This writing project asks you to select a public space or structure on or near campus, study its histories, architectural design, and/or functional elements, then develop an interpretation of what that space or structure symbolizes, represents, and/or communicates to the broader community on a cultural level. Based on systematic observation and documentation, your goal is to provide new insight into the space or structure you have chosen that is compelling in its own right.
As thinkers and writers, we have the incredible ability to look beyond the simple facades of structures or spaces and reveal deeper cultural meaning. For instance, we may notice the design of a building (or how community members use that space) is evidence for an emerging cultural trend, a vortex of competing cultural values, or an archeological site consolidating layer after layer of distinct yet accessible pasts.
Target Audience:
Readers of a local periodical, such as the Phoenix New Times, The State Press, The Arizona Republic, etc.
Your Essay Should:
Incorporate a unique, creative, and fitting title
Introduce and develop a compelling thesis statement that makes an insightful claim about what the space represents or how it is culturally significant
Effectively present firsthand evidence and observations from your own fieldwork to support your observations and arguments
Maintain a clear and organized structure across all pages, sequenced over a series of claims and subclaims
Offer a thoughtful conclusion that adequately summarizes the paper’s main ideas and key takeaways
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