History 3361: The American City

Perspectives on Current and Past Urban Issues in Minnesota

Paper and Panel Presentation

Spring 2007

Ideas for panel presentations:

1. Pick a current or recent city plan or planning effort in Minnesota and analyze that plan’s best and worst qualities. State your criteria or planning goals and evaluate that plan’s effectiveness. Suggestions include Duluth’s comprehensive planning effort or the last comprehensive plan from the late 1950s. Some neighborhoods, such as Park Point and some institutions, such as UMD, have also done plans you can use. Local public libraries and planning departments may also provide information.

2. Select an issue, such as urban transportation, affordable housing, parks, environment, zoning, and urban sprawl or “smart growth.” Analyze how thinking on this issue has evolved in recent decades in Duluth. You may also focus on a specific project or program, e.g., Hope VI or housing inspection or light rail in Minneapolis or the proposed North Star light rail (Minneapolis to Big Lake).

3. Profile a current or recent urban politician as to that person’s strengths and weaknesses.

4. Discuss Duluth’s efforts and strategies in attracting businesses and generating economic development. You may also use another Minnesota community or focus on a specific program, e.g. JOBZ.

5. Describe and evaluate various proposals for a student housing district or deal with an aspect of student housing off campus.

Having selected a topic, you are to do a five-page, typed, double-spaced paper. You may do traditional library research, use the internet, and/or visit communities and interview people. Indicate your sources through footnoting or bibliography or in the text. For your class presentation, you are encouraged to use visual materials where appropriate and may use the instructor’s laptop. Do not email your presentation to the instructor’s laptop. You may use a disk or a jump (flash) drive. Your class presentation is limited to 5 minutes.

Write the name of your topic and your name on a piece of paper and turn in to the instructor by April 5th. You will have an opportunity to meet with your assigned panel on April 12th. Panel presentations will be on April 24 and April 26. (10 points for the quality of the presentation; 60 points for the paper total points 70). Grades will be based on originality, quality of analysis, and research. Ten points will be subtracted for each calendar day a paper is late.

Papers are due for everyone by May 3 at 4:00 p.m.