WRITING A POLICY PAPER

WRITING A POLICY PAPER

ONE WAY TO UNDERSTAND THE DIMENSIONS OF A POLICY PAPER IS TO JUXTAPOSE IT AGAINST OTHER COMMON RESEARCH VEHICLES:

DISCUSSION PAPERS DISSEMINATE RESEARCH QUICKLY IN ORDER TO GENERATE COMMENT AND SUGGESTIONS FOR REVISION OR IMPROVEMENT. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES OR WORKSHOPS ALREADY, BUT WILL NOT YET HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS.

BACKGROUND PAPERS OUTLINE CURRENT POLICIES AND ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO A PARTICULAR SOCIAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

[SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?] == POLICY PAPERS OFTEN BEGIN WITH DISCUSSION PAPERS AND BACKGROUND PAPERS AS RESOURCES, BUT ARE MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE IN GOAL AND SCOPE.

***POLICY PAPERS ARE CRITICAL ANALYSES OF AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM THAT INVOLVES THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOP OF A DEFENSIBLE PLAN (POLICY PROPOSAL) FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND FORMULATE WORKABLE STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN.

THREE KEY FOCI:

[1] AIMS TO IDENTIFY KEY POLICY ISSUES;

[2] APPLY THE BEST AND MOST UP-TO-DATE RESEARCH TO HELP UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES; AND

[3] EXPLORES THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS RESEARCH FOR THE DESIGN AND CONDUCT OF POLICY.

THE PROSPECTIVE OUTCOME:

POLICY PAPERS ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE INVOLVEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN AND IMPORTANT EFFORT AT SOME LEVEL,

[1] WHETHER IT BE SUPPORTING AND/OR ENDORSING THE POLICY PAPER,

[2] ADOPTING THE USE OF THE SET OF CRITERIA,

[3] JOINING A WORKING GROUP, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, ETC., AND/OR

[4] EDUCATING OTHERS ON THIS TOPIC.

THE ORIENTATION:

[1] PRESENTATION {TAILORED FOR RELEVANT AUDIENCES/STAKEHOLDERS};

[2] MANAGEABILITY AND DIGESTIBILITY {STRUCTURED TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO MAJOR POINTS AND ARGUMENTS};

[3] MAXIMUM IMPACT {SOLUTIONS GUIDED BY PRACTICABILITY AND IMPLEMENTABLILITY}

POLICY PAPERS NEED TO BE FORMAL, CONCISE, STRAIGHTFORWARD, ORGANIZED, LOGICAL, THOUGHTFUL, WELL RESEARCHED, WELL SUPPORTED, WELL WRITTEN, AND WELL ARGUED.

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STRUCTURE OF POLICY PAPER

INTRODUCTION: ABSTRACT/ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: THE ABSTRACT IS NUMBERED PAGE TWO (2). IT IS NOT PART OF THE PAPER. THE ABSTRACT DESCRIBES THE PAPER IN THE THIRD PERSON. THE ABSTRACT SHOULD NOT BE WRITTEN, UNTIL AFTER YOUR PAPER IS COMPLETED.

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BODY: THE BODY OF THE PAPER BEGINS ON PAGE NUMBER THREE (3). THE BODY OF THE PAPER MUST BE DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS.

THE FIRST SECTION MUST STATE, DESCRIBE, AND EXPLAIN THE AUTHORITY THAT YOUR CHOSEN GROUP HAS TO DO WHAT YOU SUGGEST.

THE SECOND SECTION MUST CONTAIN A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF REASONS (COUNT THEM OUT) SUPPORTING YOUR PROPOSAL. THE PAPER ARGUES THAT THEIR PROPOSED POLICY SHOULD BE ADOPTED FOR A COUNTED NUMBER OF REASONS. [EACH OF THE REASON IS OFTEN STATED (AND NUMBERED) IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THIS SECTION OF THE PAPER.]

