Guidelines to writing a newspaper article on a topical conservation issue

Newspapers and news magazines frequently contain articles on conservation problems and issues. Your article may deal with a local (e.g., Lower Mainland), Regional (e.g., Pacific Northwest), National, or Global issue. The aim of this assignment is to write a short article based on the research undertaken for your presentation that could be submitted for publication in The Peak. It is important that the piece be written in a lively and attention-getting style (otherwise, no one would read it).

GETTING STARTED

Your own personal experiences may be a good source of ideas. Other sources include the scientific literature, newspapers, news magazines, the internet; recent books; review articles (e.g., in American Scientist, BioScience, Trends in Ecology and Evolution.

The article should aim to:

Introduce a topical/controversial issue in conservation biology

Outline how recent scientific research addresses the issue. This may resolve the issue, or suggest an alternative explanation or create further questions.

While the source of inspiration for the article can come form anywhere you should use scientific paper(s) or information directly from scientists or conservation biologists to provide the content.

FORMAT AND STYLE

Word limit 1,000; the text must be typewritten.

Edit your article rigorously to achieve maximum impact. Obtain criticism of a draft article from other students in the class or a friend. Then rewrite the article before you submit it.

• Provide a clear introduction to the issue and specific conclusions.

• You should write the article so that your key sources of information are clear. Look at recent articles in the Vancouver Sun or New York Times to see how this is done.

• Illustrations may be included, particularly maps and diagrams, but they should be informative as well as decorative.

POINTERS

Your newspaper article should include critical analysis, as well as imaginative and descriptive writing to engage the reader. Different articles will have a varied mix of these positive qualities. Critical analysis requires an understanding of the context of an issue and clear thinking. Question the opinions of others, and take a stance, weighing competing points-of-view in light of the evidence supporting them. Many issues in conservation biology are straightforward (e.g., habitat loss reduces populations of most organisms). Others are complex, and require a broad understanding of social and economic issues. Read articles about conservation issues in the media and evaluate what makes a good or weak article. Imaginative writing requires practice, study of the writings of others, and usually a lot of drafts.

LIST OF SOURCES:

At the end of your article list your sources, including web sites and other electronic sources. For example if you interviewed people or obtained information from written documents these could be primary sources. Quotes from other articles would be secondary sources.We would like to know how you obtained your information.

DUE DATE: Feb 27 2009 5 pm

Marks will be deducted for late submissions. (5% per day)

Assessment Criteria:

(1) Clear and strong take home message about an aspect of conservation (broadly defined): 40%

(2) The presentation and interpretation of the scientific data/research contained in the article 40%

(3) Imaginative and colourful writing or other embellishments: 10%

(4) Originality: 5%

(5) Suitability for publication

Additional credit may be given for: Unusual and clever choice of topic . Surprising and/or convincing connections between issues. Unusual depth of investigation.

Articles published or accepted for publication in a newspaper receive 100%