Description

Assignment # 1: Opinion Editorial on health concern of your choice
Students will write an “op-ed” (opinion editorial) article about a health disparities issue
using the guidelines provided by “How to Write An Op-Ed Article” here:
https://styleguide.duke.edu/toolkits/writing-media/how-to-write-an-op-ed-article/
In order to write an opinion editorial, you will need to do some research so that you have
accurate, scientifically sound evidence to support your argument. This should be written in
a professional voice, and not be a “rant.” Research other opinion editorials so you can see
the format. This assignment must be approximately 750 words.
You’ll be graded on 1) how the op-ed relates to class content, 2) clarity of writing, 3)
evidence to support your point, 4) suitability of newspaper, and 5) respect to your
audience.
SOSC 1801 Health Controversies
Assignment # 1: Opinion Editorial on Health Concern of your choice
Students will write an “op-ed” (opinion editorial) article about a health disparities issue using the guidelines
provided by “How to Write An Op-Ed Article” here: http://newsoffice.duke.edu/duke_resources/oped.html
In order to write an opinion editorial, you will need to do some research so that you have accurate,
scientifically sound evidence to support your argument. This should be written in a professional voice, and
not be a “rant.” Research other opinion editorials so you can see the format.
This assignment must be approximately 750 words. You must include what newspaper you are submitting it
to and you must show evidence that you have actually submitted it (for instance, an email verification or
otherwise). Without this evidence your project will be marked incomplete and you will receive a grade of
0/5.
Do not submit to the Toronto Star. If you do, you’ll receive a grade of zero.
You’ll be graded on 1) how the op-ed relates to class content, 2) clarity of writing, 3) evidence to support
your point, 4) suitability of newspaper, 5) respect to your audience, and 6) proof of submission before
deadline.
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Forms of evidence include: statistics from reliable sources, news, reports from credible
organizations, expert quotes, scholarship, history, and first-hand experience.
Some ideas you might want to write about:
• Consider the debates about a sugar tax; or
• Transgendered bathroom spaces; or
• Alcohol free communities; or
• Activists who advocate for banning GMOs; or
• Pesticides that leech into ground water; or
• Concerns that wind turbines make people sick; or
• Access to free and safe abortions in Canada; or
• Concerns about whether Wifi causes cancer; or
• Tar sands increasing cancer for Indigenous peoples in Alberta; or
• A cure for AIDS is possible; or
• Mexico restricts soda-pop advertisements; or
• there should (or should not) be a supervised injection site in Toronto; or
• Google and drug company Novartis collaborate on new bio-technologies; or
• C-sections for delivery are on the rise; or
• Superbugs and antibiotics; or
• Is sex addiction a physiological disease or psychological; or
• Vegetarianism helps reduce global starvation; or
• Miners experience high rates of lung disease; or
• Marijuana legalization harms/helps communities; or
• Free universal health care should include dentist and optometry visits; or
• More and more people take anti-depressant drugs but more and more people are
depressed; or
• Too many children are prescribed ADHD drugs; or
• You support or do not support euthanasia; or
• Military veterans do not care proper health care after defending our country; or
• Flu vaccines should be mandatory; or
• IVF should be free; or
• Car pollution causes increases in cancer rates; or
• Public health officials giving polio vaccines are killed in India and Nigeria; or
• US government allows companies not to provide free contraception; or
• Why are more and more young women being diagnosed with ADHD?
• E-cigarettes are a safer alternative to tobacco (or not); or
• Current income assistance (welfare) rates in Canada create poor health; or
• Food labels should include information on GMOs; or
• Sodium/salt intake is too high; or etc.
What issue might compel you to write an opinion editorial advocating for social change
and justice?
**At the bottom of your Op Ed you must identity WHERE you would submit your piece
and briefly explain why you have selected that particular media outlet. You are NOT
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required to actually send the assignment to the media outlet.
Submissions must be made both in hard copy at the beginning of your tutorial on the due
date and via TurnItIn on your tutorial moodle page. Your assignment must include your full
name, student number, date, and tutorial day/time.
Late assignments will not be accepted unless you have official documentation (for example
a medical note)

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