Marcus Dagher

Honors 1000
Professor Fowler
10 November 2016
Reflective Essay
Throughout my semester of taking Honors 1000, Ive learned about the various factors
that have shaped the city of Detroit and how Ways of Seeing have been associated with this
city since the beginning of its existence. This course has allowed me to view Detroit from a
unique perspective, and I was able to learn how many of the themes taught in this class applied
to not only Detroit but other developing cities throughout the world. From the essays that were
written to the Passport Trips we took together, I was able to experience Detroit in a way that Ive
never imagined. From being in this class for just months, I feel like Ive personally endeavored a
great deal of Detroits history, from its rise of being one of the countrys most prosperous cities
to its recent fall.
The weekly readings, lectures, and passport assignments have together broadened my
knowledge of Detroits development as a city. Scott Martelle in his book Detroit: A Biography
has taught me about the historical aspect of Detroit. I was able to link Martelles information to
the ideas presented in the courses weekly lectures and assigned readings. The concepts and
themes presented by Rybczynski has allowed me to understand the reasons why Detroit and other
cities abroad have evolved certain ways. Aside from the research aspect of the class, the Passport
Trips have given me the opportunity to experience Detroit today and allow me apply what I have
learned to what I see first-hand. These field trips were by far my favorite aspect of the class, and

our trip to the Eastern Market was by far my favorite. Having the opportunity to buy goods from
other people at the Eastern Market was an amazing experience and I felt like I was almost part of
the city itself. It was one thing to learn through the readings and lectures, but being able to
physically put yourself out there in the city and witness the concepts that we have been taught
was a beauty.
Honors 1000 isnt one of those classes that you take and forget about as soon as the
semester ends. With the information and ideas taught in this course, it wouldnt be right for me to
not use what I have learned in my future career and goals. One aspect of Honors 1000 that I will
always exercise is the question: why? Observing the reasons why people have move to cities and
away from them based on their Ways of Seeing has allowed me to view human behavior from
a different standpoint and think more analytically. Being part of this class and travelling to the
Eastern Market has taught me what community truly feels like, and one of my future goals is to
become part of a community that is associated with my career. People typically regard Detroit in
a negative manner because of its high poverty. However, Honors 1000 has showed how this city
has an intricate past and an everlasting potential.