Part 1

Read the book assigned to you on the group discussion board. You will read one of four books on fires affecting elements of the built environment, covering a wide range of time. Upon completion of the book (and no later than October 14 at 11:30pm) submit a Word document (pdf, .doc, or .docx ONLY) via this turnitin assignment.

Be sure that your report answers the following questions:

1. WHAT BOOK did you read (give a full bibliographic citation)?

2. What HAPPENED in this book? You should be able to describe some particulars such as when did the fire occur, what type of structure was it, how severe was it - basically telling the story of the fire. Also, think about the kinds of destruction that are described
- where was there significant damage, and why? (1.5 pages max)

3. Can you CONFIRM that the author is accurate? You will want at least two other sources (only one of which is internet based) that will allow you to opine on whether the author(s) of your book got the big picture, and some specific details, correct. (mixed into the text, not a separate section)

4. How did the built environment influence survival in positive AND NEGATIVE ways? Were there people who owed their survival to elements of the built environment? How so (specific examples)? Were there people who put their faith in elements of the built environment to tragic effect (specific examples)? How did the cultural systems of the day, perhaps as reflected by government agencies or institutions, influence the outcome? Be sure to describe any specific, physical features of the built environment that were directly related to the ability of people to survive the fire, and any specific cultural features that had similar impact.

5. Would a similar structure built today potentially suffer the same fate? Did the fire lead to any changes in either physical or cultural features in buildings built afterwards? Are you safer in buildings now (give specific reasons).

6. Did YOU like this book? Would you recommend it to others? Produce a review of it as an object of entertainment, perhaps using a review of a book in a magazine or newspaper as an example. (0.5 page max)

The overall report will be 5-6 pages in length, not counting any cover, table of contents, or appendices. You should use space-and-a half, 12 point font, 1 inch margins all around. Number your pages. Spelling, grammar, presentation will be graded.

SUGGESTED OUTLINE:

Front Matter (cover page, table of contents)
Introduction, to include a brief summary and a hint as to your key observations
Description of the Fire, to include item 2 above
Influence of the Built Environment, to include item 4 above
Influence on the Built Environment, to include item 5 above
Conclusions, to include your thoughts on, for example, any particularly interesting thoughts or observations you have on the fire and its relationship to cultural or functional design decisions or systems.
Back matter (a reference list with complete bibliographic records for any sources including the book you read and auxiliary sources (items 1 and 3), your review (item 6), and other relevant information you wish to include).

ANTICIPATED RUBRIC:

0 - The report is turned in later than the assigned due date/time.

F (59 and below) - The report is not turned in, is turned in after the due date/time, or is turned in before the due date/time without answering the guiding questions in a way that they can be found. There is little evidence that the writer read the assignment. The report is written in an unprofessional tone and/or with so many errors in English spelling and grammar, and/or in fact, that it cannot be understood. The writer makes no effort to help the reader find things with things such as an accurate table of contents, section headings, etc.

D (60-69) - The report is turned in before the due date/time. Of the guiding questions, only 1 is answered clearly and well, in a way that it can be found. The report is mostly written in a professional tone, with many errors in English spelling and grammar. Some concepts introduced or reviewed in the class are correctly used, but there are several errors in fact or areas left incomplete. In spite of these problems, the report can still be generally followed. Some efforts to guide the reader are provided. The report is shorter than the minimum length or violates format to expand a shorter work, or the report is much longer than the maximum length.

C (70-79) - The report is turned in before the due date/time. Of the guiding questions, only 2 are answered clearly and well, in a way that they can be found. The report is written in a professional tone, with few errors in English spelling and grammar. There are minor errors in fact or areas left incomplete, but for the most part the concepts introduced or reviewed in the class are correctly used. The report addresses the questions asked, but evidences little beyond the minimum effort required, and the report, while complete, is boring and/or overlong. It is possible to find things easily via guidance provided to the reader.

B (80-89) - The report is turned in before the due date/time. Of the guiding questions, all are answered clearly and well, in a way that they can be found. The report is written in a
CON E 101 Construction and Culture Fall 2013 professional tone, with rare errors in English spelling and grammar. There are no errors in fact or areas left incomplete. The report addresses the questions asked, with some evidence of effort to understand the subject and convey it to the reader. It is possible to find things easily via guidance provided to the reader. Ideas presented in the book are related to corresponding ideas from the classroom.

A (90 and above) - The report is turned in before the due date/time. Of the guiding questions, all are answered clearly and well, in a way that they can be found. The report is written in a professional tone, with only one or two errors in English spelling and grammar. There are no errors in fact or areas left incomplete. The report addresses the questions asked, and goes beyond by evidencing interest in the subject, additional research into the event, and is interesting and engaging to read. Very specific concepts from the class are applied to the reading in new ways, and/or original examples are used to illustrate concepts from the reading. The report is well organized and clear.