Major Paper Assignment Instructions and Grading Rubric This assignment meets the

Major Paper Assignment Instructions and Grading Rubric
This assignment meets the following Course Learning Objectives:
– Articulate basic drug terminology and drug taking behavior
– Identify the various addictive substances – legal and illegal – and their classifications
– Analyze the reasons people commonly abuse substances
– Analyze how substances affect the mind and body and society
In
2010, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy
statement addressing the complex relationships among children,
adolescents, substance abuse, and the media. This assignment requires a
critical examination of the AAP publication and a critique of a media
portrayal of substance use, with links made to the AAP statement and
course material. Conclusions about the implications of the media
portrayals and the policies recommended by the AAP also should be made.
Successful completion of this paper will require work over multiple
weeks. A two paragraph summary of the proposed example of substance use
portrayal in the media was due by the end of Week 3. The full paper is
due at the end of Week 7.
This assignment proceeds in four steps:
Preparation
Step One:
Read the AAP Policy Statement located below. Make some notes for
yourself about points of agreement or disagreement you have with the
statement and specific findings regarding media depictions of substance
use that you want to assess when you write the paper.
Step Two:
Find a current example of substance use portrayal seen in the media;
for example, scenes from a movie, a television show, or a commercial;
print ads; or portrayals found in “new media” as discussed in the AAP
article. The Internet is a good tool for finding film or television
portrayals of substance use as well as examples of print ads if ready
access to first-hand media is not available. A two paragraph summary of
the proposed example of substance use portrayal in the media that will
be used for the paper is due by the end of Week 3. This proposal is a
separate assignment and is worth 100 points and 5% of the overall course
grade.
Construction
Step Three: Write
the paper. Begin the paper with an introduction that summarizes the
main findings of the AAP article and previews what will be covered in
the coming pages. Next, compare and contrast the portrayal of substance
use found in the media with the information learned about that substance
in the class and course readings. What messages about the substance are
being portrayed? How accurate are those messages relative to the actual
data on substance use? Be sure to cite the course readings as needed.
Continue
by comparing and contrasting the portrayal of substance use found in
the media with the criticism of media portrayals found in the AAP paper.
Does the media example match their arguments or contradict them? What
links and connections can be made? Be sure to cite the article as
needed.
Next,
draw some conclusions about the portrayal of substance use found in the
media, addressing the following: What are the implications of this type
of portrayal? What messages are being sent and to whom? Are those
messages an accurate representation of the use of this substance? Should
media portrayals be required to be accurate in their depictions of use,
showing both positive and negative consequences?
Finally,
review the guidelines suggested by the AAP at the end of their policy
statement and address the following: Although directed specifically at
pediatricians, which of those recommendations is most important? Why?
Are these recommendations necessary? If followed, will they be effective
in addressing the concerns raised earlier in the article? Be sure to
cite sources as needed.
Step Four:
The
required length of this paper is 11 pages, plus a required a cover page
and a reference list. Papers must comply with APA formatting rules,
including font size and margins, and must have a scholarly focus and
tone. Quoting of published material and use of the first-person “I” are not permitted and will result in point loss. All source material must be paraphrased into your own words and cited appropriately.
On submission your work will auto-run through Turnitin.com’s plagiarism checker software.