News Report

Find at least two related news articles in magazines, newspapers, or online from the last 12 months relating to World Food Issues.

Write a 2-3 page typewritten report summarizing, explaining, and analyzing the subject of the articles with particular attention to how your stories are related or interrelated to the different topics covered in this class: food security, hunger, malnutrition, poverty, health, population, history, agriculture, development, aid, economics, environment, etc.  Why is this subject important, interesting, or newsworthy?  What are recent developments in past months or years related to this topic?  Speculate what you predict will happen concerning this subject in the future.  What are the ethical implications of your news story?

 
Your news report must directly relate to the developing world, and include an ethical discussion of the topic presented as well as the social, political, economic, and environmental implications of the topic where appropriate.   Reports must be well-researched, informative, thought-provoking, and based on the synthesis of facts and ideas from a wide variety of authoritative references including a minimum of 2 scholarly references.   Grades usually reflect the amount of effort put into the project.  Do not use class lecture materials or the book as references for your report.  

Your report must use at least two scholarly references (peer reviewed journal articles) for background research on the topic, in addition to other print or internet references (hint: find scholarly references on Google Scholar or PubMed).  References should be discussed in the context of the news stories, listed in the bibliography, and cited in the text of your report (by number or by author and date).  Scholarly references in the bibliography must include the authors, name of article, journal, volume, page, and date.

FSHN students will add their report to their portfolio.

Grading Rubric:

A:  Well-researched, informative presentation of news stories with strong supporting references, including a thoughtful ethical analysis of the issues raised and its social, political, economic, and environmental implications.   The report ties together concepts and ideas from a variety of sources indicating the interrelatedness of  the news stories to other global issues such as poverty, agriculture, women’s status, policy, etc.  Scholarly references are used and discussed in the context of the report.  Paper reflects a high level of effort and engagement in the topic.

B:  Informative presentation of your topic and good analysis of the ethical, social political, economic, and environmental implications of it.   Does more than a minimal job of integrating and interrelating your topic with other concepts and ideas covered in class relating to poverty,  agriculture, women’s status, policy, etc.  Scholarly references are used and discussed in the context of the report.  Papers reflect a significant level of effort and engagement in the topic.

C.  Fair presentation of your topic and analysis of the ethical, social, political, economic, and environmental implications of it.  Integrates the topic with other concepts and ideas covered in class relating to poverty, agriculture, women’s status and policy changes.  Scholarly references are used and discussed in the context of the report.  Papers reflect an adequate level of effort and engagement in the topic.