Project #2: Monument Surveying (download a copy of Project #2)
This project aims to acquaint you with the areas surrounding City Tech while locating your exploration in a timely—and controversial—context.
In response to recent and ongoing protests around the country—and most notably in Charlottesville, VA—agitating on one side for the removal of controversial monuments and on the other for their preservation, Mayor Bill de Blasio called for an examination of New York City’s monuments. His plan is to develop criteria for evaluating monuments based on the actions or qualities of the person being memorialized.
Part 1:
In your small group, explore a given area around City Tech, noting any monuments you find. Your group must determine what you consider a monument. Although you will work with a group to locate the monuments, you will each be responsible for posting at least one, unique to you, on our shared map. When you pin the monument on the map, include a photograph and a description of the monument (100-150 words)
Part 2:
Working with your group, considering quality and relevance of sources, find one article that addresses this topic using your agreed-upon searching method, and another article using Lexis-Nexis (library database) or the New York Times through the college databases. Write a summary of each article to share the relevant information with the class.
Part 3:
Working on your own or with your group, develop a list of criteria you will argue in Part 4 should be used to evaluate whether a monument should remain in place or be removed.
Part 4:
Working on your own (but with peer review welcome!), write a thesis-driven, well-organized essay (approximately 750-1200 words) in which you argue for your own set of criteria that the Mayor’s office could use to evaluate monuments identified in our class’s shared map. Use information from any of the articles all groups shared in Part 2 to support your argument. Cite them in your Part 5 Works Cited list.
Part 5:
Write an accurate Works Cited list, give your project a title, and compile Parts 4 and 5 into one post using the category Project #2 and any tags you think will help index your project on our site.
By successfully completing this assignment, you will:
- Engage in current debates in a respectful, knowledgeable way
- Collaborate with a team to complete assigned work
- Consider mapping as a way to develop an interactive shared course document
- Develop a sense of the composition of the areas surrounding City Tech and the local geography
- Learn library research skills to locate and evaluate sources to select, share, and cite quality, relevant materials
- Summarize
- Structure and support a convincing argument
- Offer and receive critiques, and use them to improve your work product
- Complete work in a timely manner according to a schedule (see below).
All parts of this assignment must be completed for successful evaluation.
Schedule:
9/11: Project #2 assigned, groups assigned
9/12 by 8pm: write a post reflecting on Project #2. This could include your response to any of the different things you have to do for this project, or to how prepared you feel to do them, or anything else you want to include. Comment on at least 3 posts before class on 9/13.
9/13: Part 1 group surveying to be completed by end of day
9/17 by 8pm: Part 1 map component complete, and group blog post/comments identifying each group’s list of monuments.
9/18: Library session—work on Part 2
9/20 (no class scheduled): post your summaries for Part 2
9/24 by 8pm: draft of Part 3 due
9/25: in-class peer review of Part 3
9/27: presentations and critiques of criteria and thesis statements (Part 3)
10/2: draft works cited list to include in 10/3 Project #2 draft
10/4 at 9am: draft of Project #2 due for peer review
10/4: bring printed copy of Project #2 draft (all parts) for peer review
10/9 (college closed): check in with your peer review partner at an agreed-upon time between 10/4 and 10/11
10/11 at 9am: Project #2 due
