Research Paper on Portland’s Identity

Winter 2020

Batchelder

Length: 1600-1800 words, double-spaced.

Style: MLA style for form and citations

Topic: “Portlandness”: Some Aspect of Portland’s Identity

This term you will write a research paper on a specific aspect of Portland’s culture or identity that this city is known for. In order to create a great research topic, you should choose an area that interests you and use both the general “best city” rankings as well as a more specific ranking of your choice. In order to fully examine your topic, we will be using two texts that explore the current cultural trends in Portland. They are: Brews to Bikes by Charles Heying and Portlandness: A Cultural Atlas by David Bannis and Hunter Shobe. You must use one of these as background research for your paper.

For this project you’ll address the following questions:

· Why is Portland ranked where it is?

· Are the measures used to create the ranking valid and reliable measures?

· If there’s more than one measure used to create the ranking, are the measures given equal weight, or are some given more weight than others?

· Are there measures that weren’t used, but you think should have been used to create the ranking?

· What does Portland’s rank say about the quality of life in the city or the region, and should there be efforts to either keep the ranking where it is or change it?

Tasks:

1. Write a 300-500 word, double-spaced research proposal which explains the specific aspect of “Portlandness” you will investigate. This proposal should also indicate which text (Heying or Bannis/Shobe) you will use. You should indicate why this specific aspect of “Portlandness” is significant and what role it plays in how outsiders may see Portland. DUE Tuesday Jan. 23rd.

2. Create an Annotated Bibliography with at least 5 reputable/scholarly sources that are relevant to your topic. DUE Thurs. Jan.30th.

3. Write a full working draft of your paper to submit for peer review. DUE Tuesday Feb. 18th

4. Write a polished final paper to submit for a grade. DUE Tuesday Feb. 25th.

Below is a list of city rankings that may help you to choose a topic.

General Best City Ratings:

AMERICA’S FAVORITE CITIES

http://www.travelandleisure.com/americas-favorite-places/cities#cleveland-ohio

GAWKER BEST CITIES

http://rankings.gawker.com/american-cities-ranked-1635617123

BEST CITIES BY BLOOMBERG

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2012-09-28/americas-50-best-cities

Favorite Cities in America

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2009/01/29/for-nearly-half-of-america-grass-is-greener-somewhere-else-denver-tops-list-of-favorite-cities/

Quality of Life Index

https://www.numbeo.com/quality-of-life/region_rankings.jsp?title=2017-mid&region=019

BEST BIG CITIES TO LIVE IN

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-large-cities-to-live-in/14358/

COOLEST CITIES

https://www.ranker.com/list/america_s-coolest-cities/places-to-go

FITNESS

LEAGUE OF AMERICAN CYCLISTS

http://bikeleague.org/bfa/awards

OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS

https://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/photos/15-us-cities-for-outdoor-enthusiasts/portland-ore#top-desktop

Highest Citizen Fitness

http://www.americanfitnessindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ACSM-AFI-Report-2017.pdf

Fittest and Fattest Cities

https://www.mensfitness.com/weight-loss/burn-fat-fast/the-fittest-and-fattest-cities-in-america

FOOD and DRINK

BEST FOODIE CITIES

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-foodie-cities/7522/

Best Food Cities

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2015/12/21/the-10-best-food-cities-in-america-ranked/?utm_term=.84c51b3378be

Best Beer Cities

https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/best-beer-cities-in-america

https://www.bustle.com/articles/18032-the-10-best-cities-for-beer-lovers-these-towns-know-how-to-brew

Vegan Friendly

Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Cities of 2016

Vegan

https://smartasset.com/mortgage/best-cities-for-vegans

Best Vegan

http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=9424&catId=4

Non-Meat Eaters

http://www.newser.com/story/231092/8-best-cities-for-non-meat-eaters.html

Best Coffee

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-coffee-lovers/23739/

ENTERTAINMENT

BEST MUSIC CITIES

http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/americas-best-music-cities#14

VIBRANT ARTS AND CULTURE

http://www.smu.edu/~/media/Site/Meadows/NCAR/NCAR_ArtsVibrancy_04-17.pdf

Top Cities for Entertainment Industry

http://www.citiesjournal.com/12-cities-you-didnt-know-that-are-leading-the-entertainment-industry/5/

Music Cities

http://www.musicfromtherow.com/home/top-10-music-cities-other-than-nashville

Music

http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/americas-best-music-cities#13

Music Scenes worth knowing

http://blog.sonicbids.com/top-10-cities-in-north-america-whose-music-scenes-are-exploding-right-now

Top Soccer Cities

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-soccer-fans/14207/

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Best cities for Millennials

https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/search/best-cities-for-young-professionals/

BEST CITIES FOR 20 SOMETHINGS

https://greatist.com/health/20-best-cities-20-somethings

BEST CITIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS

http://www.businessinsider.com/vocativ-best-cities-for-people-under-35-2014-12#10-portland-or-26

LIVIABILITY

Cost of Living

https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/index/north-america

TOP NORTH AMERICAN CITIES OF THE FUTURE

https://www.illinois.gov/dceo/Documents/American%20Cities%20of%20the%20Future%202015%20-%20fDi.pdf

Most comfortable summer

https://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/most_comfortable_summer_cities.aspx

Best Cities to Escape Climate Change

http://www.businessinsider.com/best-us-cities-escape-climate-change-2017-9/#seattle-washington-1

PARKS

http://parkscore.tpl.org/rankings.php#sm.00158ij6s10akflcyxn1slv8r3g4w

Safest Cities

https://www.forbes.com/2009/10/26/safest-cities-ten-lifestyle-real-estate-metros-msa_chart.html#50676c7f24fa

Greenest Cities

e.com/slideshows/americas-greenest-cities#20

safe for Women

https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/sex-and-love/10-best-cities-single-women

Most FUN

https://wallethub.com/edu/most-fun-cities-in-the-us/23455/

Most Courteous Drivers

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/accidents-hazardous-conditions/road-rage6.htm

BEST CITIES FOR College Educated TYPES

Smartest Cities in America

https://www.fastcompany.com/3021592/the-10-smartest-cities-in-north-america

BEST CITIES FOR BOOK LOVERS

The USA’s 12 Best Places for Book Lovers

TOP LITERARY CITIES

https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/3859-top-literary-cities-us

CREATIVE CITIES

https://mic.com/articles/89659/15-best-cities-for-creative-20-somethings-other-than-new-york#.CbxNMLAQ1

Quirkiest Cities in AMERICA

http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/so-youre-a-little-weird-the-20-quirkiest-cities-in-america?xid=PS_huffpo#18

HOBBIES AND INDENTITIES

Top CAT FRIENDLY CITIES

https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/090515aa.aspx

TOP CITIES FOR NERDS (PDX IS #2)

https://www.movoto.com/blog/top-ten/nerd-cities/

TOP CITIES FOR GAY CULTURE

https://www.ranker.com/list/most-gay-friendly-cities-in-america/carlybobarly

LARGEST GAY CITY POPULATIONS

CITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-people-with-disabilities/7164/

DOG FRIENDLY

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-most-dog-friendly-cities-in-america_us_58a734d1e4b026a89a7a2a32

BEST DOG CITIES https://www.estately.com/blog/2013/05/17-best-u-s-cities-for-dogs/

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Recycling

http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/09/17/5-cities-are-recycling-superstars

Top Cities for Community Service

https://www.nationalservice.gov/vcla/media-hub/city-graphics