Homework: Media & Society
Again, imagine that you are running for a state office (e.g., governor, senator, or Congressional representative) and you have to prepare a position paper for a debate on controversial issues in the news. [Select one of the topics addressed.] Remember that you are addressing a significant segment of your state's population and you want to be elected to public office, so your topic will have to have a broad appeal, such as public trust and the media, the loss of privacy, safeguarding the First Amendment, online harassment, and the dangers of privatizing public information, among other topics from those chapters.
You will want your position paper to demonstrate critical thinking, sound logic, valid claims, personal passion, and credible support that is cited correctly because the paper will be provided to the news media before the debate and will be scrutinized by the media and reported on regarding these criteria.
Write 2 to 3 pages (500 to 750 words) paper in which you:
1) Introduce your position using a thesis statement in the first paragraph, including a quote, question, or statistic from your reliable sources and an overview of the main points you will cover. (It's important to grab the audience's interest and inform the audience of what the main and support points are.)
2) Provide two or three major points to support your thesis statement. (Put each major point in a separate paragraph.)
3) Provide one paragraph in which you identify and answer an expected argument against your view.
4) Organize arguments and support your claims effectively.
5) Demonstrate personal passion for your position and critical thinking with persuasive language, sound logic, valid claims, and credible support for the claims.
Format your homework according to the following formatting requirements:
(1) The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
(2) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
(3) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this homework are:
1) Apply critical thinking skills to the analysis of issues involving mass media and society.
2) Use technology and information resources to research issues in media and society.
3) Write clearly and concisely about media and society using proper writing mechanics.