Discussion Question #3

My toughest part of the term begins starting today--I have to read and evaluate your responses, and also the exam responses from my intro class. 

I know what you are thinking: that my job is within my control, and that I can make my job easier by not forcing you students to do all this work :-)  But then, I want to make sure you get the best return on your investment.  So, on that note, here is something for you think through for this week.

One of the first articles I required you to read was an attempt to understand the "American city."  in the readings for this week, you will find a general discussion of cities in the developed world, and cities in the developing countries.  So, if we had a little bit of difficulty figuring out what an American city is, then you can easily imagine how huge a problem it will be to develop some kind of a generalizable model of a city.

But, we want to discover common patterns among cities so that we might be able to generalize.  After all, that is a distinguishing aspect of a scientific approach to understanding the world--we try to create order out of the chaos we observe. 

While it might have its own set of limitations, what do you see as the general patterns:

• Among the cities in the developed world
  
• Among the cities in the developing world
• Among all the cities of the world?

Now, I understand that this is not a question that can be effectively and completely answered in 75 words.  So, highlight what you think are the most important ones.  As you get into the act later than others, make sure you continue the conversation--by qualifying statements, highlighting the contradictions, etc.

I look forward to your responses.

BTW, I could not do a part 2 of the YouTube video because I was knocked out with stomach ache and headache, and was practically curled up in a fetal position pretty much from 7:00 last evening until 8:00 this morning.  But, I am back on the saddle, as they say, so that I can bug my students :-)