Coronavirus alternative paper
1. Provide an overview of the current coronavirus pandemic. Explain the origin of the virus, how it has spread, the overall risk to people, and its current status in the United States. Provide up-to-date information and communicate as if you are trying to educate an uninformed audience. Use external sources (e.g., news articles, CDC documents, peer reviewed articles, etc.) to back up your statements.
(1 page)
2. Write a page paper – Describe one of the following decision-making behaviors that have occurred during the coronavirus pandemic. Choose one (1 page):
a. Hoarding behaviors (e.g., toilet paper hoarding, etc.)
b. Social distancing behaviors (e.g., remaining safe distance away from people; avoiding crowded spaces, etc.).
c. Stigmatization of people or actions (e.g., inaccurately stating certain nationalities are of greater risk to virus than others; how coughing in public is being stigmatized, etc.)
d. Risk-reducing decisions (e.g., washing hands for 20 seconds, limiting handshakes, not touching face, etc.)
e. Information sharing behaviors (e.g., reaching out to social network to discuss coronavirus issues)
How might this decision-making behavior impact society, such as public health and/or social relationships? Consider the complex impact the behavior may have. Be sure to include examples and cite sources that you use to back up claims/arguments you make (e.g., reputable newspaper articles).
3. Choose one of the following forms of mass media and explain its impact on the above decision-making behavior that you chose (2 pages):
a. News media
b. Social media
c. Entertainment media
Use one theory, concept, or model discussed in our course to explain how this form of mass communication influences the decision-making behavior you used above (e.g., framing, cultivation theory, agenda setting theory, directional motivated reasoning, exemplification, psychometric paradigm, etc.). Be sure to define this model/theory/concept, and how it specifically applies to mass media effects.
4. Your take. Explain a personal decision-making behavior you’ve made in response to this crisis. Write a page paper – Describe a theory or concept discussed in class that has impacted your decision-making (e.g., how descriptive norms have impacted your behavior or beliefs). Make sure you explain how that theory applies to your particular decision (1 page)
For a video description of this assignment by Graham, go to this link: https://osu.zoom.us/rec/share/yfBPKozz0UxOTonTtmWEcKQ9XbTdX6a8gydN86VZzUg9OZNpppiD0GbCSQIClcAA?startTime=1584319200000
