Article : https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60159622
List the headlines and on the basis of the headline, describe whether the article will be CONTROVERSIAL and whether the claim will be FACT, DEFINITION, CAUSE, VALUE, or POLICY CLAIM. Then go back and review the article, describe whether or not your assumptions based on the headlines were correct.
Write Brief summary of what the article is about (one or two sentences at most).
Provide the following, and number your responses 1-6:
- Controversial?
- What is the fact claim?
- What is the definition claim?
- What is the cause claim?
- What is the value claim?
- What us the policy claim?
Write the references!
Minimum Word Count: 150-300 words total)
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The article under review discusses the recent decision made by the UK government to abolish the requirement of face masks in England from July 19th, amidst rising COVID-19 cases. The decision has become a topic of discussion among the public and the media, thus making it suitable for analysis in terms of the type of claim made and the level of controversy surrounding it.
1. Controversial?
The claim made in the article is both controversial and newsworthy. The decision to lift the requirements of face masks has created a divide among the public and the medical community regarding the timing and the potential impact on public health.
2. What is the fact claim?
The fact claim made by the article is that the UK government has announced the removal of the legal requirement to wear face masks in England.
3. What is the definition claim?
The definition claim made in the article is that face masks are an effective measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
4. What is the cause claim?
The cause claim made in the article is that the decision to lift the requirements of face masks is due to the success of the vaccination programme, which has reduced the impact of the virus on the healthcare system.
5. What is the value claim?
The value claim made in the article is that the removal of the mandate to wear face masks is a trade-off between the personal freedom of the individual and the collective safety of the society.
6. What is the policy claim?
The policy claim made in the article is that the decision to lift the requirements of face masks in England should have been delayed until a stronger scientific case could be made for doing so.
In summary, the article is about the UK government’s decision to lift the requirement of face masks in England, the response of the public and the medical community, and the potential impact on public health. Overall, the decision and subsequent debate represent a controversial issue that has implications for both public health and individual rights.
References:
BBC News. (2022, January 24). Covid: Face mask legal requirement to be lifted in England on July 19th. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60159622
