

Media Analysis = 80% of Assignment mark

 Letter Response = 20% of Assignment mark

It is recommended that you start work on this assignment after completing Module
2.

Due: After Module 4

Description

This assignment involves analyzing TWO media articles from a social welfare
perspective (different topics for each article are recommended, but similar topics
are also acceptable); and writing a response to ONE of the articles either as a letter
to the editor, or to a political leader (Mayor, MP, MLA), or to bureaucratic leadership
(such as the Deputy Minister of the appropriate Ministry), or to an office of the
Legislature (such as the Ombudsman’s office or the Representative for Children and
Youth).

Media Analysis

Select two recent news or information media articles published within the last
year (different topics for each article are recommended, but similar topics are also
acceptable) concerning a social welfare issue in Canada. This could be a newspaper
article, magazine article, radio podcast (there are many on the CBC radio website),
website (e.g., POVNet, Fraser Institute, etc.––if you choose an agency’s website,
please check with your Open Learning Faculty Member before beginning your
work). Provide a link to, or copy of, the media article you are responding to.

For each article you choose, provide a maximum two-page (double-spaced, 12 point
font, APA-referencing) summary and analysis of the article. Please respond using
full sentence paragraphs. There is no necessity to include a separate introduction
and conclusion. Your assignment should include:

A. A summary of the article that clearly expresses the main point that the
author intends the reader to understand. This should be no more than two
or three sentences.
B. Identification of the political ideology and social welfare approach that is
inherent in the article; ensure that you provide evidence of how you came
to that conclusion
 C. Analyze the perspective of the article using an inclusion lens. (Refer to
Chapter 2 in Chappell; and: An Inclusion Lens: A Workbook for Looking at
Social and Economic Exclusion and Inclusion to assist with this analysis.)
D. Provide a critical reflection of the author’s perspective of this social issue.
This may include identifying any critique of the ideas, inclusion of a missing
point, or by providing more supporting information.

Letter in Response

For one of your chosen articles, write a response either as a letter to the editor, or
to a public official such as a Mayor, MP, or MLA, or to bureaucratic leadership (such
as the Deputy Minister of the appropriate Ministry), or to an office of the Legislature
(such as the Ombudsman or the Representative for Children and Youth). Other
choices may be available, but please check with your Open Learning Faculty
Member.

The letter in response must conform to the requirements set out by the
organization you are writing to. This may require some research in terms of
number of words and/or format. If you cannot find any guidelines, identify how you
approached trying to find the guidelines. For the purposes of this assignment the
response can only be MAXIMUM one page. Please respond using full sentence
paragraphs.

It is NOT part of the assignment to actually send the letter (or post it to any

website).

You can choose the content of your response while ensuring that it is consistent
with being a representative of the social work community. It must be professionally
written in a way that you believe will have the most impact.

Submission Instructions

Complete both Media analysis and the Letter in Response in one document. Use
page breaks to separate the different items so it is easier for the Open Learning
Faculty Member to grade each item.

When completed, submit the file for grading.

Criteria for Assessment