The Urban Frontier

Assignment 2: The Urban Frontier

We often imagine our cities as places where people from differing cultural, ethnic, social, political, and religious backgrounds come together and enrich the lives of one another. This is a model of cultural symbiosis. However, the chapter, “The Industrial City,” from your textbook paints quite a different picture of our early cities.

Review this chapter and choose one of the following writers from this chapter:

• Flower
• Addams
• Strong
• Steffens
• Plunkitt
• Mumford

Then, address the following:

• Summarize the selected writer’s understanding and experience of city life.
• Analyze whether he or she agrees or disagrees with the idea that all people—regardless of race, nationality, or religion—experience cities as vibrant sites of cultural exchange and enrichment. Be sure to cite specific details from the text that either support or critique this romantic view of city life.
• Explore the potential limitations of this author’s point of view. Are there things that he or she fails to take into account regarding city life? If so, what does he or she fail to mention and why?

Write a 2–3-page paper in Microsoft Word format. By the due date assigned, deliver your assignment to the Submissions Area.

Grading Criteria and Rubric

Assignment 2 Grading CriteriaMaximum PointsSummarized the selected writer’s understanding and experience of city life.28Analyzed how this impression either supports or refutes this model of cultural symbiosis.52Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.20Total:100