Course Requirements

Students are responsible to do the weekly readings in a timely manner and participate in class discussions. There will be a take-home midterm exam that will involve writing two short essays on city related matters that were discussed in class and in readings.

There will be three assignments in varying lengths. The first assignment is a mixed-media project and involves reading Italo Calvino’s Invisible cities, and representing it in visual/verbal (and even aural?) media. Second assignment is a short paper (5-6 pages) on “walking in the city” or the “waterfire Providence event” (choose one or the other) based on your own urban experiences (There is a waterfire event on September 10- see waterfire.org). In the second half of the semester, students will develop a research project in consultation with Ömür on an ancient Near Eastern city and its urban festive events. You will produce a final paper (10-12 pages for undergraduates and 12-15 pages for graduates) due at the end of the semester. All relevant deadlines are listed below and in the weekly schedule.

Grading will be based on:

• 25 % General participation in class discussions, wiki postings and attendance.
• 10 % Assignment 1: Invisible cities (an “open-media” re-presentation of one of Calvino’s cities, due September 28).
• 15 % Take-home midterm (2 short essays, open book and notes, October 9-12)
• 20% Assignment 2: Short paper on “Walking in the city” or “Providence waterfire as public event” (5-6 pages: due November 6)
• 30 % Final Paper Project: Ancient Near Eastern cities and their festivals
  • Abstract of the project proposal (1-2 paragraphs plus preliminary bibliography) to be posted on the wiki by November 15, midnight. Final Paper (10-12 pages for undergraduate students, 12-15 for graduate students) is due December 9, by 5 pm. Ömür is happy to read your draft and give feedback if you give it to him by Dec 3.