Please start by watching the video below, which is an introduction to the concept of Private Troubles and Public Concerns. Do not proceed with this assignment until you’ve watched this video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTcL8cEtCCc (8:27) Next, here are two Kaltura videos of me summarizing this assignment. These videos were recorded in the past when students were expected to write about multiple news articles and to offer a response as a Social Worker/Social Service Worker. In the current version of the assignment you only need to write about ONE news article, and you DO NOT need to write about what you would do in the role of a Social Worker/Social Service Worker. These two videos are examples of individuals and the Private Troubles and Public Concerns they have faced in their lives: Tom Regehr (CMHA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIn1jXv-TXE William and “Ava” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFlf0-lyh_k Next are the formal directions for Assignment 1 copied from the Course Outline: Assignment 1: Private Troubles and Public Concerns Paper – 20% The purpose of this assignment is to examine the foundations of decisions made about who is deserving of social welfare benefits and under which circumstances. At an initial level, this reflects the distinction between what is considered a private trouble and what is a public concern (other references describe this as personal issues versus public problems). i) Select an online article, resource, or profile from a reputable source that describes a situation in which an individual or family is faced with a difficult personal trouble or public (social) issue. The article should highlight the experience of an individual or small group (i.e. a group of friends or a family) as well as contain information about the broader issues discussed. (Choose articles based in BC if possible. Articles from other parts of Canada may also be acceptable) ii) Provide 1) A summary of the article, 2) A description of the private troubles (individual issues or story) present and 3) A description of the public concerns (broader social issues) present. Include a link to the article with proper reference citations in your submission. The completed assignment has a required length of 4-5 pages (approximately 1 page summary, 1.5-2 pages on private troubles, and 1.5-2 pages on public concerns). This does not include the title page or reference list. The assignment should be double-spaced, 12-point font, with APA referencing used throughout. Be sure to include all reference sources that you have consulted to write your paper. This includes the textbook, scholarly sources, as well as sources that you may have consulted from government or alternative policy or advocacy organizations’ websites. Assessment Criteria for Assignment 1 CONTENT & LINKAGES: Did you follow the assignment instructions? Did you summarize each article and identify the Private Troubles and Public Concerns? Did you make links to the course content? DEFEND: Did you explain how you came to make the claims that you did? Did you explain the “why” behind the claims you made? Do you offer evidence from the articles you chose to back up your argument? SELF: Did you explain why this issue is important to you, how it relates to your social location and offer a self-reflection on your findings? ANTI-OPPRESSIVE ANALYSIS: Did you discuss how structural forces and intersecting identities impact and are impacted by the Private Troubles and Public Concerns discussed? Did you situate the issues discussed in a social and historical context? CLARITY: Is your writing brief, direct and to the point? Is there enough information to understand the articles and your response, not too much or too little?
