Communication 280 Intro to health communication

COM 280: Introduction to Health Communication

Spring 2018, Volkman 2

Health Communication HEALTH ISSUE OPTION

Spring 2018, Final Paper

The purpose of this assignment is to provide students the ability to synthesize and analyze communication about health. The topic of your paper is open to you. You must decide what aspect of health communication that we have covered this semester (or will cover) is interesting to you or what health issue is personally important to you. The paper is to combine course materials and concepts and apply them to communication about a specific health topic.

Paper Sections:

Introduction

Introduce the paper and what the paper will cover.

Part 1: Background and significance of the health issue(s)

One part of health communication is the “health” being communicated. Therefore, students should be able to briefly explain the health issue(s) in the paper [what it is, how it is diagnosed, cures (if any)]. When writing about the background and significance of the health issue, include peer-reviewed (academic) sources. Remember, health issues are often studied for their causes/symptoms/cures/treatments and research is published in scientific/medical/health communication journals to explain the health issue. Additional sources such as newspapers, websites, and magazines can be used.

Part 2: Evaluate Communication about a Health Topic: The project will be based on an analysis of communication of a health topic, and critically analyze how this topic is communicated in society. This can be at the individual, family, or community level. Analysis will integrate course content into describing the communication, any possible benefits or disadvantages the way the health topic is being communicated to a particular audience, and implications this communication has to greater societal health. Your goal will be to analyze course concepts apply to this health issue. For example, the role of provider-patient communication, culture, politics, health literacy, health message design, health campaigns, social networks, available health information, etc. – have they influenced how this health issue is being communicated to (or within) a particular audience?

Part 3: Implications and Future Directions for Health Communication

At the end of the paper students should write a reflection on the implications of their work and what this paper can then do to help guide future areas of principles and/or practice in health communication. For example, what are the limitations on communication efforts on the health issue? What parts of the health issue are being communicated well?

Conclusion

Conclude the paper and what was discussed.

References

All papers will require at least 6 citations, including peer-reviewed (academic) references. A reference page is required (APA does not have a Works Cited, but a Reference page).

Appendix

Examples of the communication efforts must be included in the appendix. For example, an advertisement, screen shot of a video, newspaper article, etc.

Additional Key Points:

Work individually

You will be required to work individually on this paper to apply the knowledge you have gained throughout the semester about health communication. Course material will guide understanding and application. Any type of plagiarism will NOT be accepted.

Page length and APA style

The paper should be 8-10 pages in content, excluding title page, references and appendix [abstract not needed]. Papers must follow APA style and include an Introduction and Conclusion. APA style format can be found at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Grammar and spelling

Papers must be free of grammatical and spelling errors, as well as format problems (e.g., weird spacing, smudges, unnecessary bolding or italics, etc.).

Format

Paper must be stapled, use “Times New Roman” 12 point font and have standard 1 inch margins. Paper must also be double spaced and avoid excessive spacing or indenting.

*******Failure to meet any of the requirements will result in point reduction*******