Just some more thoughts on the Semester Project.

As photographers, we should be creating interesting photographs. That said some topics that have never really worked out for this class are:

The homeless. The issue with this subject is that this needs to be a multiple-year type of project, where you follow specific individuals. Look at Mary Ellen Mark's "Streetwise" project. She continued to shoot many of her subjects for years.
Graffiti. Graffiti is an art form, but pictures of it are not that interesting to look at. You should never take pictures of Artwork unless there is some contact to actually doing so. If you are documenting a graffiti artist, then following them around while they create art can be interesting. 30-40 pictures of random graffiti is just lazy photography.

So what we are really looking for are images that would look really good as a series.

For some inspiration look at the following books by photographers:

Documentary photographers (What people now call "Street" photography):

The Decisive Moment, by Henri Cartier-Bresson

William Eggleston's Guide, by Willian Eggleston

The Americans, By Robert Frank

Figments from the Real World, by Gary Winogrand

The American Monument, by Lee Friedlander

Subway, by Bruce Davidson

Other Photo Books (Some of these are retrospective, not themed, but good for layout ideas)

Yosemite and the Range of Light, by Ansel Adams

The portfolios of Ansel Adams, by Ansel Adams

Dioramas, By Hiroshi Sugiomoto

Any books by Keith Carter (my favorite "From Uncertain to Blue")