Research Paper: That "Place" in California

For your research paper, you will profile a uniquely Californian “place.” This "place" could be a park, a neighborhood, a church, a restaurant, a trail, even a small town. You will synthesize history, cultural significance, future development, along your own personal observations and experiences, into an informative profile of this pace.

Steps:

1. Pick the place: Think of those "only in California" places that speak to what we value and how we live. For example, Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, San Francisco's Ferry Building, Mountain View's Googleplex or Los Angeles' Sunset Strip are all places you aren't likely to find anywhere else. An each of those places adds to the unique feel of the state. If you think the place you've chosen might equally exist in New York or Florida or Montana, then maybe consider a new location. Also, keep in mind that you must spend time there, so choose your location accordingly.
2. Research the place: This includes examining its historical and cultural significance. For instance, what historical importance does your location hold? How does it add to the cultural landscape of California? Also, will this location be as it is today in 20 years? Are there plans for future development? Consider the future evolution of this location. Finally, I highly recommend you do your research before you visit your place; doing so will greatly enhance your visit.
3. Go to the place: You are required to spend at least three to four hours in this locale. (If that is not possible, please see me.) When you come to your place, try to "absorb" it. For example, what feelings does this place evoke in you? What is there to look at, what is there to explore? How does one fully engage this place? Think of this place in sensory terms terms: sight, touch, taste, sound, smell. Very important: Take notes!
4. Write about the place: Research and experience will come together in a ten-page paper profiling the unique aspects of this place.

Requirements:

• Visit locale for a minimum of three to four hours
• Ten pages minimum
• Must include a works cited page
• Six outside sources minimum, including three books (print or electronic)
• MLA style, including parenthetical citation

Due:

Tu 11.04/Th 11.06—RESEARCH PAPER THESIS

Th 11.13—UP TO PAGE 2; BRING 2 COPIES

Tu 11.25—UP TO PAGE 4; BRING 2 COPIES

Tu 12.09—UP TO PAGE 8; BRING 1 COPY

Sec. 22: Mo 12.15—FINAL DRAFT

Sec. 28: Tu 12.16—FINAL DRAFT

 

Week 06: Napa

On The Napa Valley Wine Train, passengers sample some of the best food and wine of the region

Week 06: Napa

Tu 09.30/Th 10.02
Readings: eR—“1 in 4 Porn Stars Has Had Gonorrhea or Chlamydia, UCLA Study Says,” “How Making Actors Wear Condoms Could Kill California’s Porn Business,” “Why Porn and Condoms Don't Mix,” “Porn Production Moves to Las Vegas after California Condom Law,” “LA Porn Production Plummets in Wake of Mandatory Condom Law,” “LA's New Law Puts the Con in Condom”
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations
Due Su 10.04: REFLECTION 4—Email your reflection to dhdelao@gmail.com by midnight

Upcoming:

Week 07: Crescent City
Tu 10.07/Th 10.09
Readings: “Porn Flicks or Virtual Coliseum? Risking Actors' Lives for Sport,” “Why the LGBTQ Community Should Oppose AB1576,” “Condom Bill Targeting California Porn Industry Dies in Committee,” “Porn Actor Mr. Marcus Covered Up an STD While Continuing to Make X-Rated Movies”

Class: Reading presentation; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“On Wordiness”

Due: EDITORIAL 1

 

Reflection 04: Tasting the Bounty—California Farmers' Markets

Though we are now in the fall, California's amazing farmers' markets are still going strong. Silicon Valley, with its proximity to both the Central Valley and the Pacific Ocean, is especially blessed with several markets throughout the week. And it is not an exaggeration to say that these markets bring with them some of the finest foods in the world. Your task for this reflection is simple: Go to a local farmers' market and sample what it has to offer, then write about the experience. Be sure to take in the market's colors, smells, textures, and, most importantly, tastes. Describe the feel of the market, its clientele, and the foods.What is it like being at a California farmers' market in the summer?

Below is a partial list of farmers' markets around Silicon Valley; choose whichever is most convenient: 

SUN.
Palo Alto: California Avenue
California Ave., California Ave. at El Camino Real
9 AM - 1 PM

San Jose: Alum Rock
James Lick High School, 57 N White Rd.
8 AM - 1 PM

San Jose: Blossom Hill
Princeton Plaza Mall, 1375 Blossom Hill Rd.
Sundays 9 AM - 1:30 PM

Campbell
Downtown, 200 E. Campbell Ave.
9 AM - 1 PM

San Jose: Evergreen
Evergreen Village Square, 4075 Evergreen Village Square
9 AM - 1 PM, Wed. and Sun.

