Posted: June 3rd, 2015

Geography of Desire- San Francisco: Fisherman’s wharf

Geography of Desire- San Francisco: Fisherman’s wharf

Write about the Place is San Francisco-Fisherman’s wharf

In this essay, You are required to explore some PLACE in California that interests you. You may use one of the assigned essays as a starting point. In most cases, focusing on a place you know well will be easiest. However, you will have to find good quality research to help you evaluate this place. Your task is to analyze this place’s culture, the history behind the culture, the way the topography and geography contribute to the culture, and values (define the values of San Francisco-Fisherman’s wharf). You are essentially asserting a thesis about the culture of the place you’ve chosen. The definition essay structure is probably the most appropriate for this topic, but this structure is not required.

Consider this definition of “culture” (there are many): British anthropologist Edward Burnett Tylor in 1874 described culture in the following way: "Culture or civilization, taken in its wide ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."

Most places are shaped by geographical, political, social and economic factors, among other things. For example, the essay on Silicon Valley asserts very specific work ethics and life styles that spring from the dominance of the high tech industry base there; although other areas might be influenced by other industry, the influence would be a little different, as another essay we discussed shows how the oil industry, mixed with the geography and weather, shape the culture and ethic of San Joaquin Valley.

Develop specific claims about which factors shape the culture of the selected area. Every place is different, so this will be your thesis and analysis. For some areas, an industry my dominate its culture; for other places it distance from large cities; for others a famous event might define it most, or the presence of an important university. Be sure each claim has adequate support—narrative, description, statistics, facts, quotes, experts, research, surveys, et cetera. Your thesis will essentially be a one- sentence synthesis of the individual claims defining the culture.