After completing this course, you should know something about a General Plan and how a city uses the Plan to manage its future. For this assignment, please obtain a copy of a General Plan from any USA city. You can usually find a copy of a city's General Plan on its website. Pick ONE element, or section, of the General Plan, and evaluate that element (for example, Land Use, Transportation, Smart Growth, or Natural Environment). Think about the element in relation to what you have learned and what we have discussed throughout the semester: Does it cover topics you have learned from this course? Does the element make sense for the city you picked? What about the time frame that the city uses for implementing this element? Is it practical and realistic, or is it just wishful thinking? Analyze means "to examine methodically and in detail." Analysis answers the question "Why?" or "Why is this important?" We suggest that you write and present your evaluation clearly.

The paper you write should be more than 3 full pages in length and less than 4 full pages, double spaced and 12-point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins on all sides. Type your Name, PUP 301, and the Date, single-spaced, in the upper left corner of your paper. Submit your paper as a Word document. Download and use the template under the Writing Guidelines tab for your papers to avoid losing points for formatting errors. You must use a formal tone and write only in the third person.

Formatting

Grammar and Style

The #1 biggest complaint from TAs is FORMALITY.

Do not write your paper like you are talking to a friend. Use of slang, jargon, and other informal language is inappropriate when writing academic papers. Write clearly, descriptively, and avoid using clichés. In short, write as if what you are stating is fact. Facts require proof be it through examples, support, or other evidence, and personal opinions and stories are not considered proof.

Try not to write in the first person or introduce yourself into the paper. This is best done by avoiding using “I” or "we". For example, if you want to say "I believe that the article clearly identifies some examples of successful infill development." you can avoid using "I believe" by stating "The article clearly identifies some examples of successful infill development." Since it is your writing, the reader realizes that it is your opinion and point of view.

If you are addressing what you learned in the paper, you could write something like this: "Article X demonstrates that successful urban development and revitalization incorporates infill and community participation.  As the article demonstrates, in the City of X's many successful community collaboration efforts go a long way to creating a strong sense of community."