A synoptic essay - Planning and management in cities

© www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2012 17625 Page 1 of 3

Student task

Consider the following GCE A Level essay title:

With reference to examples, assess the degree to which the level of economic development of a country affects planning and management in urban areas.

Research

In order to answer this synoptic essay question you should use a range of examples. This essay uses four examples: the London 2012 Olympic site, Sao Paulo, Dharavi and Curitiba. Use your notes/research in order to complete copies of the following information boxes for each case study. Some possible websites are included in the case study boxes. Remember you will be assessed for ‘thinking like a Geographer’ on the following assessment criteria:

Knowledge of content, ideas and concepts Critical understanding of content, ideas and concepts Use of examples / case studies and maps/diagrams to support argument Recognition of connections between different aspects of the subject Evidence of synoptic overview Quality of argument i.e. the degree to which your argument is constructed, developed and

concluded

Urban planning model, Shanghai, China © 2007 Jason Wesley Upton

http://www.flickr.com/photos/upton/1235522628

A synoptic essay - Planning and management in cities

© www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2012 17625 Page 2 of 3

Case study: The London Olympic site

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/urban-regeneration-and-the-london-2012-olympics/1431.html http://hackneywick.blogspot.com/

Brief description of the planning and management in this urban area

How does the level of economic development affect the planning and management of this area?

Case study: Sao Paulo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cingapura_project http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu-projects/Global_Report/cities/saopaulo.htm

Brief description of the planning and management in São Paulo

How does the level of economic development affect the planning and management of São Paulo?

Case study: Dharavi

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/world/06/dharavi_slum/html/dharavi_slum_intro.stm http://www.economist.com/node/10311293?story_id=10311293 http://www.economist.com/node/10311257

Brief description of the planning and management in Dharavi

How does the level of economic development affect the planning and management of Dharavi?

Case study: Curitiba

http://sustainablecities.dk/en/city-projects/cases/curitiba-the-green-capital http://www.citiesforpeople.net/cities/curitiba.html

Brief description of the planning and management in Curitiba

How does the level of economic development affect the planning and management of Curitiba?

A synoptic essay - Planning and management in cities

© www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2012 17625 Page 3 of 3

Research content

Appropriate content for a response to this question will cover the urban processes that have resulted in planning and management issues, within the context of your contrasting case studies from countries at different levels of economic development. The following content is relevant but is dependent of the relevant case study chosen:

Urbanisation Suburbanisation Counter-urbanisation Re-urbanisation

Urban regeneration Urban redevelopment, e.g. CBDs Waste management Transport management

Understanding of planning and management issues to emphasise the importance or otherwise of level of economic development

Method

The question asks you to consider a relationship between levels of economic development and both urban planning and management.

Have you explained what you understand by economic development? How is economic development measured? How are your four examples from countries at different stages of economic development?

Are urban planning and management the same? What is urban planning? Who is responsible for urban planning? Who is responsible for the management of urban areas?

The essay will require a synoptic overview. Do you understand what this is? Can you demonstrate the following?

evidence in the breadth/depth of case-study material detailed critical understanding of urban processes or issues detailed critical understanding of planning and management responses awareness of the interrelationships of the various aspects covered in the question awareness of the influence or otherwise of the level of economic development of an

area in decision making

Conclusion

You could use the conclusion to talk about change over time. A suggestion might be to consider how the economic crisis has affected the sustainability of some of urban planning, e.g. the London Olympic site was to provide 4000 homes on the site of the athlete’s village (3,000 of which were to be affordable). However, due to the current economic situation this has reduced this to approximately 1,000.

A key word in the question is assess, i.e. the question requires a critical approach and your response should come to a view. However, remember that any conclusion will be credited as long as it is reasonable and related to both the preceding content and arguments.