Milpitas
Indian Community Center, 525 Los Coches St.
8 AM - 1 PM

Mountain View
Mountain View Caltrains Station, 600 West Evelyn Ave.
9 AM – 1 PM: Relocates to Bryant and California on 49er Home Game Sundays: August 17 & 24 • September 14 & 28

WED.
San Jose: Cambrian Park
Cambrian Park Plaza, 14418 Union Ave
4 PM - 8 PM

San Jose: Evergreen
Evergreen Village Square, 4075 Evergreen Village Square
9 AM - 1 PM, Wed. and Sun.

THU.
Los Altos
Downtown, State St. and Second St.
4 PM - 8 PM

FRI.
Cupertino
Vallco Shopping Mall, 10123 N. Wolfe Rd.
9 AM - 1 PM

Santa Clara: Kaiser Santa Clara
Kaiser Permanente, 710 Lawrence Expressway
8:30 Am - 1: 30 PM

San Jose: San Pedro Square
San Pedro Square, 87 N. San Pedro St.
10 AM - 2 PM

SAT.
Palo Alto
Downtown, Gilman St. and Hamilton Ave.
8 AM - 12 PM

San Jose: Berryessa
Berryessa Union School District, 1376 Piedmont Rd.
9 AM - 1 PM

Santa Clara: Franklin Square
Franklin Square Mall, 1200 Franklin St.
9 AM - 1 PM

San Jose: Japantown
Japantown, Jackson Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets
8:30 - 12 PM

San Jose: Kaiser Santa Teresa
Kaiser Permanente, 250 Hospital Pkwy.
10 AM - 2 PM

Saratoga
West Valley College, 14000 Fruitvale Ave.
9 AM - 1 PM

Sunnyvale
Downtown, Murphy Ave. at Washington St.
9 AM - 1 PM

San Jose: Willow Glen
The Garden Theater, 1165 Lincoln Ave.
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM

You are not limited to these markets.

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be one full page in length

Due: Sun 10.04 (In order to maximize your opportunities to visit a market, email your reflection to dhdelao@gmail.com by Sunday the 4th at midnight.)

Golden State News 09.24.14

Are iPhone 6s too flimsy?

• CUPERTINO: "Bendgate" embroils the iPhone 6 (USA Today)
• SAN JOSE: CSU audit says SJSU's Dept. of Justice Studies misappropriated over $150,000 (San Jose Mercury News)
• LOS ANGELES: Amidst drought, no giant water slide for downtown LA (Los Angeles Register)
• STATE: Expect a dry fall in Northern and Central California (Los Angeles Times)
• SAN FRANCISCO: Fed-up restauranteur temporarily closes up shop because of hard-to-please customers (Consumerist)
• STATE: Otter population hamstrung by sharks (KNTV)

Week 05: Santa Cruz

The Walton Lighthouse sits the entrance to Santa Cruz Harbor

Week 05: Santa Cruz 
Tu 09.23/Th 09.25

Readings: SHOP—p. 98-130

Class: SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES; Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Twelve Essential Grammar Rules to Know”

Due: REFLECTION 3

Upcoming:

Week 06: Napa

Tu 09.30/Th 10.02

Readings: eR—“1 in 4 Porn Stars Has Had Gonorrhea or Chlamydia, UCLA Study Says,” “How Making Actors Wear Condoms Could Kill California’s Porn Business,” “Why Porn and Condoms Don't Mix,” “Porn Production Moves to Las Vegas after California Condom Law,” “LA Porn Production Plummets in Wake of Mandatory Condom Law,” “LA's New Law Puts the Con in Condom”

Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations

Due: REFLECTION 4

 

Golden State News 09.17.14

• WEED: Wildfires devastate tiny community (NBC News)
• LOS ANGELES: Hollywood comes off of a disappointing summer (New York Times)
• SAN JOSE: 52 things you didn't know about the Capital of Silicon Valley (Movoto)
• STATE: California finally moves to legislate ground water (National Geographic)
• SAN FRANCISCO: Uber and Lyft help tank city's taxi industry (CNET)
• LOS ANGELES: Coffee house debuts edible chocolate-dipped waffle coffee cups (Los Angeles Times)

Reflection 03: That's Not Cool, Bro—The Social Rules of California

As Californians, we understand that in certain situations there are often unspoken "rules" which we must follow. There are particular attitudes, beliefs, and practices here that may differ from a place like New Jersey or Kentucky or Utah. For example, we understand that driving a large gas-guzzling car here might inspire frowns from fellow Californians. Or that using a gay slur in mixed company risks ostracization. Likewise, we've learned to make vegetarian or vegan considerations in meals for our guests, and we typically understand that being too preachy about one's religion can turn people off. And it's not uncommon to be called out for not recycling your bottles and cans. Californians can be judgmental about smoking, littering, and other unhealthy practices, too. What other social rules exist in California? When are they explicit and when are they implicit? Were they explained to you at some point? How do you know what is and is not okay in certain social situations in California? Finally, how are we kept in line and what happens when we break these social rules?

