Use your favorite Internet search engine to find a recent headline news story in one of the following areas: local or national politics, economics, or business news.
Part A
Write a 350- to 700-word paper clarifying the importance of making critical evaluations of news stories. Use the following questions to help develop your paper:
• Was the reporting of the news story clear and accurate, with sufficient depth and breadth?
• Were some facts reported and other facts ignored?
• Did the story consider alternative perspectives and worldviews?
• Were there any questionable assumptions implicit in the story?
• Were any implications ignored while others were emphasized?
• Why is it important to make distinctions when undertaking a critical evaluation?
• Be prepared to talk about it in class.
Format your essay consistent with the Short Form Writing Style Guide.
Part B
Suppose you are a newspaper columnist who will address, in the next editorial blog of your newspaper's website, the same topic from the article in Part A.
Write a 150- to 200-word answer to each of the following questions:
• How might you use the strategies for applying creativity to problems and issues in addressing this topic? Why do you think these strategies might be effective?
• How might you use the strategies for promoting curiosity in addressing this topic? Why do you think these strategies might be effective?
• How might you use the various methods for producing ideas to eliminate the bias from the original article and still present a factual and persuasive case?