Purpose: 1) Become an expert on a specific topic in Public Health. The goal is to teach readers something they do
not already know! Explore a recently developed area or interest/research, a novel technique, or focus on an
under-represented issue in our field. 2) Become informed about Public Health as a potential major and gain
insight into careers to consider.
Skills: This assignment will help you practice the following skills that are essential to your success in school and
your professional life beyond school:
• Access and collect information from scholarly and other sources.
• Synthesize information to develop informed views that you will present in a 3 to 5 page paper
• Compose a well-organized, clear, concise report to expand your knowledge on a subject in Public Health.
Tasks:
• SUBMIT RESEARCH TOPIC (30 pts, due WEEK 2)
Answer the following question in your submission: What is it? Why YOU are motivated to research this
idea. How is it related to the field of Public Health and WHY is it relevant? What about this topic is new, novel,
or under-represented in our field. Include one of your potential sources.
• TYPED REPORT 200 pts Final Draft due week 5
Prepare and submit a typed research paper that presents your topic. This means a complete paper that meets
all of the guidelines. the reader about the area of expertise you have developed. The goal is to teach readers
something new that they don’t already know! The focus must be on a recently developed area or
interest/research, a novel technique, or focus on an under-represented issue in our field. Successful papers
will summarize the research on the topic or problem and cite research within the paper. Give the reader a
broad view of the topic, explaining the importance of the issue and its’ relevance and/or connections to the
field of Public Health (why is your topic important to discuss?). Successful papers will use a minimum of 2
sources and include cause(s), results or consequences, and clearly connect the topic to any larger
social/political/or personal issues. Academic level of writing, in text citations (APA Format for citations must
be included, clear sentence structure and grammar will be considered in grading.
Format Guidelines Double spaced, 12pt Times New Roman Font, 1 inch margins
Works Cited in APA format: 1 scholarly source and 1 other source from the last 5 as a minimum. Older
sources can be cited to help describe your topic.
• SHARING IN A DISCUSSION 40 pts, due week 6
Summarize the information you learned about your topic in one of our weekly discussions. Include the
following: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? So What?
What is the definition? What other words could be used to research this topic? What are some causes?
What are some results or consequences? What larger social or political issues are related to this topic?
Criteria for Success: Total 200 pts
Typed Report 200pts
Meets format guidelines
Summarizes research & topic relevance
Causes & effects explained clearly
Connection to larger issues is clear
Works Cited in APA Format
