You will select a news event/issue (within the last 5 years) and write an essay analysing it or some ...

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You will select a news event/issue (within the last 5 years) and write an essay analysing it or some element of it using the concepts covered in this course. You must attach a copy of a newspaper/magazine article describing the event/issue with your submission. The article may be about a specific event, or it could just be an example of the issue you are discussing. I have included some examples below. You must clear your idea with your TA at least one week before the essay deadline. You can do this in their office hours or via email. Once your TA has approved your proposal, they will enter this into the grade book and you will earn 5%. If you do not get your topic approved, you will earn 0% for that gradebook element. This is for YOUR benefit to ensure that the topic is relevant to the course and that the way you want to approach it makes sense. Examples of possible topics include, but are not limited to: Analysing whether the George Floyd protesters who broke COVID-19 regulations in 2020 were participating in justified civil disobedience Analysing whether deepfakes should be protected as free speech Analysing whether the legalization of cannabis would be supported by J.S. Mill Analysing whether it matters that the new Starbucks CEO is paid 83% more ($112 million per year) than other fast food chain CEOs One way to approach this assignment is to regularly read the news looking for something that stands out to you. Another approach is to pick a topic/concept from the course that interests you and go looking for issues/newspaper articles that relate to it. If you are struggling to think of something, visit your TA in office hours and they can help you brainstorm ideas. Whatever approach you take, your essay must: Be 2000 words +/- 10% Take an appropriate structure, including an introduction that clearly states your thesis (e.g., "this essay will argue the M25 protesters were engaging in legitimate civil disobedience"). Directly refer to concepts, arguments, ideas, or quotes found in the lectures and/or readings (e.g., "in MLK Jr's Letter from a Birmingham Jail, he sets out the criteria for civil disobedience...") Be referenced appropriately. Any citation format (APA, Chicago, etc.) is fine, just keep it consistent throughout. All direct quotes and paraphrasing of someone else's ideas must be cited. Citations must be specific. This means if you take a quote or idea from page 4 of a book/article, you must include that page number in your citation. Ranges like "4-20" are not sufficient because they will not help your reader locate the quote/idea. Citations without a page number will not be credited as citations. The use of ChatGPT or other LLMs is not allowed and will be taken very seriously, including awarding a 0 for assignment and being reported to the Dean Here is an example structure, using the deepfake example above. Introduction: Here is what deepfakes are I will argue deepfakes should be protected by freedom of speech Paragraph 2-3/4 (depending on how many points you want to make): here are the principles of free speech that I think we should follow, and why, using specific examples from course material analysis of how deepfakes are or are not covered by any of those principles and when (e.g., deepfakes protected if they don't harm anyone, but not if they do harm. Analysis of whether harm is enough to ban them, etc.) consideration of alternative viewpoints (where applicable) Conclusion summary of the points made and reiteration of the thesis I have attached the notes from the course down below as well!