作业 1 – 拟定易解定义占 10%。
Assignment 1, Crafting a Comprehensive Definition (10%)
商业改善区域之定义是没有标准定义的。基于指定阅读资料，每位学员需将难以理解的商业改善区域概念作出定义。行距1.5倍、12级字，不超过2页，拟定一清楚、简洁、易解之定义。如必要的话，你的定义可多达数句。简单的说明你是如何建构此定义，并列出你仰赖的案例与文献。
There is no standard BID definition. Based on the assigned readings, each student will craft a definition that describes the elusive business improvement district concept. In no more than two pages (1.5 spacing, 12pt font), craft a clear, concise, and comprehensive definition. If necessary, your definition may consist of several sentences. Briefly explain how you constructed your definition, citing the experience or literature upon which you relied most heavily.
作业 2 – 短篇研究报告占 35%。
Assignment 2, A Short Research Paper (35%)
你有近五到七个星期（看你是何时开始）的时间写短篇研究报告，需仔细检视某一商业改善区域组织之兴起及其成功。此报告需作一些基本资料收集，所以马上开始并且规律地做报告很重要。首先，与你的指导教授讨论，以便决定要研究那一个商业改善区域组织和你可得的资料来源。
You have five to seven weeks (depending on when you get started) to write a short research paper that carefully examines the emergence and success of one business improvement district organization. This assignment requires some primary data collection, so it's important to get started right away and work on the assignment regularly. First, consult with the instructor to determine which business improvement district organization you will study as well as the data sources available to you.
这报告必须含三个部份。第一部份描述主题，并提及下列问题：那一历史背景、经济模式、政治、社会事件、或是该国趋势、区域性、及当地生活水准对此商业改善区域组织需求有所贡献？第二部份，就你所选的商业改善区域组织作深入的叙述。你所遇到的一些资料（透过网际网络WWW），本身其实是种宣传品，然而，你应对这组织所作的活动有一客观的描述。尤其是，指出与叙述此组织让你特别感兴趣的计划与服务，并加以阐述。在第三部份，你将以解答下述问题来解释此组织如何及为何形成：此商业改善区域法令之订定是在何情况及外力下成立？那些实体与个人对促进此商业改善区域立法与其形成有重大影响？请叙述此些因素是如何促进此商业改善区域政策之转变。
The paper must include three parts. Part one will describe the context, and address the following questions. Which historic, economic, political, social events or trends at the national, regional, or local level likely contributed to the need for BID organizations in this context? For part two, provide an intimate description of the BID organization you selected. Some of the information you will encounter (via the WWW) will be promotional in nature. Yet, you should provide an objective description of this organization's activities. Additionally, identify and describe one program or service provided by this organization that you find particularly interesting and elaborate. In part three, you will explain how and why this organization developed by answering these questions. What conditions and forces explain the emergence and success of the BID legislation? Which entities and individuals were instrumental in promoting BID legislation? BID formation? Describe how these actors promoted the transfer of BID policy.
例如，他们是否曾遭遇到阻碍？如果有，是从那里来的？他们是用何策略及技巧来克服政治与其他障碍？你也可用此课程相关的教授笔记来支援你的论点。
For example, did they experience resistance? If so, from whom? What strategies or techniques did they use to overcome political and other obstacles? You may include relevant lecture notes from this course to inform your argument.
在开始时，你需藉检视广泛的辅助资料，例如现行法令、大众公听会纪录、学术论文、书籍与报章专论、调查报告及其他国际商业改善区域计划之资料，以熟悉此组织，及其经济、政治、社会背景。接着，确认那些你无法解释的问题（像是第三部份）。要回答这些问题，你必须要自己全心投入基本资料收集的整个过程。在限定的时间里完成作业，最好的方法就是一连串的半结构性的私人电访（与商业改善区域经理人、大众区域服务供应者、政府官员…等等）。这部份是此作业最具挑战的一环，也最花时间、创造力及耐力。
To begin, familiarize yourself with the organization as well as its broader economic, political, and social context by examining a wide range of secondary data sources such as enabling legislation, public hearing transcripts, scholarly papers, books and newspaper articles, survey responses and other information from the International BID Project. Next, identify the questions you remain unable to address (likely those in part three). To answer these questions, you need to engage yourself in the process of primary data collection. Given the limited amount of time you have to spend on this assignment, the most reasonable approach is a series of semi-structured, personal telephone interviews (with BID managers, public sector service providers, government officials, etc.). This is the most challenging aspect of the assignment, and will require time, creativity and tenacity.
