Assignment Question
The purpose of this assignment is to pull together the different skills, theories, and ideas discussed in Applied Food Studies as they apply to a current food issue or event. Your task here is to read, critique, and correct (if relevant) a current news article. This critique and analysis are to be presented as a single essay. Directions Stage
1 Review the article from New York Times – https://www.npr.org/2023/12/06/1216140529/texas-immigration-border-illegal-entry-law 2. Spend time reading through the news article. Download it. Take notes. Look up vocabulary and concepts. 3. Analyze and think about its claims. What evidence is used? What is presented? How is it presented? Is it a reliable source? What does it say about food or the food system? Stage
2: Prepare your essay. It should be at least 800 words of text (12-point Times Roman, double spaced, 1” margins). This paper should interpret some of the key points and issues made in the article. 1. You are expected to find and use a combination of sources to explain your news analysis. You are required, at minimum, to use: a. 1 scholarly, peer-reviewed secondary sources. For most, this will be a scholarly article or a chapter from a scholarly book. b. 2 scholarly tertiary sources. For many, this will be an encyclopedia entry or an entry from a reference text. d. All sources must be cited in-text, as well as referenced in a works cited. Materials should be presented in MLA format. Contact me and/or the LLC if you need help with citations. 2. Write for your audience. Your audience is a member of the general public. Things to explain in your analysis 1. Be sure to include the full citation for the article in your paper at the top of your essay and again in the works cited. Include the URL if you are accessing it online. 2. Explain why you have chosen this article. Give examples and show evidence.
3. Check out the writer(s) and the publication. Are these respected authorities? Why/why not? How do you know? (Consider educational attainment, awards, public reputation, etc.)
4. What theories or ideas is this article promoting or explaining? What do you think the author’s motivation is and why? Give examples and show evidence. You should have at least 3-4 talking points.
5. Who is the audience for this article? How do you know this? Give examples and show evidence.
6. Do you think the author is effective at reaching that audience? Why? Give examples and show evidence.
7. What evidence are they presenting to back up their claims?
8. Are their arguments convincing? Why or why not? Who do you think might be more easily convinced? Who might not be? Give examples and show evidence.
9. What did they do or get right, if anything? Present examples from class readings and class materials as supporting arguments. Give examples and show evidence, including citations and references, to explain why the content is wrong.
10. What did they get wrong, if anything? Present examples from class readings and class materials as counter arguments. Give examples and show evidence, including citations and references, to explain why the content is wrong. 11. You are expected to use additional sources. You will find that our class readings will not be enough to explain or counter.
Formatting Your essay should be at least 800 words in length.It needs to contain: • MLA in-text citations and a works cited at the end of the essay. The works cited is not included as part of the page count. • Where possible, images or screenshots, to explain the website. They will not be included in your page count. • Proofreading, grammar check, and spell check are expected. See the LLC if you need support. • Your essay should be in 12-point Times font with 1” margins and double spaced. Page numbers need to be included. • Your word count at the top of the page on the line after your name • Your completed assignment needs to be uploaded to Moodle by the deadline. It should be in PDF format. See the IT center if you need help converting files to PDF. Approved News Sources This is a list of some of the most widely searched for & viewed news sources. Some are sources filled with reliable, thoughtfully researched journalism. Others deal in fake news or disinformation.
• The New York Times • CNN • The Guardian (Based out of the UK) • The Daily Mail/The Mail (Based out of the UK) • Fox News • USA Today • Huffington Post • Associated Press • Forbes • The New York Post • BBC (UK) • The Daily Wire
