Analysis of Toronto Geography

ESSAY

The essay is around 2000 words (max 2100 – min 1900, bibliography, notes, headings, tables, and title page included) and must be double-spaced. Use 12-size font.

Objective: Through a critical analysis, you are expected to demonstrate an understanding of one aspect of the geography of Toronto. You are also required to show an active engagement with the subject and be able to formulate an original perspective on it. The goal of the essay is to examine how life in the city is shaped and affected by the constant interaction between place and the people who inhabit it.

The essay requires analysis of the subject, and make and justify an evaluative, comparative, or explicatory judgement. The essay will be evaluated based on clarity of organization, logic, syntax, and grammar.

• Follow an essay format and make sure your paper includes an introduction (clearly indicating topic, a thesis statement, and how you plan to structure your paper), a proper body, and a conclusion (reviewing and summarizing the arguments and evidence presented in the body).
• When you quote or paraphrase other scholars, you MUST provide in-text references and a full list of work cited at the end.
• Make sure all quotes are in quotation marks.
• You are required to use at least 6 peer-reviewed journal’s articles (books, books’ chapters, commentaries, book reviews etc. will not be accepted as part of the required sources). In addition to the 6 required sources, you are free to use additional material with the only exception of Wikipedia.
• Limit the number of quotations (no more than 3) as this is expected to be an original paper rather than a mosaic of quotes; paraphrasing is often a better option than quoting.
• All sources must be cited appropriately following MLA, APA or Chicago style (choose the one you are most familiar with);
• Make sure your argument unfolds in a logical, coherent fashion, and that the discussion emphasizes analysis over description, remains focused, and avoids irrelevancies and repetitions.
• Quotations must be introduced, contextualized, and explained adequately (no floating quotations).
• Your goal should be to write an essay that is well structured and a pleasure to read: avoid one-sentence or one-page paragraphs.
• Make sure that: all sentences are complete; discussion uses formal language (no jargon or slang); no contractions or abbreviations; paper has been proofread and avoids typos, errors, and punctuation problems; title page is included; pages are numbered.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of Peer-Reviewed Journals to find articles focusing on urban space:

• Urban Studies
• ACME
• Antipode
• Canadian Journal of Urban Research
• Environment and Planning A
• Environment and Planning C
• Geography Review
• The Canadian Geographer
• Journal of the American Institute of Planners
• Transportation Quarterly
• Canadian Journal of Regional Science
• Annals, Association of American Geographers
• Geojournal
• Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services
• Journal of Urban Planning and Development
• Journal of Urban Affairs
• Housing Studies
• International Journal of Urban and Regional Research
• Urban Geography