A synoptic essay - Planning and management in cities
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:
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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
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A synoptic essay - Planning and management in cities
Case study: The London Olympic site
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/urban-regeneration-and-the-london-2012olympics/1431.html
http://hackneywick.blogspot.com/
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Brief description of the planning and management in this urban area
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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
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Brief description of the planning and management in São Paulo
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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
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Brief description of the planning and management in Dharavi
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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
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Brief description of the planning and management in Curitiba
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How does the level of economic development affect the planning and management of
Curitiba?
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A synoptic essay - Planning and management in cities
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:
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 Urban regeneration
Urbanisation
 Urban redevelopment, e.g. CBDs
Suburbanisation
 Waste management
Counter-urbanisation
 Transport management
Re-urbanisation
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?
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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.
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