Assignment Rubric: Written Assignment 1 (15%): How Does the Media Portray Nutrition Science?Oftentimes the public consumes nutrition and health information not from original research but from media reportsof research. For this assignment, you will write a review article evaluating the credibility of a popular press portrayalof a published nutrition research paper. You will be provided the media article and the research paper during thefirst week of class. The overarching goal of this essay is to make an argument about the implications of the media’srepresentation of scientific research, using the media article and the scientific paper. This review should be between2,000 and 2,500 words. Your review should have an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. The introductionshould contain a thesis statement or your main argument about how well the media article portrayed the researcharticle. Within the body of your review, you should include the following:a. How well does the media portray the study design? What, if any, are key misinterpretations orinformation gaps in the media article portrayal of the study design?b. What are the key findings in the scientific paper? How well does the media portray the keyfindings? Were key findings omitted? What are the implications of these omission ormisrepresentations?c. Does the title of the media article portray the findings of the article? If not, suggest a new titlethat is more accurated. Are key limitations of the scientific article acknowledged in the media article? Can you think of anyother limitations not mentioned in either article that should be included?e. Does the media article provide adequate background information on the topic? If not, whatadditional context would be helpful to readers?f. What are the implications of potential misrepresentation of scientific studies? Be specific aboutthe scientific paper’s coverage in the media, if you think the media misrepresented aspects of thestudy. Also, comment more broadly on how misrepresentation of scientific research, especially when itcomes to food and health, could be problematic.Students may quote passages from the texts to strengthen their arguments; however, these should be used tohighlight and exemplify arguments rather that comprise the entirety of the paper.
Guidelines: Assignments should be in Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced with 1-inch margins. Whennaming your assignment file, be sure to include your last name and the first initial of your first name and theassignment number (e.g., BeckM_Assignment2). References should be formatted according to the AmericanPsychology Association (APA) style guide and should be submitted on a new page in the document, instead ofdirectly below the assignment text. Using a reference manager such as RefWorks or Mendeley is highlyrecommended for formatting references and can help save time. Be sure to spell-check your paper. Put the totalword count after the title of your assignment. Submit as a Word document or PDF file to the assignment link in 2CH. Papers that exceed the maximum word limit will receive a 2-point deductionfor each 100 additional words. Paper submitted late will receive a deduction of 1 point for every 24 hours late. Word count 2000-2500 words.Papers later than 72 hours will be given a 0
Criteria:
Introduction
Study Design
Author Viewpoints of Key Findings of Article
Analysis
Title
Limitations
Background
Misrepresentation
Summary Paragraph and Conclusion
Research Article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abl8007
Media Article:
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Introduction:
The media plays a critical role in shaping public perception and understanding of various topics, including nutrition science. Often, the general population relies on media reports of research rather than accessing original scientific studies. This assignment aims to evaluate the credibility of a popular press portrayal of a published nutrition research paper. By analyzing both the media article and the scientific paper, students are tasked with making an argument about the implications of the media’s representation of scientific research. This review article should critically assess the media’s portrayal of the study design, key findings, title accuracy, limitations, background information, and potential misrepresentation of scientific studies. The goal is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the media’s impact on the public’s perception of nutrition science.
Answer:
Within the introduction, students should clearly state their main argument or thesis about how well the media article portrayed the research article. This will set the tone for the rest of the review and guide the reader’s understanding of the author’s viewpoint.
Study Design:
In the body of the review, students should assess how well the media portrayed the study design. They should identify any key misinterpretations or information gaps present in the media article’s portrayal of the study design. Students should analyze whether the media accurately explained the experimental design, sample size, control groups, and any other methodological aspects that are relevant to the research study.
Author Viewpoints of Key Findings of Article:
Next, students should evaluate how well the media portrayed the key findings of the scientific paper. They should highlight whether any key findings were completely omitted in the media article’s portrayal and discuss the implications of such omissions or misrepresentations. It is important to critically analyze whether the media accurately conveyed the significance and implications of the study’s findings.
Analysis:
Students should offer a thorough analysis of the media’s portrayal of the research article. This may involve comparing and contrasting the media’s presentation with the scientific paper. It is essential for students to provide evidence and examples from both sources to support their analysis.
Title:
In this section, students should determine whether the title of the media article accurately portrays the findings of the research article. If not, they should suggest a new title that is more accurate. Additionally, students should assess whether the media article acknowledges any key limitations of the scientific article. If there are limitations that were not mentioned in either article, students should identify and discuss them.
Background:
Students should evaluate whether the media article provides adequate background information on the topic. If not, they should identify the specific areas where additional context would be helpful to the readers. The goal is to assess whether the media article sets the stage appropriately for understanding the research study.
Misrepresentation:
In this section, students should discuss the implications of potential misrepresentation of scientific studies. They should be specific about the scientific paper’s coverage in the media and identify instances where the media may have misrepresented aspects of the study. It is important to comment more broadly on how misrepresentation of scientific research, especially in the context of food and health, can be problematic.
Summary Paragraph and Conclusion:
The review should conclude with a summary paragraph that summarizes the main arguments made throughout the paper. The conclusion should reiterate the main thesis statement and provide a clear and concise closing statement about the implications of media representation of scientific research in the field of nutrition science.
It is important for students to support their arguments with evidence and examples from both the media article and the scientific paper. Additionally, proper formatting according to APA style, correct spelling, and adherence to word count guidelines are necessary for a successful submission.
