WRIT 1633

the assignment
Human Rights /
In this essay, youll conduct an ethnographic study of an urban space and Humans Write
the activity that goes on there. Your essay will have two sections: John Tiedemann
A descriptive section, in which you paint a vivid picture of what you saw
and heard in the field, focusing upon those details that bring out the
themes youll go on to interpret in the next section.
An interpretive section, in which youll draw upon concepts from Lewis
Mumfords What Is a City? and Sharon Zukins What City? Whose City?
to make an argument about the social meaning of the urban
space/activity youve described.
I encourage you to choose an off-campus urban space, one thats not
populated mostly by DU students. If you choose to analyze a space on
campus or one frequented by DU students, youll need to conduct at least
four interviews with participants.
audience
Imagine youll deliver your essay at a symposium put on by the DU Urban
Studies program and attended by both faculty and Denver natives.

due dates
Tuesday, May 9: Post your proposal to Google Drive.
Name it WRIT 1633 your name Essay 3 proposal.
Tuesday, May 16: Post a draft of your descriptive section to Google Drive.
Name it WRIT 1633 your name Essay 3.
Tuesday, May 18: Draft of intro to interpretive section due.
Tuesday, May 23: Full draft of interpretive section due.
Friday, June 9: Final draft due by noon.

Essay 3: Writing the City