THE THIRD SECTION SHALL DISCUSS THE LOGICAL ALTERNATIVES TO YOUR PROPOSAL AND SHALL DISCUSS WHY YOUR PROPOSED ACTION IS PREFERABLE TO EACH ALTERNATIVE. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS A DEFENSIBLE PLAN (POLICY PROPOSAL) FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND FORMULATE WORKABLE STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN.

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OUR STRUCTURE/FORMAT TEMPLATE

****TITLE

YOUR GROUP SHOULD CREATE A TITLE THAT ENGAGES THE READER’S INTEREST AND FOCUSES ON YOUR TOPIC AREA.

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUE.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO PROVIDE THE READER WITH BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE SOCIAL ISSUE. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER ARE AS FOLLOWS:

· HOW DID THE ISSUE ORIGINATE? WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUE? ARE THERE CRITICAL INCIDENTS WHICH EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISSUE?

· WHY IS THIS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR SOCIETY AT LARGE AND POLICY MAKERS TO ADDRESS? WHY SHOULD CITIZENS BE CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE?

· WHAT PHILOSOPHICAL OR ETHICAL ISSUES UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISSUE?

II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO ANALYZE THE SPECIFIC ISSUES RELATED TO THE PROBLEM YOUR GROUP HAS CHOSEN AND THE SOCIETAL CONSEQUENCES IF THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES UNADDRESSED. QUESTIONS TO FOCUS ON IN THIS SECTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

· WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE SUGGESTING A CHANGE IS POLICY IS NEEDED?

· HOW DOES THE PROBLEM AFFECT CRITICAL POPULATIONS, GROUPS, AND SOCIETY AT LARGE?

· WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM? (DEFINE THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM.)

· WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM?

WHAT ARE THE KEY QUESTIONS, ETHICAL DEBATES, OR CONTROVERSIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROBLEM?

III. CURRENT POLICIES

THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO ANALYZE CURRENT POLICIES (OR PROGRAMS) THAT DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. THE QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

· WHAT ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM ARE CURRENT POLICIES (OR PROGRAMS) TRYING TO SOLVE?

· HAVE THESE POLICIES SOLVED, ALLEVIATED, EXACERBATED, OR HAD NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM? WHY OR WHY NOT?

· WHO SUPPORTS THE CURRENT POLICIES? WHY DO THEY SUPPORT THEM?

· WHAT ARE THE MAJOR FLAWS OR LIMITATIONS OF THE CURRENT POLICIES?

· WHO IS IN FAVOR OF CHANGING THE CURRENT POLICIES? WHY DO THEY WANT TO CHANGE THEM?(THESE QUESTIONS CAN SERVE AS A TRANSITION TO THE NEXT SECTION OF THE PAPER.)

IV. ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS

THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO ANALYZE TWO OR THREE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. IN SELECTING THE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS, CHOOSE ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY PROPOSED BY ADVOCATES OR POLICY MAKERS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ANALYZE EVERY POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE, BUT YOU SHOULD ANALYZE ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED. EXPANDING (OR MODIFYING) CURRENT POLICIES (OR PROGRAMS) CAN BE TREATED AS ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS. FOR EACH ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION, ANALYZE ITS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND DISCUSS WHICH GROUPS, OPINION LEADERS, OR POLICY MAKERS SUPPORT OR REJECT IT. ULTIMATELY, KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU MIGHT BE REJECTING THESE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS OR USING PARTS OF THEM FOR YOUR OWN POLICY PROPOSAL IN THE NEXT SECTION OF THE PAPER. THE QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

· WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO THE CURRENT POLICIES?

· WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE ALTERNATIVES? WHY?

· WHO SUPPORTS AND OPPOSES THE ALTERNATIVES? WHY?

· WHY HAVEN'T THESE ALTERNATIVES BEEN MADE INTO POLICY? IS THERE SOME FATAL FLAW INHERENT IN THEM OR IN THE WAY THAT SOCIETY VIEWS THEM? IS THERE ANOTHER REASON WHY THESE ALTERNATIVES HAVEN’T BEEN IMPLEMENTED?

V. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, FEASIBILITY & IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES {OR THIS SECTION IS SOMETIMES CALLED – “ACTION PLAN” (PROACTIVE CONNOTATION)}

THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO FORMULATE AN EFFECTIVE POLICY PROPOSAL FOR THE PROBLEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING, DEMONSTRATE THAT YOUR PROPOSAL IS PRACTICAL AND FEASIBLE, AND PROVE THAT YOUR PROPOSAL WILL WORK. THE QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

· WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOUR GROUP IS PROPOSING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM? WHAT SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATIVE OR LEGAL GUIDELINES WILL YOUR POLICY PROVIDE?

· HOW DOES YOUR POLICY PROPOSAL SOLVE THE PROBLEM BETTER THAN CURRENT POLICY OR ANY OF THE ALTERNATIVES? WHAT EVIDENCE CAN YOU OFFER THAT DEMONSTRATES YOUR PROPOSAL WILL BE EFFECTIVE? WHAT REASONING AND/OR EVIDENCE CAN YOU PROVIDE THAT DEMONSTRATES YOUR PROPOSAL IS FEASIBLE AND WORKABLE?

· WHAT LEGISLATIVE BODY, AGENCY, OR OTHER POLICY-MAKING GROUP WILL NEED TO APPROVE YOUR PROPOSAL IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE IMPLEMENTED? WHAT AGENCY OR GROUP WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING YOUR PROPOSAL?

· HOW MIGHT YOU GO ABOUT INFLUENCING THESE SPECIFIC GROUPS SO THAT YOUR PROPOSAL WILL BE ADOPTED? WHAT SPOKESPERSONS OR POLICY MAKERS MIGHT REALISTICALLY BE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING YOUR PROPOSAL? WHAT EVIDENCE CAN YOU PROVIDE WHICH INDICATES THESE PEOPLE WILL BE LIKELY TO SERVE AS ADVOCATES FOR YOUR PROPOSAL? WHAT OTHER GROUPS MIGHT YOU ENTICE TO FORM A COALITION IN SUPPORT OF YOUR PROPOSAL? WHAT OTHER IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES MIGHT YOU USE TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR YOUR PROPOSAL?

· WHAT ARE THE MOST CRITICAL OBSTACLES (FINANCIAL, LEGAL, ETHICAL, OR POLITICAL) YOU ANTICIPATE IN IMPLEMENTING YOUR POLICY PROPOSAL? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO OVERCOME THESE OBSTACLES? WHAT POLICY-MAKERS OR GROUPS MIGHT BE OPPOSED TO YOUR PROPOSAL? WHY WOULD THEY BE OPPOSED TO YOUR PROPOSAL? HOW WILL YOU COUNTERACT THE INFLUENCE OF THESE POLICY-MAKERS AND GROUPS?

· ARE THERE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OR ADVANTAGES OF YOUR PROPOSAL? IF YOUR POLICY PROPOSAL IS ADOPTED, HOW SOON MIGHT WE SEE RESULTS? WHAT CHANGES CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE RIGHT AWAY? FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?

VI. SUMMATION AND CONCLUSION

THIS SECTION IS THE CAPSTONE OF YOUR POLICY PAPER, AND, AS SUCH, SHOULD BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE ARGUMENT YOU HAVE MADE. THIS SECTION SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE A FINAL PERSUASIVE APPEAL TO YOU READER(S).

VII. WORKS CITED OR REFERENCE PAGE

THIS SECTION CONTAINS THE WORKS CITED PAGE (FOR MLA) OR REFERENCE PAGE (FOR APA). ONLY LIST REFERENCES CITED IN THE TEXT OF THE PAPER. FOLLOW APA/MLA PROCEDURES WHEN FORMATTING EACH REFERENCE.

