see attached files
1 PUBH7027 Introduction to Environmental Health Assignment 2: Policy Brief Learning Objectives Assessed The learning objectives assessed for Assignment 2 are: 1. Demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts in Environmental Health 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the major biological, chemical and physical hazards, and critically apply this to problems involving their sources, health impacts, and control 4. Critically reflect on how Environmental Health fits into the scope of public health practice 5. Critically reflect on how societal factors influences environmental health and our capacity to deal with environmental hazards Please note: This assignment follows on from the first assignment which was the literature review Due: 23:59 pm on the 26th October 2018 Weighting: 40% of Semester total 2 Instructions/Guidelines Length: No more than 3 pages, single-sided A4 pages (excluding references, tables and diagrams) Font: Times New Roman font, 12 point only Line spacing: 1.5 line spacing Margins: All margins at least 2.0cm Sub headings: Numbered, e.g. 1. Introduction, 1.1 Rationale.... 2. Methods etc Tables and Figures: Put a label ABOVE for tables and BELOW for figures. Make sure the tables and figures are numbered sequentially (e.g. Table 1. Table 2. AND Figure 1. Figure 2.). References: APA 6th style only. Include reference list at the end of your assessment. Refer to UQ Library Style Guide: https://web.library.uq.edu.au/research-tools-techniques/referencing- style-guides#apa (Use of Endnote for managing references is highly recommended). There is no set minimum or maximum number of references you must use for this assignment. File type: Assessments must be submitted as a Word document. Save the file with the filename using this format: Student ID_ 7027_Assignment 2 3 Task Description You are a public servant in the state health department. You have already conducted a rapid literature review on the potential environmental health risks and benefits associated with recycled waste water (assignment 1). You have now been tasked with preparing an informative policy brief regarding the use of recycled waste water use in Kent that will be given to the state health minister. The literature review you have written in assignment 1 will guide your policy brief. You need to clearly convey the risks and benefits associated with recycled waste water (i.e. a lay person reading your policy brief should have no difficulty understanding these risks and benefits) and is based on evidence. This must be discussed at a level of detail that is relevant to the health minister. A policy brief is a short summary of the available research evidence presented in a way that can support policy-making. The aim of your policy brief is to present a concise summary of the relevant research literature, and an evidence-based argument about an important environmental health issue with recommendations for actions the health minister should consider taking in response to this issue. Task Instructions Your policy brief must be a maximum of 3 A4 pages. The brief must include the following: a) A clear title – max 12 words. Should be short, catchy and informative. b) An introduction – include a clear statement of the problem or issue under consideration. The introduction should be short, but provide sufficient information for a decision-maker to understand exactly what the problem is. c) The following 4 headings: 1. Why is the issue important? – Provide a compelling argument of the importance of the water recycling issue both in general, and in the context of Kent. Convince the reader (a decision-maker) that your problem is both relevant and urgent, and that it requires action. Consider questions such as: In what context does this issue exist? How could use of recycled waste water for drinking impact human health? Who is affected and to what degree? 2. What does the research tell us? – provide a concise but comprehensive summary of the most relevant research related to the water recycling issue. Consider questions such as: What is known / not known about your issue both broadly, and in the context of your specific geographic region? What are the key messages and themes emerging from the academic literature about your particular issue? What evidence should a decision-maker use to make an evidence-informed decision about recycled treated sewage water for drinking? *Consider this section to be a condensed literature review from your assignment 1. This summary should make reference to no less than 5 pieces of 4 the most relevant pieces of research related to that treated sewage water recycling. 3. What are the implications of the research? –Consider the significance of the research to society/ the public/ policy makers. What are the ramifications of the issue? How, why and in what way are the findings from the research important to people making decisions about your chosen topic? How applicable and useful are the findings of the research to the context of your issue that is occurring in your chosen area? 4. Recommendations for policy and programs – Make a list of recommendations based on the above information. This list should directly address the implications, and be rooted in evidence. Consider questions such as: What should happen? What do you recommend the Health Minister do in response to the situation? Recommendations must be specific, evidence-based, actionable, and tailored to the audience of your policy brief. *All proposed recommendations must be clearly evidence-based and link back to what you wrote in the preceding parts of your policy brief. d) Reference list – a complete list of all works cited in the document using APA 6th. Format and Presentation Your policy brief must follow the structure listed in the instructions. Advice on writing policy briefs are provided on the blackboard site (e.g. Policy Brief Handout by the Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Further examples are available at: https://creidu.edu.au/policy_briefs_and_submissions. Policy briefs are intended to be read by non-academic audiences who may not be familiar with the topic. The brief should be written in plain language and be free of jargon or technical terms. Care should be taken to ensure that the language used is neutral and professional (i.e. no informal language or slang). The policy brief can be presented in the style of your choice, but must include the elements described in the task description. Policy briefs are intended to catch the attention of decision-makers, and therefore your policy brief should be presented neatly in an eye-catching and visually-appealing way that is easy to read. The use of information display features such as columns, banners, coloured font, bulleted lists, boxes, sub-heading, simple graphics and figures are all permitted, but should be used strategically and in moderation. The reference list should be included as a separate page(s) at the end of the document. Any work exceeding the 3 pages (except the cover sheet and reference list) will not be assessed. https://creidu.edu.au/policy_briefs_and_submissions 5 Submission 1. Submission of all assignments is to be uploaded via turnitin on the course’s Blackboard site. Instructions are on each course site. Typing your name in the Declaration will suffice as your signature that the work has not been plagiarised. All submitted assessment items need to be clearly labelled. Further information on University policies and procedures is available from http://www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor 2. Make sure you keep a copy of the Submission ID as proof of submission. 3. Late assessments will receive a 10% per day penalty http://www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor 6 PUBH7027 - POLICY Brief Rubric Excellent Advanced Competent Fail Low fail / non-attempt Title and Introduction (5 pts) Title is concise, informative and catchy Issue is stated clearly and is described in a highly effective and efficient manner that that compels further examination of this issue and its impact. (5 points) Title is concise, informative and catchy Issue is stated clearly and is comprehensively described in a manner that compels further examination of this issue and its impact, with no major omissions that would impede the understanding of the issues (4 points) Reasonable title is stated but is not sufficiently concise, informative and / or catchy Issue is stated and described in a manner that reasonably compels further examination of this issue and its impacts, with minor omissions that introduce some ambiguity (3 points) Title is stated but is not informative or catchy Issue is stated and in a manner that do not sufficiently compel further examination of this issue and its impacts, with multiple omissions that introduce significant ambiguity (2 points) No title is presented Issue is stated without description (0-1 point) Importance of Issue (15 pts) Demonstrates a high-level of understanding of the issue and its context. A comprehensive description of the context of the issue is presented with no major omissions. A highly-compelling argument of the relevance of the issue in the chosen context and its link to established human health impacts is presented. (13-15 points) Demonstrates a high-level of understanding of the issue and its context. A comprehensive description of the context of the issue is presented with few omissions. A compelling argument of the relevance of the issue in the chosen context and its link to established human health impacts is presented. (10-12 points) Demonstrates a good of understanding of the issue and its context. A description of the context of the issue is presented with multiple omissions. A reasonably-compelling argument of the relevance of the issue in the chosen context its link to established human health impacts is presented. (7-9 points) Demonstrates an incomplete understanding of the issue and its context. A description of the context of the issue is presented with major omissions. A weak argument of the relevance of the issue in the chosen context is presented