Artificial Sweetener: Is it a Significant Replacement for Sugar?

Purpose:
The goal of this assignment is to further develop the content of your decision document addressing an issue shaping human foodways. A key component of this assignment is the identification of reliable empirical evidence.
Contribution to course learning objectives:
1. Students will be able to prepare a competent, evidence-informed decision document (such as those used by government and non-governmental organizations) on a current food- related issue.
Detailed instructions:
1. In part 1 you identified a food-related issue relevant to your own life. In part 2 you located and summarized reliable empirical evidence related to your issue in the literature. Now comes the most challenging part: bringing that evidence together to help make a decision.
Good decision-makers use evidence to inform decisions. Rather than just drawing on their own opinions and past experiences, decision-makers and leaders base decisions on the weight of evidence before them. In order to make a decision, they need to see both the evidence itself and a synthesis or “coming together” of that evidence. Your synthesis needs to address the following points:
• How well does the evidence cover the topic in the question?
• What does the “weight” or majority of evidence say?
• What evidence is missing in order to make an informed decision?
Examine the Synthesis section in the example below. You will see it relates the evidence to the original question (Does insect-based protein actually have the potential to form a significant part of future human food systems?) by responding to the 3 points above.
2. Prepare a written assignment that has the following parts:
i. Your name and student number at the top of the first page.
ii. A title that accurately summarizes the issue you are examining
iii. Introduction (2 paragraphs) Remember, this is a scaffolded assignment, meaning it builds on previous versions. Please use the version you submitted in part 2.
iv. Evidence (4 paragraphs) Please use the version you submitted in part 2.
v. Synthesis (2-3 paragraphs) Prepare a synthesis section that examines the evidence presented previously in order to address the following questions about your topic:
a) How well does the evidence cover the topic in the question?
b) What does the “weight” or majority of evidence say?
c) What evidence is missing in order to make an informed decision?
Be sure to relate each statement to the question you posed at the end of the introduction. If you wish, you may cite additional evidence (up to 2-3 additional peer-reviewed articles) to assist you in constructing your synthesis. As before, paraphrase article content, making sure to cite articles in each paragraph the first time they are used. Do not quote from the articles. Do not plagiarize. Please use the exact citation and referencing format used in the example below.
vi. Decision Restate the question you posed in the Introduction. In the form of a sentence, answer the question in a way that flows logically from the evidence synthesis. It is quite acceptable for your answer to indicate that, based on the evidence you reviewed, you are unable to come to a clear decision, and that further evidence is needed. Just be sure to write your response using original language and clear logic.
vii. A Reference section, using the alphabetized format provided in the sample assignment below.
3. Prepare your assignment in the form of a Word document using Times New Roman font size 12. You may single space the assignment, but please leave paragraph breaks exactly as in the example below. This makes it easier for the TAs to read and grade your assignments. The absolute maximum length for this assignment is 3-4 pages excluding references.
4. TAs will grade your assignment using the rubric below.