· EX: CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET - POLICY PAPER

· {{[1] AIMS TO IDENTIFY KEY POLICY ISSUES; [2] APPLY THE BEST AND MOST UP-TO-DATE RESEARCH TO HELP UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES; AND TO [3] EXPLORE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS RESEARCH FOR THE DESIGN AND CONDUCT OF POLICY}}

· {{THIS POLICY PAPER PRESENTS A SET OF SEVEN CRITERIA DEVELOPED FOR USE IN EVALUATING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE INTERNET. IT IS HOPED THAT ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WILL BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT AT SOME LEVEL, (1) WHETHER IT BE SUPPORTING AND/OR ENDORSING THE POLICY PAPER, (2) ADOPTING THE USE OF THE SET OF CRITERIA, (3) JOINING THE HEALTH SUMMIT WORKING GROUP, OR (4) EDUCATING OTHERS ON THIS TOPIC.}}

· ...

· CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING INTERNET HEALTH INFORMATION

[[[THE POLICY PAPER – CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING “YOUTH OFFENDER TEAMS” (YOUNG PEOPLE, POLICE, COMMUNITIES, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND SCHOOLS) AS A CRIME REDUCTION/COMMUNITY SAFETY STRATEGY.

THIS IS AN INITIATIVE TAKEN TO DEVELOP CRIME PREVENTION SCHEMES IN ENGLAND – FORMED PARTNERSHIPS THAT CAN STRENGTHEN INITIATIVES FOR PREVENTING YOUTH CRIME – INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS THROUGH LOCAL PROGRAMMES, BASED ON SCHOOLS, TO REDUCE THE DRIFT TO STREET AND OTHER FORMS OF CRIME AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR – A NETWORK FOR THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF BEST PRACTICE, IDENTIFYING WHAT WORKS AND SOURCES OF FINANCE, WILL BE CREATED INCLUDING A NEW WEB-SITE, NEWSLETTER, SEMINARS AND OTHER LINKS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES – BUILDING ON THE CRIME REDUCTION PARTNERSHIPS (TO GO ALONG WITH DRUG ACTION TEAMS; EDUCATION AWARENESS INITIATIVES; OTHER CRIME REDUCTION/COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVES.)

IN CANADA – YOUTH REFERRAL PILOT PROGRAM [THE NEW ACT PROVIDES A MODEL FOR EXTRAJUDICIAL MEASURES TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH LESS SERIOUS OFFENDERS FOR LESS SERIOUS YOUTH CRIMES, MOST OF WHICH ARE COMMITTED BY FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS] – SPRINGBOARD'S EMPLOYMENT “RESOURCE ROOM” FOR AT-RISK SCARBOROUGH YOUTH, SERVES AS HOME BASE FOR THE ATTENDANCE PROGRAM – EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING EDUCATIONAL AND LITERACY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ANGER MANAGEMENT, COGNITIVE TRAINING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LIFE SKILLS, GANG INTERVENTION, ANTI-RACISM, HOMEWORK SUPPORTS, ACCESS TO FAMILY AND PERSONAL COUNSELING, HOUSING OR OTHER NEEDED SERVICES.

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APPENDICES

GROUP POLICY PAPER

YOUR GROUP WILL WRITE A POLICY PAPER ON THE TOPIC YOUR GROUP HAS SELECTED. TO COMPLETE THIS ASSIGNMENT, YOUR GROUP WILL NEED TO REFINE AND EXPAND ON THE IDEAS DISCUSSED IN YOUR BACKGROUND PAPERS, CURRENT POLICIES/ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS PAPERS, AND EXERCISES RELATED TO IMPLEMENTING YOUR PROPOSAL. YOUR GROUP ALSO WILL NEED TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOP A DEFENSIBLE PLAN (POLICY PROPOSAL) FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND FORMULATE WORKABLE STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN. YOUR PAPER SHOULD BE 25 TO 30 PAGES LONG, INCLUDING A WORKS CITED OR REFERENCE LIST. THE SEVEN SECTIONS OF THE PAPER ARE DESCRIBED BELOW. USE SECTION HEADINGS FOR THE MAJOR SECTIONS OF THE PAPER. (FOR INFORMATION ON SECTION HEADINGS, SEE KEYS FOR WRITERS, PP. 181, 223).