Requirements:

• MLA Style
• Two full pages in length

Due: Th 09.25

Week 04: Santa Barbara

Stearns Wharf overlooking a Pacific sunset

Week 04: Santa Barbara

Tu 09.16/Th 09.18

Readings: SHOP—p. 46-97
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—"Crafting the Essay: Writing as a Process"

Due: REFLECTION 2

Upcoming:

Week 05: Santa Cruz

Tu 09.23/Th 09.25

Readings: SHOP—p. 98-130

Class: SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES; Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Twelve Essential Grammar Rules to Know”

Due: REFLECTION 3

 

Note: All assignments, including in-class essays, are due or take place on Thursdays

Golden State News 09.11.14

• NEW YORK CITY: LA's Trina Turk introduces her " California road trip" to New york Fashion Week (HerCampus)
• CUPERTINO: Hoping to move past scandal, Apple unveils the iPhone 6, Apple Watch (CBS News)
• SAN JOSE: What to look for at C2SV 2014 (KQED)
• STATE: Most Californians are now guaranteed at least three sick days a year (Los Angeles Times)
• SAN DIEGO: Steve-O charged for anti-Sea World highway stunt (XETV)
• STATE: Realty website Movoto reveals the "Best Counties in California" (San Francisco Chronicle)

Reflection 02: Bang for Your Buck—Cost Comparing San Jose

As Californians, we often take it as a given that our state is the best place t live. With California's stunning natural surroundings, ample job prospects, world-class arts, and rich cultural diversity we sometimes can't help but to think of our state as the center of the universe. But, as it turns out, there are actually places to live outside of California. In fact, there is a whole country's worth of places where we can call home. For this reflection, you will compare livability index of San Jose and with that of another American city.

Here are the cities you will research according to your month of birth:

• January: St. Paul, Minnesota
• February: Houston, Texas
• March: Eugene, Oregon
• April: Raleigh, North Carolina
• May: Spokane, Washington
• June: Denver, Colorado
• July: Mobile, Alabama
• August: Burlington, Vermont
• September: Phoenix, Arizona
• October: Nashville, Tennessee
• November: Chicago, Illinois
• December: Salt Lake City, Utah

Next, consult the chart below to establish a baseline for comparison with San Jose. As you can see, the median household income in San Jose is very high. In fact, it was recently named the wealthiest major city in America in a Wall Street Journal survey. The flip side of all that money, of course, is the city's staggering cost of living. Hence, San Jose was also recently granted the "distinction" of being the most expensive metro area in the nation. When researching your comparison city, consider not only the factors listed below (population, med. household income, median home price, etc ), but also those that make a city desirable to live in, such as weather, recreation, culture, and public transportation.

Though San Francisco and Oakland are listed below for comparison, your primary focus should be on metro San Jose.

Place	Pop.	Med. Household Income	Median Home Price	Median Rent Price (2-br)	Cost of Living (% of US average)	Unemployment Rate
US	317 M	$51,017	$188,900	$1,231		6.2%
California	40 M	$59,442	$429,000	$1,341		7.4%
San Jose	1 M	$99,669	$899,500	$2,282	48%+	6%
San Francisco	780,971	$81,135	$769,600	$3,898	45%+	4.5%
Oakland	406,253	$51,683	$483,400	$3,811	37%+	9%

 
Finally, after researching your city, you must compare the "livability" of both cities. The goal is to illustrate the viability of this city compared to San Jose and Silicon Valley. For example, what are the major pros and cons of each city? How do they compare? Where would it makes the most sense for you to live and work and why? Your analysis can come, at least in part, in the form of a chart, but most of it should be in written form. You should conclude with a summary of your comparison. For example, this is how Movoto sums up living in San Jose: "San Jose is safe, but it’s a very expensive place to live. If you can afford it, then it’s definitely a city to settle down in. The average American doesn’t make enough money to live there, so you may want to consider that before you start looking for homes. If you were to lose part of your income, you are at a much higher risk of being homeless as opposed to living in an area where there’s 'financial wiggle room' for unexpected emergencies. Of course, if you can snag one of the tech jobs at Adobe or Ebay, you should able to survive. Just make sure you aren’t working in the mail room."

Finally, because stats can vary widely, please limit yourself to these sites to compile your city's profile: 

• "Cost of Living Index for Selected U.S. Cities" (Infoplease)
• "Best Places to Live" (Livability)
• "Find the Best Places to Live" (AreaVibes)
• "Cost of Living Calculator" (CNN Money)
• "Median Household Income" (Forbes)
• "Zillow Compare" (Zillow)
• "Rent Trends by City" (RentJungle)

Requirements:

• MLA Style
• Two full pages in length

Due: Th 09.11