SCO201: Write an Op-ed (An Opinion Piece for a Newspaper) that Connects Social Distancing: Space, Place, People and the City Assignment, SUSS, Singapore

Question 1

Write an op-ed (an opinion piece for a newspaper) that connects social distancing with the concept of place-making in Singapore. How is place-making affected by social distancing measures, such as the ones imposed in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak? Is placemaking still possible when social distancing is made mandatory? You should choose an example of a place in Singapore as a case study to describe your argument.

The op-ed should demonstrate your knowledge about the socio-cultural and economic aspects of space/place, your knowledge about place-making, as well as relevant quantitative or qualitative data to support your argument on the impact of social distancing on place-making.

The following are the expected components on which this op-ed assignment will be marked:

• Identify important socio-cultural aspects of the place and economic activities, both in the past and in today’s context.
• The theory/concept: Explain what place-making is about (to a layperson who is reading your op-ed), why place-making is important, and how social distancing affects (or does not affect) place-making.
• Discuss relevant quantitative data (such as statistics, demographics) and/or qualitative data (such as quotes from accessible interviews) in building the argument in the op-ed.
• References in APA Style: Although usually, op-eds do not need references, for this exercise you need to demonstrate that all the information you use for this piece is based on reliable sources. All references should be properly cited.