Description
1) Venezuela
Analyze the United States’ Venezuela policy and evaluate the media’s performance using one of two tactics: Either evaluate one news outlet’s Venezuela coverage in depth or compare two outlets’ reporting. You should analyze at least four pieces of news in total (articles, news segments, podcasts, etc.) about the ongoing crisis in general and the U.S.’s position/role (at least two from each outlet if you will do a comparative analysis). Try to identify news pieces that are representative of the news outlet’s coverage in general. In addition to the class material we cover in this course, you’re encouraged to use more sources (with proper citation) that are related to the topic and your argument.
I’d suggest that you first read the official statements from both parties and read analyses from different perspectives on the topic. Then identify a media outlet and analyze its Venezuela coverage. Read as many news articles on the issue as you can to gain an understanding of the outlet’s coverage and position in general; pick at least four articles to include in your final paper, and analyze them in terms of its language (word choices are important to identify the position. For ex.: “regime”, “dictator” vs. “government”, “president”), sources (For ex.: Are they providing different perspectives and arguments from the Venezuelan side? Are they reporting from Venezuela? Are they heavily relying on official/elite sources?), and apparent position in general (are they in favor of the U.S. official line or critical of White House policies?)
At the end, provide your own opinion and stance about both the U.S. policies (from international conventions, democratic principles, and humanitarian angles) and the performance of the outlet (in relation to our readings).
2) Trump’s foreign policy: Opinion pieces/editorials
Analyze opinion pieces from one news outlet about the foreign policies of the Trump administration. You are free to choose any foreign policy topic (Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Israel-Palestine, EU, etc.) or the Trump administration’s foreign policy approach in general, and you can choose any news outlet. You should analyze the administration’s policies and analyze at least four opinion pieces. You can pick opinion pieces that are representative of the news outlet’s coverage in general or that run contrary to the coverage or other opinion pieces.
Again, you can pick either a certain foreign policy of the Trump administration or the administration’s foreign policy approach in general. I’d suggest that you first identify a media outlet you want and analyze their opinion pieces. Read as many opinion pieces about the topic of your choice, and pick at least four pieces to include in your final paper. Analyze them in terms of its language, tone, apparent position in general, and sourcing (if they use any to back up their claims). You can pick one or multiple writers’ pieces as well as collective editorials of the editorial board.
At the end, provide your own opinion and stance about your topic and the approach of the opinion pieces/editorials.
You need to cite at least four pieces of class material (readings, videos) in addition to your outside sources (for ex.: official statements, facts/timeline type of reporting, general info about the country, etc.). You can use related arguments/points from your own BB posts, too.
- Always approach your subject matter critically; one important aspect of this course is the emphasis on critical thinking. Analyze both the strengths and weaknesses of your subject; don’t
just accept and/or summarize the subject matter but question it from the perspective of power relations (class, race, gender, international power relations/imperialism) and have a clear and concise argument and stance.
- Read several articles from the outlet(s) you chose for your analysis, and find news pieces that are representative of the outlet’s coverage of the issue in general.
- Use one citation stylebook consistently (Chicago, MLA, APA, etc.); you could use anyone you want.