REMEMBER, EACH GROUP NEEDS TO SUBMIT TWO COPIES OF THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE POLICY PAPER. THE SECOND COPY WILL BE USED FOR PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• ANALYZING A CURRENT SOCIAL ISSUE.

• CONDUCTING EFFECTIVE RESEARCH ON A POLICY PROPOSAL.

• WORKING EFFECTIVELY AS A GROUP IN DEVELOPING AND WRITING A POLICY PROPOSAL.

• WRITING A COHERENT AND DEFENSIBLE POLICY PROPOSAL.

SECTIONS OF THE POLICY PAPER.

THE INITIAL SECTIONS OF THE PAPER ESTABLISH THE BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR YOUR POLICY PROPOSAL WHEREAS THE LAST SECTION DISCUSSES YOUR PLAN FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND THE PRACTICALITY OF THE PLAN. USE THE QUESTIONS LISTED UNDER EACH SECTION BELOW TO DIRECT YOUR THINKING. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED AS A LOCK-STEP OUTLINE. YOU MAY RE-ORDER THE SUB-TOPICS ADDRESSED IN THE QUESTIONS TO PROVIDE THE MOST SENSIBLE ORGANIZATION FOR YOUR PAPER.

TYPICALLY, ONE PERSON IN YOUR GROUP WILL BE IN CHARGE OF ONE SECTION. HOWEVER, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ENTIRE PAPER MUST READ AS A COHERENT PAPER. IN OTHER WORDS, THE GROUP MUST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE AND DEVELOP IDEAS AND ARGUMENTS WHICH LOGICALLY AND DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE POLICY PROPOSAL. THE PAPER WILL BE EVALUATED ON HOW COGENTLY AND THOUGHTFULLY YOUR GROUP ANALYZES THE TOPIC, HOW ACCURATELY YOUR GROUP INTERPRETS AND INCORPORATES EVIDENCE, HOW JUDICIOUSLY YOUR GROUP USES NON-FALLACIOUS REASONING, AND HOW EFFECTIVELY THE PAPER INCORPORATES A VARIETY OF CREDIBLE SOURCES. IN ADDITION, THE PAPER WILL BE EVALUATED ON RICHNESS OF VOCABULARY, MECHANICS OF WRITING, AND ADHERENCE TO PROPER DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURES.

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INTRODUCTION

YOUR INTRODUCTION SHOULD CONTAIN A THESIS STATEMENT THAT IS PERHAPS IN THE FORM OF A PREDICTED OUTCOME OF SOME REFORM PROPOSAL. THIS SECTION SHOULD ALSO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE. DON’T CONFUSE ISSUE WITH THESIS. YOUR THESIS MIGHT BE THAT A PARTICULAR DEFENSE REORGANIZATION PROPOSAL WOULD FAIL DUE TO SERVICE RESISTANCE; BUT THE ISSUE IS DEFENSE REORGANIZATION.

YOU PROBABLY CANNOT WRITE THE THESIS STATEMENT BEFORE YOU CONDUCT YOUR STUDY. TAKE A STAB AT IT IN THE BEGINNING, AND THEN RETURN WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED YOUR CONCLUSION. YOU’RE NOT WRITING A MYSTERY NOVEL. THE READER SHOULDN’T HAVE TO GUESS WHERE YOU’RE GOING.

WHEN YOU’RE FINALLY READY TO WRITE THE INTRODUCTION, CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOU’VE MET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS. THE ISSUE MUST BE CLEAR. YOUR THESIS MUST BE CLEAR. THE READER MUST UNDERSTAND THAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT AN IMPORTANT PROBLEM AND THAT YOU HAVE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE.

SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT

THIS SECTION SHOULD MAP OUT THE LOGIC OF CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATING TO THE CHOSEN ISSUE. BY CONDUCTING SCHOLARLY RESEARCH, YOU WILL FIND THAT RESPECTED SCHOLARS AND AUTHORITIES DIFFER ON HOW TO APPROACH YOUR CHOSEN ISSUE. IF THERE IS NO SCHOLARLY CONTROVERSY, THERE IS NO REASON FOR DOING SCHOLARLY RESEARCH. THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT. “FOR” AND “AGAINST” A PROPOSAL ARE NOT SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT. THE READER ISN’T INTERESTED IN YOUR OPINION HERE. THIS ISN’T INTENDED FOR THE EDITORIAL PAGE. HONESTLY AND EVEN-HANDEDLY DESCRIBE THE MAJOR SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT.

ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT SECTION IS TO PROVE TO YOUR AUDIENCE (YOUR THESIS COMMITTEE) THAT YOU’VE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK. ANOTHER REQUIREMENT IS THAT YOU MUST SET THE STAGE FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION; YOU MIGHT REFUTE OR CONFIRM SOME ELEMENTS OF ONE OF THE SCHOOLS. REMEMBER, YOUR THESIS MUST ADD TO THE EXISTING BASE OF KNOWLEDGE.

WHILE YOU ARE RESEARCHING YOUR ISSUE, YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY FIND THESE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT. MAKE A POINT TO BE LOOKING FOR THEM WHENEVER YOU ARE READING. WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER ONE, RUSH TO YOUR WORD PROCESSOR AND MAKE A SUBSECTION WITH A FOOTNOTE TO THE SOURCE YOU ARE READING.1 GIVE THE HEADING A NAME THAT YOU CAN REMEMBER. THEN CAPTURE THE ELEMENTS OF THIS SCHOOL’S THINKING. YOU’LL HATE YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND READ A COUPLE OF HUNDRED PAGES TRYING TO FIND A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT YOU ONCE STUMBLED OVER. BY CAPTURING THIS MATERIAL IN THIS FASHION, YOU AUTOMATICALLY WILL BE BUILDING YOUR THESIS.

ISSUE HISTORY

CONTINUING WITH THE DEFENSE REORGANIZATION EXAMPLE, THE ISSUE HISTORY WOULD PROBABLY BE A LEGISLATIVE HISTORY. CONGRESS HAS PLAYED A STRONG ROLE IN THIS AREA. TELL THAT STORY. MAJOR LEGISLATION WAS PASSED IN 1947, 1949, AND EVERY FEW YEARS AFTER UNTIL THE MOST RECENT ROUND OF LEGISLATION IN 1986. EVENTS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, EVEN WARS, MAY HAVE PRECIPITATED LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE. CAPTURE THAT STORY AS WELL.

IF YOU ISSUE IS A SINGLE LEGISLATIVE ACT, YOU MAY WANT TO CAPTURE PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE ATTEMPTS, THE EVENTS THAT MAKE THE LEGISLATION RIPE NOW, THE DATES STEPS ALONG THE LEGISLATIVE PATH WERE TAKEN, AND ANY SERENDIPITOUS EVENTS ALONG THE WAY.

IF YOU CAN’T FIND A HISTORY FOR YOUR ISSUE, YOU PROBABLY HAVEN’T IDENTIFIED AN ISSUE RICH ENOUGH FOR A MASTER’S THESIS. THIS SECTION, TOO, SERVES TO DEMONSTRATE TO YOUR READER THAT YOU’VE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK.

AS IN YOUR SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT SECTION, YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY ENCOUNTER ELEMENTS OF ISSUE HISTORY AS YOU READ BOOKS AND JOURNAL ARTICLES. DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF NODDING YOUR HEAD UP AND DOWN SAYING THAT’S INTERESTING, I MUST REMEMBER THIS WHEN I START TO WRITE MY THESIS.? WRITE IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. MAKE FOOTNOTES TO THE REFERENCE. CAPTURE PAGE NUMBERS. YOUR THESIS IS WRITING ITSELF AS YOU READ. THE KEY IS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ISSUE HISTORY.

