The seminar complements the lecture “Transformations I” by providing opportunities for the reading of key texts and for group discussions. We will reflect on different approaches to the understanding of cities and urbanization by reading and jointly discussing key texts from architecture and planning as well as urban social science and urban history. The seminar also serves to teach and train basic skills in critical reading and writing for academic purposes. Students will gain an understanding of “academic knowledge claims” and improve their ability to dissect and discuss differences between arguments. Requirements are regular attendance and active engagement in class as well as the submission of one review paper.