1. In 1-2 sentences summarize the main idea(s) in the reading in your own words using precise
descriptive language.
2. Does the reading challenge your thinking in any way? Does it provide information that changes the
way you think about planning history? Be specific in your answer.
3. Does the reading raise an important question about planning practice or planning history?
4. Is there something that you want to criticize or disagree with? Does anything make you
uncomfortable or contradict your ideas about planning?
5. How do the ideas connect with other readings, lectures, or experiences you’ve had? How would
you integrate these ideas with what you already know or think about this subject? How could you
apply what you learned? If you compare, contrast or allude to another reading, please provide a full
reference to that book/paper (unless a class reading, in which case the author’s name and page
number is sufficient).
6. Is there anything in your past experience that resonates with or clashes with this reading?
(media.cst.edu/uploads/genericfile/writing-reflection-papers.pdf)
Instead of just reading, you should be asking yourself – how does this reading add to my knowledge
of planning? How does it challenge my presumptions about the field? How does it challenge my own
beliefs about the city and planning? How does it tie to other things I have been reading in other
classes? Using those thoughts, organize your reflection paper to express those ideas, concerns, and
new understanding. You can include multiple readings if that makes sense in the reflection. One
piece of advice: just because you reflect on one reading doesn’t mean you are not responsible for the
other readings – life is not that easy
• Urban Design is Not Neutral. 2020. Access at
https://www.tvo.org/video/urban-design-is-not-neutral.
• Hayden, Dolores. 1980. What would a Non-Sexist City Be Like? Speculations on Housing, Urban
Design and Human Work. Signs.
• Hise, Greg. 1996. Homebuilding and industrial decentralization in Los Angeles: The roots of the PostWorld War II urban region. In, MC Sies and C Silver, Planning the 20th-Century American City, 240-261.
