NIE201 Interdisciplinary Processes for a Better World Group-based Assignment 1 (GBA01) July 2025

ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVES

The  final  product  of  this  assignment  is  an  op-ed  for  a  major  newspaper  e.g.  The  Straits Times  (Singapore),  The  Washington  Post  (USA),  The  Guardian  (UK),  or  for  an  established independent online news platform e.g. The Conversation, Medium, Rice Media.

Your op-ed shall be an agenda-setting, authoritative and informed article calling attention to wicked problems related to interdisciplinary themes (see options below).

This assignment allows students to go behind the scenes of knowledge production in major news  platforms,  and  consider  what  is  necessary  in  synthesizing  diverse  perspectives  and disciplinary differences in order to communicate often ill-defined interdisciplinary issues to the general public. 

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF

An op-ed derives its name from originally having appeared opposite the editorial page in a newspaper. In essence, it is a column that represents the strong, informed and focused opinion of the writer with the aim to change the minds of the public or in some cases, with the intention to reshape public policies.

Topics

For this assignment, your group will write an op-ed that focuses on one of the following topics*, shaped in line with this module’s emphasis on interdisciplinary processes for a better world:

• Building food security
• Practicing environmental conservation
• Inclusive urban design
• Enabling social equality
• Live well, age well

* Please note that your group will be expected to complete GBA01 and GBA02 focusing on the same selected topic. This is meant to enable groups to build their content knowledge on particular issues across the group assignments. If you would like to change your topic, please consult your TG instructor for approval prior to doing so.

Suggested questions to guide your preparation:

1. What problem does your op-ed wish to spotlight? What is one issue you think the public needs to know?
2. How do we know the problem is a wicked problem? What evidence do you need to prove that your problem is wicked?
3. What disciplines are implicated in the wicked problem?
4. How would different disciplines view the problem? What is at stake for these disciplines?
5. Are there points of convergence or divergence in the different disciplinary perspectives?

Note: the above pointers are non-exhaustive and are simply suggested questions to guide your thinking process for the completion of GBA01. You are not expected to answer them one by one in the op-ed!

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

• This assignment will constitute 25% of your final grade.
• Your submission must be no more than 1,000 words, excluding the list of references. Please include your word count in the submission.
• Each group is required to submit a declaration of original work via Canvas by 19th Sep 2025, Week 6, Friday, 23:55 hours.
• Each group is required to upload your op-ed on the Canvas course site by 19th Sep 2025, Week 6, Friday, 23:55 hours.
• Please use the Cover Page provided on Canvas. The Cover Page includes a declaration of use of GenAI and an example of how to report it appropriately.
• You may submit using APA or Chicago referencing styles. A list of cited material must be appended.
• Diagrams/illustrations/photos/charts (optional but encouraged) must be properly captioned/credited.
• You may submit multiple versions over the period before the close of the folder – Instructors will only take into consideration the last version submitted before the deadline.
• Late submissions will be penalised.
  Please use one page along with your cover page to include the following declaration, and indicate your use of GenAI accordingly.

CONSULTATIONS

Instructors are available for group consultations (up to 15 mins per group). Group consultations are optional and not compulsory. Please email your instructors to arrange for a mutually agreeable date and time for consultations. This can be conducted in person or over zoom meetings.

NIE201 GBA01 Rubrics: