General Assignment:
Locate and read a biologically-oriented science news article (print article – preferably one that you find interesting) posted on any of the major news outlets available to the general public (e.g., The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Time magazine, Newsweek magazine, etc.) that relates to something we have covered or will cover in this course (check the syllabus for “will cover” topics). A discussion forum is available on the course D2L site that will serve as a sign-up sheet; once you have chosen your article, post the author and name of the article as well as the title, first author, and publication of the original scientific publication that is being reported, to the discussion forum. Check previous posts to verify that another student has not already posted your choice; only one student may review a particular news article. Choose and post a news article no later than mid-semester (October 18, 2020). Download and save a copy of the news article and, over the course of the semester, formulate a review of the news article that includes an explanation of the science being presented and a critique of how well that science was presented in the article. Prepare a short, written assessment and a 5-minute, 5-slide PowerPoint presentation that will be delivered during (for) the last lab meeting. You will turn in your news article, your written evaluation, and your PowerPoint presentation. The written evaluation and PowerPoint presentation will include the following:
1. A synopsis of the chosen news article.
2. A succinct explanation of the science being presented in the newspaper article (from the original scientific publication being described in the news article). This should be an accurate explanation of the science drawn from the primary and secondary biological literature. As part of your evaluation of the news article, you will design a figure (a visual communication device – look at your textbook for examples of how different science concepts are visually presented) that explains the science.
3. A critique of the news article relative to the actual science. What did the author get right; what did they get wrong; is there anything misleading; what could have been done better? If the news article includes its own figures, critique those as well.
4. An evaluation of whether a general, non-science audience is likely to have understood the article, or whether the article would have been accessible only to a science-literate audience (i.e. accessibility). Depending on the topic, this could have real consequences – what might those consequences be? For example, is a story on Zika told such that people understand why they need to use insect repellent, or did the story simply elicit fear without being likely to engender changes in behavior?
5. Proper citation of the biological literature. At least three (3) primary or secondary journal articles from the biological literature will be used and properly cited (without plagiarism).
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Locate and read a biologically-oriented science news article appeared first on Essaybrook.