Syrian Civil War

Contemporary International Problems in The News

Sen. Daniel Moynihan once said “ Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” A fact is verifiable, a opinion is a judgment based on facts, a belief is a conviction based on cultural or personal faith, morality or values and prejudice is a half baked opinion based on insufficient or unexamined evidence. (Adapted from: Fowler, H. Ramsey. The Little, Brown Handbook. Boston: Little, Brown, 1986). This project aims at helping students differentiate between the fact, opinion, belief, prejudice etc. and understand viewpoints and biases in news coverage of global events.

The skills so developed can be applied towards analyzing the fake news/alternative facts.

Analyze a global news; major international news event, problem or political issue outside of US, (from last 5 years) from four different perspectives/sources.

1. An international wire service (eg. CNN, Associated Press, Reuters, BBC etc.)

2. A correspondent from a major US daily (eg. NYT, WSJ, USA Today)

3. A correspondent/newspaper in the country in which the event problem or the issue occurred. (eg. Al Jazeera, Dawn, Times of India, El Colombiana)

4. A correspondent/newspaper in a third country besides US and the one involved. (eg. The Mail and Guardian- South Africa)

There are 2 parts to this assignment

First Part - THE PROPOSAL

In your paragraph long, proposal:

1. Present the news item, you have selected.

2. Provide a tentative outline of the issue you will be exploring.

3. Identify the 4 news sources.

This exercise will ensure you have an outline and will help you in organizing and refining your ideas. Make sure that the news story is from the same date (or 48 hours apart).

For eg. Outbreak of SARS in China (2003), 4 sources would be:

1. CNN

2. USA Today

3. People’s Daily of China

4. Bulgaria

Second Part - THE PAPER

Introductory paragraph: Your topic/story/news item. Explain why you chose this news item.

Paragraph 2: Outline the main points and most significant aspects of what occurred and why, as presented by a major international news agency.

Paragraph 3: Compare the wire service report with the article by a correspondent/ editorial writer in the US. Which facts /aspects of the news agency story are of most interest to the US journalist. Which, if any are disputed, which considered unimportant and ignored. What piece of information would a person relying on this news item know or not know compared with someone who had only read the wire service news.

Paragraph 4: Compare the news agency news report and the report in the US newspaper with the report of the journalist where the action took place. Does the home country journalist have some information, which the wire service and US journalist do not. Are there aspects in the story, which look like they have been censored or downplayed? What piece of information would a person relying on this news item know or not know compared with someone who had only read the wire service news and the report of the journalist from US.

Paragraph 5: Compare the article by the third country journalist with the accounts of the wire service, US journalist, home country journalist What piece of information would a person relying on this news item know or not know compared with someone who had only read the wire service news and the report of the journalist from US and the home country.

Paragraph 6: Summarize and analyze the points of similarity and difference in the four accounts. Include your own opinion as to the possible reasons behind the differences.

Paragraph 7 - Analysis & Conclusion: Do you see explicit examples of fact, belief, opinion, or prejudice? Are they reflective of the different geopolitical attitudes, ethnic/cultural differences, diverse ideological points of views, gender perspective or just diversity in the outlook of the writers? Which of the four was in your opinion most accurate, that event being seen in hindsight.

Mechanics - 4 page, font size 12, 1” margins, single spacing.

NOTE: You can change your sources from The Proposal to The Paper, but not the News/event mentioned in the Proposal.

Rubric for Term Paper

CATEGORY	Exceeds Standards 6	Meets Standards 5	Nearly Meets Standards 4	Does Not Meet Standards 1-3	No Evidence 0
Introduction	The introduction is engaging, states the main topic and previews the structure of the paper.	The introduction states the main topic and previews the structure of the paper.	The introduction states the main topic but does not adequately preview the structure of the paper.	There is no clear introduction or main topic and the structure of the paper is missing.	Absent, no evidence
Body	Each paragraph has thoughtful supporting detail sentences that develop the main idea in accordance with the outline.	Each paragraph has sufficient supporting detail sentences that develop the main idea.	Each paragraph lacks supporting detail sentences	Each paragraph fails to develop the main idea.	Not applicable
Organization- Structural Development of the Idea	Writer demonstrates logical and subtle sequencing of ideas through well-developed paragraphs; transitions are used to enhance organization.	Paragraph development present but not perfected.	Logical organization; organization of ideas not fully developed.	No evidence of structure or organization.	Not applicable
Personal Learning/Analysis	Original thoughts based on the facts unearthed. Shows great depth of knowledge and learning, reveals feelings, thoughts, ideas reflected through use of specific details.	Relates learning with research and project, personal and general reflections included, uses concrete language.	Does not go deeply into the reflection of learning, generalizations and limited insight, uses some detail.	Little or no explanation or reflection on learning, no or few details to support reflection.	Shows no evidence of learning or reflection.
Mechanics	No errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling.	Almost no errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling.	Many errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling.	Numerous and distracting errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling.	Not applicable
Conclusion	The conclusion is engaging, original and restates personal learning.	The conclusion is original and restates the personal learning.	The conclusion does not adequately restate the purpose of the project.	Incomplete and/or unfocused.	Absent
Citation	All cited works, both text and visual, are done in the correct format with no errors.	Some cited works, both text and visual, are done in the correct format. Inconsistencies evident.	Few cited works, both text and visual, are done in the correct format.	Absent	Not applicable
Bibliography	Done in the correct format with no errors. Includes more than 3 major references (e.g. a mix of articles, journals, internet sites.)	Done in the correct format with few errors. Includes 3 major references (e.g. e.g. a mix of articles, journals, internet sites.)	Done in the correct format with some errors. Includes 2 major references (e.g. e.g. a mix of articles, journals, internet sites.)	Done in the correct format with many errors. Includes 1 major references (e.g. e.g. a mix of articles, journals, internet sites.)	Absent or the only sites are internet sites.