Step 1: propose a topic and come up with a research question: ~250-400 WORDS
****I am interested in exploring how the media frames the ongoing migrant crisis in the U.S.-Mexico border, specifically the rights to seek asylum (Article 14) and to life, liberty, and security (Article 3) as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This issue is frequently covered by major news outlets on both sides of the border and political spectrum; all of them highlight the dire conditions and treatment faced by migrants, including families and unaccompanied minors, as they seek refuge in the United States. Voltaire’s “Candide” provides a critical view of the harsh realities of the world, which can be applied to the plight of migrants. Voltaire’s satirical portrayal of Pangloss’s optimism in the face of suffering mirrors the optimistic rhetoric used to justify the controversial treatment of migrants, which fails to address the underlying issues they face. Voltaire writes, “All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds” (Voltaire, p. 23), mocking the idea that any kind of suffering can be justified or overlooked. In the
context of the migrants, the optimistic rhetoric that frames harsh immigration policies as necessary/beneficial echoes Pangloss’s naive philosophy. These ideas often ignore the dire conditions in detention centers, the dangerous journey(s), and the psychological trauma inflicted by family separations, deportations, and detentions. By failing to acknowledge these realities, optimistic, ignorant rhetoric undermines efforts to address the root causes of migration and the need for humane immigration reform.*****
Step 2: Use your critical reading, writing, & thinking skills to undertake a critical analysis of news media to make a 1750- 2000-word argument about how a human rights issue is framed in news media coverage of a current event. Please utilize (quote, cite, source) 3 news articles, and 2 peer reviewed articles.
News Articles to Source / Cite / then analyze framing of issue in media (use questions found on Abstract & Annotated Bibliography worksheet for analysis of how news articles frame human right(s):
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/02/15/migrant-encounters-at-the-us-mexico-border-hit-a-record-high-at-the-end-of-2023/