Health Issue Paper

Health Issue Paper
Value: 20%
Due date: 12-Aug-2013
Return date: 02-Sep-2013
Length: 1000 words
Submission method options
EASTS (online)
Hand delivery (option applies to Internal only)
Task
Select ONE (1) of the following issues which relates to the social organisation of health care: * Support by the medical profession for private health insurance * Medical malpractice * The rise of nurse practitioners * The struggle by allied health practitioners to achieve professional status
Using a sociological perspective, write a paper which explains what health sociology can contribute to an understanding of your selected issue.
The paper must use the following headings:
Issue Description
Provide a minimum 200-word detailed description of the health issue you have chosen.
Theoretical Perspective
Provide a minimum 500-word sociological analysis of the issue you have chosen. Use your textbook as well as other sociological sources (e.g., textbooks, journal articles) in this section. You will need to select one sociological theory which is relevant to your chosen issue, state the main ideas of this theory, and explain how effective the theory is in helping to understand the chosen issue.
Conclusion
Provide a minimum 200-word summary which explains how health sociology theory provides a different way of making sense of the organisation of health care.
Rationale
The aim of this assessment item is to assess your abilities in: * Understanding what a sociological approach can contribute to our understanding of specific health and medical issues. * Applying basic sociological theory. * Presenting a logical and coherent written argument supported by appropriate sociological evidence.

Marking criteria
There are five key marking criteria for this assessment item: * Argument – Is the paper on the topic? Have you engaged with sociological ideas and applied these to the selected health issue? Are the points made sequentially so that they build an argument? Are important terms defined and discussed? Is there evidence to support each point? Have you selected material from sources and interpreted it or simply presented a number of quotations? * Structure – Does the Issue Description outline clearly the issue as well as indicate the direction to be taken in the paper? Is the assignment organised into paragraphs? Does the conclusion draw together the main points and relate these back to the topic. * Source material – Have you shown that you have understood what you have read? Have you integrated quotations and paraphrased material into the paper in a way that develops the argument? Have you read several references to gain an understanding of different viewpoints? * Style and presentation – Is the writing clear and to the point? Is spelling, grammar and punctuation correct? Have you included wide enough margins for comments to be inserted by markers? Have you numbered all the pages? * Referencing – Are all sources properly acknowledged and referenced? Is APA referencing style used? Presentation
Please submit your paper in 12 point font and double-spaced with wide margins to allow space for feedback and comments. If you are unsure about referencing or academic writing, it is your responsibility to locate guidelines and learn the required protocols. Student Support and the library offer assistance with these skills. If you are still confused your subject coordinator or tutor will be happy to provide further clarification.
Requirements
At least five different academic sources must be used for this assignment.