你应将报告控制在12页内（行距1.5倍、12级字）。此包括标题页、结语或注解、及参考书目。
You will limit your paper to twelve pages (1.5 spacing, 12 point font). Include a title page, endnotes or footnotes, and bibliography.
作业 3 – 评论商业改善区域之好与坏？（商业改善区域，是敌是友？）占 20%。
Assignment 3, The Business Improvement District, Friend or Foe? (20%)
当商业改善区域组织得到赞扬及正面报导时，这些组织同样的也产生了争议及批评。此作业是要你针对这主题选一个坚定的立场，申论“商业改善区域运动基本上是好”还是“商业改善区域运动基本上是坏”。这全靠你对此研究报告所收集的资料，来支持你的观点。换句话说，你必须以作业２所研究的城市做申论基础。首先想想下列问题：商业改善区域组织在大众服务传递上是否引起不均衡？现存于此城市内的商业改善区域组织有多少？有多少正在计划？这些组织有何共同功能？这些组织的空间计划潜在的利与弊为何？这些快速增加的，由大众捐赠并由私人管理之组织是否促成都市的政治、经济、社会及空间破坏？以不超过五张的短篇报告（行距1.5倍、12级字）来讨论你的观点。并用实际证据与常识来支持论点。
While BID organizations have received praise and positive press, they have also inspired controversy and have their share of critics. This assignment requires you to take a firm stance with respect to the topic. You will argue that "the BID movement is fundamentally good" --or-- "the BID movement is fundamentally bad." Rely on the information you gathered for the research paper to serve as a foundation for your position. Said another way, you must base your argument on the city you studied in Assignment 2. To begin, consider the following. Do BIDs cause inequalities in the delivery of public services? How many BIDs currently exist in this city? How many are under consideration? What is the collective function of these organizations? What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of their spatial arrangement? Does the proliferation of these publicly endowed yet privately managed organizations contribute to the political, economic, social and spatial fragmentation of the urban realm? Write a short paper, no longer than five pages (1.5 spacing, 12 point font) to communicate your argument. Support your argument with empirical evidence and common sense.
作业 4 - 综合课程所学：对波士顿 (Boston)市的建议占 25%。
Assignment 4, Synthesis of Lessons Learned: Recommendations for the City of Boston (25%)
此最后作业是小组计划，不仅使学员有机会为麻州政府设计出商业发展策，也可对波士顿中央交通干道通道计划结论作修正。你的客户是交通干道商业委员会 (Artery Business Committee ABC) 有意提供资金来实施商业改善区域，并监督保养管理通道公共场所。
The final assignment is a group project, and gives students an opportunity to not only shape BID policy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but alter the outcome of Boston's central artery corridor project. Your client, the Artery Business Committee (ABC), is interested in implementing a BID to fund and oversee the maintenance and operation of the corridor's public spaces.
他们希望你能对州政府未决之法令作分析。与宾州、纽泽西州法令相比又是如何？依据你的分析整理作出一份建议清单，里面叙述交通干道商业委员应提倡的改善措施。接着便是基于在课堂上习得其他城市之经验，强调商业改善区域组织 （ 也就是参与商业改善区域运动的组织）成立与运作的契机及陷阱。此两相结合成一份书面报告，和一份总结报告的投影片（在最后的一堂课时，用 PowerPoint）交给交通干道商业委员会。谨记此些报告都会刊登于 boston.com (http://www.boston.com/beyond_bigdig/) 网页上，也许会让此世界著名之计划改变方向。
They would like you to analyze the Commonwealth's pending legislation. How does it compare to Pennsylvania's legislation? New Jersey's? Based on your analysis, formulate a list of recommendations that describe the improvements for which ABC should advocate. Next, and based on lessons learned from other cities, highlight the opportunities and pitfalls associated with forming and operating a BID organization (ie. participating in the BID movement). Together, you will compile a written report for ABC, and deliver a slide presentation (using PowerPoint and on the last day of class) that summarizes the report. Keep in mind that these deliverables will be posted on boston.com (http://www.boston.com/beyond_bigdig/), and may alter the direction this world renowned project.
