reading assignment
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Reading assignment 3 (10%) For due date see Gauchospace.
Pick TWO readings from the four listed here and assigned for weeks 5 and 6:
-Guber and Bosso. Issue Framing, Agenda Setting, and Environmental Discourse.
-Supran and Oreskes. Rhetoric and frame analysis of Exxon-Mobil’s climate change communications.
-Read and Riordan, Precautionary Principle under fire.
-Rosenbaum, Making Policy: Institutions
For each of the two texts:
– Capture the key argument you believe the author makes in your own words. Again, you will need to be selective.
– Highlight one or two facts or examples the author mentions in support of the overall argument.
Concluding discussion:
– Write a final concluding section with your own thoughts on what the two articles tell you. Try to make at least
two references to either the other two articles you did not pick, or to other material from the course, lectures
included.
"Referencing" means that you refer to one argument, example or piece of information you find in other class material.
Example 1: "Read and Riordan’s argument is similar to Rosenbaum’s argument that special interests in the US have a dominant influence on
environmental policy making (Rosenbaum, p. 66)."
Example 2: After summarizing Guber and Bosso, you may say something like: "Supran and Oreskes provide an example of how framing is done
on climate change."
Total length: 900 – 1400 words. (each section between 300 – 500 words).
Your essay will have three parts: two summaries (300-500 words each), one concluding paragraph (300-500 words)
Follow these general guidelines:
– Put your name at the top of the page.
– Note word count in the upper right corner of the page.
– Put the full bibliographical reference as section header at the top of each summary.
Style:
– Clearly organize your argument,
– Avoid repetition.
– Avoid statements like "I agree with the author" without explaining why.
– Avoid fillers like "I think" "I believe". It is understood that what you write is your take on these readings.
– Review grader comments on your previous assignments!
Citations:
One of the most widely used citation style in the social sciences is from the American Psychological Association
(APA): http://www.bibme.org/citation-guide/apa/. But you can use another generally accepted style, just be
consistent.
Use direct quotes very sparingly and generally paraphrase in your own words. When you use a direct quote,
reference it with page number. Such as: Gupta points out that "the sky is often but not always blue" (p. 2).
Grading: You will be graded on
– your ability to succinctly identify key issues addressed by the authors,
– thoughtfulness of your comparative analysis
– organization, clarity of writing, and grammar
NOTE: while the TA and I are happy to discuss questions during office hours, we are unfortunately not able to read
and comment on draft papers.
Academic integrity: Materials submitted to fulfill academic requirements must represent a student’s own efforts.
Plagiarism or letting someone else write your work is a serious offense. We may run the essays through a
plagiarism detection program. Students may be asked to come discuss their essay with me or the TA.
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