Exploratory Research Paper

Assignment Overview: This assignment is designed to prepare you for your final paper by engaging you in the process of understanding, analyzing, and addressing urban issues within the context of metropolitan planning and governance. By selecting a pertinent urban issue and applying critical theoretical frameworks, you will develop the foundation for your final research paper (second assignment). Task Description: Identifying Relevant Urban Issue: Begin by identifying an urban issue directly linked to existing modes of metropolitan planning and/or governance. This issue should hold personal significance or high societal relevance. Urban issues can span from the affordable housing crisis to Greenbelt plans, extractivism, Indigenous lands, pipeline expansion, or any other influential urban policy in a global metropolitan region. Formulating a Research Question: Select a topic that intrigues you and collaborate with your TA and peers well ahead of the due date to refine and formulate a clear research question. This question should succinctly capture the essence of the issue you are investigating. Developing a Critical Theoretical Framework: To delve deeply into the selected issue, construct a suitable critical theoretical framework. This framework will facilitate the examination of your research question through a critical theoretical lens. Reference course materials to identify pertinent critical theories or approaches that can be applied to analyze the chosen issue effectively. Exploring Multiple Critical Perspectives: Gain insights into the urban issue from two distinct critical perspectives, such as utilitarianism, Kantian, Rawlsian, communitarian, environmental, feminist urban theory, etc. These perspectives should be the most relevant to your chosen issue. Evaluate how these theoretical approaches can be employed to address the identified problem. Utilizing Substantial Sources: Your paper must be based on a minimum of 12 substantial sources. Among these, include at least 6 academic texts that were NOT part of the course materials - marks WILL be deducted otherwise. These academic sources should provide depth and rigor to your analysis. In addition to the academic texts, you can draw upon a variety of other materials, such as government and non-governmental organization reports, websites, newspaper or magazine articles, and literary sources (novels, poetry). These sources will enrich your understanding and provide context to your argument. Structuring the Research Paper: Based on your exploratory analysis, create a point-form outline that will serve as the base structure for your research paper (second assignment). Organize your thoughts and key findings, ensuring a logical flow of ideas. Assignment Guidelines: Word Limit: The word limit for this assignment is a minimum of 1000 words. Formatting: Ensure that your paper is double-spaced. Citation Style: Follow the APA citation style for referencing sources. By completing this assignment, you will not only lay the groundwork for your final paper but also gain a deeper understanding of how critical theoretical frameworks can illuminate urban issues within the context of metropolitan planning and governance. Your analysis will contribute to the discourse surrounding effective strategies for addressing complex urban challenges.