Risk Reflection
Order Description
Risk Reflection Instructions
You will be asked to write two risk reflections during the semester. These two reflection pieces will be
your opportunity to relate the lessons and theories learned in class to an applied context. The purpose of
this assignment is to help students recognize the way risk is communicated around them.
You must choose two different topics (ex. one on outrage factors and one on brochures). For
example, watch a news report on a tornado warning and write a reflection piece on how the newsperson
focuses on certain aspects of the hazard to amplify or attenuate the risk. Each risk reflection assignment
will be worth 10% of your final grade.
Instructions
1. Find (or think) of an example of how risk is being communicated or why people perceive risk a
certain way. It can be a personal example, a news report, a poster, etc. Describe the example in
your assignment. If the example is a YouTube clip, website, picture etc. It may be helpful to
include a link or the actual image, etc. in an appendix.
2. Relate the example to something you learned in class. Please cite something from class (e.g. a
lesson or reading; you can also cite outside material). You will be graded on your explanation of
the theory or concept from class.
3. You might want to ask yourself questions such as: How could the communication be improved?
Why is the communicator focusing on specific topics? How might the hazard evoke certain
feelings? Etc.
References:
Please use the APA or MLA formatting guide for your references.
If you want to cite a slide please use the following example:
Boyd, A. (2014) Lecture 5: Outrage Factors.
Format and Length:
1. Please type your name and page number in the document heading
2. Maximum length = 400 words (this is about 1 and a half pages)
3. Include a reference section (this is not included in length restrictions)
5. Double space, regular margins, 12 point font, Times New Roman or Arial font
