Topic#1 Introduction to the Case Study Project
As mentioned in the course overview, the culminating project for this course is a case study where you will integrate key ideas from the course readings with your ideas and core values. The specific instructions for the case study can be found here: Case Study Project. Over the next few weeks, you will work through the writing process to outline, draft, and revise your case study. Read the UMGC Online Guide to Research and Writing for an overview of the writing process. Throughout the writing process, you will receive step-by-step guidance and feedback from your classmates and your instructor. It is also important to note that all of the activities and assignments that you have completed over the last four weeks can be used to complete your case study.
During week 5, you will complete the following steps towards your case study project:
Confirm your selected social issue from the three we have discussed in class: language and power, freedom and security, and health and wealth. In most cases, students should stay with the issue they selected for the Summary-Response Assignment.
Develop a working thesis that conveys your unique perspective on your selected social issue.
Outline at least three reasons to support your thesis.
Select at least three of the previously assigned readings that you will use to support your thesis and reasons. (Note that freedom and security and health and wealth each have exactly three assigned readings, so if you choose one of these social issues, you will be using all three assigned readings. If you choose language and power, you will select at least three of the five assigned readings.)
Identify at least 4-6 quotes from your selected readings that relate to your thesis and reasons. These quotes might provide direct evidence for your thesis and reasons, or you might plan to respond to them in some other way. (See examples below.)
Complete and submit a Quote Log where you paraphrase your selected quotes and where you explain how the quotes relate to your thesis and reasons. Here are examples of some ways quotes may relate to your thesis and reasons:
Some selected quotes may provide facts and statistics you can use as evidence to support your ideas. Explain which of your reasons is supported by this evidence.
Some selected quotes may present claims that ignore certain facts or perspectives, or have flaws in reasoning. Explain what the author is missing and why your perspective is different. Identifying Your Topic, Thesis, and Reasons
The first step is to confirm your choice off topic or focus for your case study from among the three social issues we have discussed: language and power, freedom and security, health and wealth. Most students should stay with the social issue they selected for the Summary-Response Assignment. However, now is your chance to make a change if you think one of the other social issues would work better for your case study. Consider which of the three social issues you felt most passionate about or you understand the best. Consider whether you feel you have enough information on the issue to sustain a multi-paragraph essay.
Once you settle on a focus, you will need to write a thesis that will be the central idea for your case study. Think about what viewpoint(s) emerged in the Response portions of your Summary-Response Assignment. Look for a unique perspective, stance, or insight you have that can guide the direction of your case study.
Click on the image below for guidance on writing your thesis statement. For additional guidance on writing an effective thesis, you should review the UMGC Online Guide for Writing and Research.
hands typing on a laptop keyboard
(click image for information on thesis statements)
After you select your topic and develop your thesis, you will need to outline reasons to support your thesis. In other words, you want to explain why you hold the perspective that your thesis conveys. The following is an example of a topic, thesis, and reasons:
Topic:
Education and Empowerment
Thesis:
Contrary to popular opinion, education does not always lead to empowerment.
Reasons:
(1) Everyone does not have access to a quality education.
(2) Even with a quality education, lucrative employment opportunities are not guaranteed.
(3) Educated individuals may still face discrimination and other inequities that limit opportunities for success.
The first discussion for this week asks you to post your topic, thesis, and reasons. You will receive feedback from your classmates and from your instructor that will help you finalize these elements of your case study. My summary response: In the article, Jason Q. Purnell has written about the connection of health to financial status. The writer has thrown light on the effects of financial statuses on the physical and mental health of individuals. Being one of the wealthiest countries, America lags the health care because of several factors like the unequal contribution of facilities, high-calorie diet, drug usage, violence, and high rates of the child poverty rate. The factors of low health conditions depend on the financial stress directly or indirectly. According to the Stress in America Survey in 2015, money toped the causes of poor health in America. However, researchers have collected the data that 72% of adults worry about money. Furthermore, alongside adults, child poverty is also the primary factor that affects the health of people from an early age.
Furthermore, scientists and psychologists have researched numerous adverse effects of childhood poverty on child’s health. Moreover, financial stress impacts a child’s mental and physical system, which ultimately risks the growth and behavior of children. Additionally, the writer has mentioned that there are health policies including, the Affordable Care Act that provide health facilities to the citizens. However, ACA could not manage to lower the poor health conditions because there are thousands of other factors that contribute to the bad health conditions. Moreover, it has been mentioned in the article that America is working to improve health care through major steps.
Response:
The article starts with a statement that defines the theme of the whole paper. It is the best way to develop the interest of the reader because a reader deeply studies the article if he knows the main idea. However, the article has justified the topic, which is Health and Wealth because the writer has thrown light on the factors that connect wealth and health. Moreover, there are the factors and the reasons that how wealth and health are directly proportional. The organization and sequence of content are applaudable in the article.
The article is based on facts and figures, which adds authenticity to the paper. For example, the writer has mentioned the researches of different data statistically and thrown light on the works and statements of scientists and psychologists who deal with mental and physical health. The paper discusses the social disparities and other primary factors that can be minimized to improve health conditions. However, American society must aim to improve health care because individual efforts cannot eradicate poor health conditions. Overall, the article justifies the topic in representing the information.
Article: Wealth Secures Health
Summary:
In the article Wealth Secures Health the writer Rebecca A. Clay has started with the health disparities between rich and poor. However, health disparities have been part of the United Kingdom like rich Americans who earn $500,000 a year are healthier than the ones who make $100,000 a year.
Furthermore, researchers have found that health and financial statuses are directly proportional. Moreover, it is claimed that risks of death increase with the decrease of ranks. However, psychologists work on finding reasons for the strong connection between health conditions and financial statuses. The results of the researches show that low finances do not allow people to spend a healthy life because of the low-quality food, polluted environment, and other social problems. Socioeconomic status impacts the immune system’s ability to ward off infections.
There are evident disparities in American society between White Americans and minorities. Racism is one of the primary factors that lead to societal differences in America. Minorities are not given equal rights as the majority groups because the White Americans dominate the black people. There injustice, inequality, and unbiasedness in American society, which leads to differences in majority and minorities. Similarly, healthcare is not provided equally to all the communities. Moreover, minorities live in less privileged areas and unhealthy environments. Therefore, there is a difference in socioeconomic statuses between people of color and White people.
Psychologists have studied various situations, environments, and factors that contribute to poor health conditions because of socioeconomic statuses. The article suggests the treatment for socioeconomic stress, which is mostly reduction of social disparities. Moreover, NIH has emphasized the ways to provide equal health care to the citizens regardless of their race and ethnicity.
Response:
The article has discussed the primary factors that contribute to the bad health conditions in American society. The writer has mentioned the figures to acknowledge the socioeconomic factors that impact the health of majorities and minorities. However, the article is not in complete essay form, but it is embedded with all the relevant information about the topic. Clay has tried his best to inform the readers about the authentic facts and figures of the health care system.
Furthermore, the article consists of the works of researchers which add value to the claims made by the writer. I like how the writer has given evidence through the experiments of the researchers to give authenticity to the paper. Additionally, the examples add extra flavor to the claims and the discussions made by the writer. The whole article is to the point and does not have repetitive information, so it is a good read to have information about the topic.
Work Cited
CLAY, REBECCA A. “Wealth Secures Health”. Https://Www.Apa.Org, 2001, https://www.apa.org/monitor/oct01/wealthhealth.
Purnell, Jason Q. “What It’s Worth: Strong Financial Future”. Strongfinancialfuture.Org, 2017, http://www.strongfinancialfuture.org/essays/financial-health-is-public-health/.
Topic #2. In this discussion, you will share one of your reasons and connect it with information from one of the previously assigned readings. You will also give and receive feedback from your classmates.
Initial Post
Think about the development of your case study and write a post where you:
(1) state one of your reasons in support of your thesis
(2) post a quote from one of the previously assigned readings that you will use as evidence for your reason
(3) paraphrase the quote and explain how the quote relates to your thesis and reason
(4) demonstrate use of quotations, accurate APA in-text citations, and an academic voice
(5) demonstrate the grammar and writing skills covered in previous weeks Assigned reading: https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/pro-liberty-case-gun-restrictions
