CTS Assignment 1
Read the article on the assignment brief on food and answer the below questions
Assignment Task:
Undertake and present a relevant Case Study Analysis Report covering the following tasks:
- Demonstrate an understanding of Critical Thinking Skills by explaining what it is and the purpose of its application to the above case study and other academic literature. [20 Marks]
- Use your understanding of Critical thinking skills to examine the claims made in the above case study backed by additional research and your understanding of the topic. [40 Marks]
- Using your acquired Critical Thinking Skills and understanding of the topic backed by additional research, evaluate the ideas expressed in the case study. [40 Marks] [Total: 100 Marks]
Recommended structure for the answer
Main Topic: Critical Analysis of the Food Article
Subtopic 1: Introduction (100 words)
Briefly introduce the case study: the article topic and what/ how you would analyse the article in relation to the above 3 tasks
Subtopic 2: Purpose of applying critical thinking skills to an article (360 words)
Explain the purposes of critical thinking and give examples from the case study to prove that the application of such purposes is useful to understand the case study
Use a transition line to build the connection to the body of the analysis
Provide citations and references for purposes of critical thinking
Keywords: Purpose, article/ case study (these words must be there in your answer)
Model answer: Critical thinking skills involve analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting information systematically and logically to make reasoned judgments and solve problems effectively (Cottrell, 2017). A key purpose of critical thinking is to thoroughly comprehend the main ideas of an article. Often, these central points may not be immediately clear, but a person with well-developed critical thinking skills can identify and interpret them effectively (Cottrell, 2017). In the case study article, the author seeks to persuade readers that food insecurity and hunger are pressing global issues. The article outlines the root causes of these challenges and discusses various corrective measures implemented by international organizations to combat them.
Subtopic 3: Examination of claims using critical thinking skills (Approx. 720 words)
Under this topic write four paragraphs of 160 words each (each paragraph would look like the model answer below)
The general structure of a paragraph (all 4 paragraphs will have the same structure): clearlyidentify a claim made in the article and explain it as per the case study. Then provide evidence and/ or reasons given in the article to support it. Then, bring evidence from outside sources to support and/ or oppose the claim (give citations to the outside source/s).
Keywords: Claim, Reason/ Evidence (these words must be there in all four paragraphs)
Model answer: The article claims that hunger is a physiological need for food generated by the sensory organs of the body. It further states that having an insufficient quantity of food is a painful experience. To support this claim, the author presents evidence from an article published by the “Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations” (FAO). Hunger is described as the distress resulting from a lack of food, which can lead to severe food insecurity. This condition goes beyond merely feeling hungry; it involves prolonged deprivation that can result in malnutrition, illness, or weakness due to inadequate access to food and resources. Furthermore, hunger is closely linked to broader issues such as poverty, inequality, and weak health systems (Action Against Hunger, 2024).
Subtopic 4: Evaluation of ideas expressed in the case study (Approx. 720 words)
Under this topic write four paragraphs of 160 words each (each paragraph would look like the model answer below)
The general structure of a paragraph (all 4 paragraphs will have the same structure): Identify an idea from the article and explain it as per the article. Then bring in evidence from outside sources to support and/ or oppose the idea (give citations to the outside source/s). According to the evidence you found from outside sources, evaluate the idea.
Keyword: idea (this word must be there in all four paragraphs)
Model Answer: One of the ideas expressed in the article is that undernutrition can lead to growth issues in young people, particularly affecting their height and weight. The World Health Organization (2022) indicates that undernutrition can manifest in various forms, such as stunting (low height-for-age) and wasting (low weight-forheight). Stunting is typically a result of chronic undernutrition, while wasting reflects more acute problems related to inadequate food quality or quantity. Both conditions are especially hazardous in children, as stunting can impair physical and cognitive development, and wasting significantly increases the risk of death if not addressed. UNICEF (2023) emphasizes that undernutrition during the crucial first 1,000 days of a child’s life can lead to both stunting and wasting. Stunting impacts long-term physical and cognitive growth, whereas wasting signals a rapid decline in nutritional status, heightening susceptibility to diseases. In 2022, approximately 148.1 million children under the age of five were stunted, and 45 million experienced wasting globally. These statistics reinforce the original idea that undernutrition can result in significant growth issues in children.
Subtopic 5: Conclusion: Summarise what you said above. Write your opinion about the topic. [100 words]
Subtopic 5: List of references: List the reference in Harvard style –Use Microsoft Word References or a website such as http://www.citethisforme.com
Note:
- Always use third-person language or the passive voice in academic writing. Avoid using first-person or second-person perspectives.
- Do not rely on translation or paraphrasing software, as they often produce inaccurate results.
- Ensure all content is paraphrased in your own words. Direct copying and pasting can result in plagiarism, which can be detected.
- Maintain consistent formatting: use a single font type and size, and ensure the text is properly justified.
- Organize your writing with clear subheadings, transition sentences, and paragraphs. Proofread for spelling and grammar errors before submission. Tools like Grammarly® may assist with this.
- When including images, tables, or other data, always provide a citation for the source. Remember, Google is a search engine, not a source.
- Provide in-text citations and references for any information derived from external sources.
- You do not need to cite or reference the main article under study using Harvard style (it is enough to refer to it as an article, case study etc.)
- Highlight key terms by using bold formatting to enhance readability.
- The model answer is not a comprehensive answer to your tasks, it could only scaffold you to develop a good answer (it will provide you with the basic structure for your answer)
List of References:
Action Against Hunger (2024) Hunger definition and impact. Available at: https://www.actionagainsthunger.org(Accessed: 2 October 2024).
Cottrell, S. (2017) Critical thinking skills: Developing effective analysis and argument. 3rd edn. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
UNICEF (2023). Malnutrition in Children – UNICEF Data. [online] UNICEF. Available at: https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/malnutrition.
World Health Organization (2022). Malnutrition. [online] www.who.int. Available at: https://www.who.int/healthtopics/malnutrition#tab=tab_1.
