a proper body, and a conclusion (reviewing and summarizing the arguments and evidence presented in the body).
When you quote or paraphrase other scholars, you MUST provide in-text references and a full list of work cited at the end.
Make sure all quotes are in quotation marks.
You are required to use at least 6 peer-reviewed journal’s articles (books, books’ chapters, commentaries, book reviews etc. will not be accepted as part of the required sources) outside class readings. In addition to the 6 required sources, you are free to use additional material with the only exception of Wikipedia.
Limit the number of quotations (no more than 3) as this is expected to be an original student paper rather than a mosaic of quotes; paraphrasing is often a better option than quoting.
Grammar and Style:
Before submitting your work, please make sure that you have conducted a spell and grammar check in word, and strictly followed the page limits. In order to write a good assignment, it is not enough to follow the instruction and have thoughtful arguments, you also need to present the material in a clear and organized fashion.
Submissions must be made to D2L by the end of the day indicated in the course outline.
While writing your assignments, keep in mind the following:
All sources must be cited appropriately following MLA, APA or Chicago style (choose the one you are most familiar with);
Make sure your argument unfolds in a logical, coherent fashion, and that the discussion emphasizes analysis over description, remains focused, and avoids irrelevancies and repetitions;
Quotations must be introduced, contextualized, and explained adequately (no floating quotations);
Your goal should be to write an essay that is well structured and a pleasure to read: avoid one-sentence or one-page paragraphs;
Make sure that: all sentences are complete; discussion uses formal language (no jargon or slang); no contractions or abbreviations; paper has been proofread and avoids typos, errors and punctuation problems; title page is included; pages are numbered.