STAKEHOLDERS, PLAYERS, PROCESS

STAKEHOLDERS ARE THOSE PARTIES WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO WIN OR LOSE FROM THE REFORM PROPOSAL. THERE MAY BE OTHER PLAYERS OR DECISION-MAKERS WHO HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE OR WIN BUT WILL PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN LEGISLATING OR IMPLEMENTING THE REFORM. AND, THERE IS A PROCESS THROUGH WHICH THE REFORM WILL BE DECIDED, E.G., AUTHORIZATION LEGISLATION, APPROPRIATIONS, OR NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DELIBERATIONS. THERE MAY BE A SEPARATE PROCESS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY. A PLAYER IN ONE MIGHT BE A STAKEHOLDER IN THE OTHER.

IF THERE ARE TWO MAJOR PLAYERS, EACH WITH A VESTED INTEREST, YOU MIGHT EXPECT THAT THEY HAVE ARTICULATED A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT TO SUPPORT THEIR INTERESTS. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, THIS SECTION MIGHT MERGE WITH THE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT SECTION. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU MAY FIND THAT YOUR ISSUE HAS BEEN THROUGH A PROCESS SEVERAL TIMES AND, THUS, THIS SECTION MIGHT BE BETTER ADDRESSED IN THE ISSUE HISTORY SECTION.

THIS SECTION DEMONSTRATES TO THE READER THAT YOU HAVE A GRASP OF THE PRAGMATICS OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND THAT YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS IS A STRONGER REQUIREMENT IN A POLICY RELEVANT THESIS THAN IN A PURELY SCHOLARLY RESEARCH THESIS.

RESEARCH DESIGN

AT THIS POINT, YOU’VE SET UP THE PROBLEM FOR THE READER. THEY BELIEVE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT’S GONE ON BEFORE. NOW YOU’RE SHIFTING TO WHAT WILL BECOME YOUR ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION. THE REQUIREMENT IS TO DESCRIBE PRECISELY WHAT YOUR RESEARCH SEEKS TO SHOW, AND HOW YOU HAVE PROCEEDED TO GATHER INFORMATION IN A WAY THAT SUGGESTS THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF YOUR CONCLUSIONS. DON’T BE AFRAID TO IDENTIFY YOUR WEAKNESSES. THIS SECTION IS OFTEN TITLED SIMPLY ?METHODOLOGY.?

IF, AS IS SUGGESTED IN THE METHODS OF SOCIAL INQUIRY CLASS, YOU TOOK THE TIME TO CREATE A PROJECT PROSPECTUS OR RESEARCH PLAN, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PLUG IT IN HERE AS A FIRST CUT. NO DOUBT YOUR RESEARCH PLAN WILL FAIL YOU IN SOME WAY. THINGS NEVER WORK OUT THE WAY WE PLAN. BRING THIS SECTION IN LINE WITH THE RESEARCH, DATA COLLECTION, AND ANALYSIS THAT YOU ACTUALLY DID.

DATA AND ANALYSIS

IN A FULL THESIS, DATA MIGHT BE BEST PRESENTED IN AN APPENDIX. MAKE A JUDGEMENT CALL. EITHER PUT IT HERE OR PUT IT IN AN APPENDIX AND SUMMARIZE IT HERE. THE ANALYSIS MIGHT BE HIGHLY QUANTITATIVE OR JUST PURE DEDUCTIVE LOGIC. ANALYSIS MIGHT ALSO BE CONDUCTED THROUGH SEVERAL CASE STUDIES.

YOU MAY FIND THAT THE EVIDENCE GATHERED SUPPORTS ONE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT AND REFUTES ANOTHER. SINCE POLICY ISSUES TEND TO BE QUITE COMPLEX, ANOTHER COMMON OUTCOME OF ANALYSIS IS THAT THE EVIDENCE IS INCONSISTENT, CONTRADICTORY, AND INCONCLUSIVE. SAY SO.

CLOSING SECTION

YOUR CONCLUSIONS SHOULD FOLLOW DIRECTLY FROM YOUR ANALYSIS. RESTATE YOU THESIS, RECALL YOUR EVIDENCE, AND SUMMARIZE YOUR LOGICAL ARGUMENT. IF YOU CAN WRITE THE CONCLUSION BEFORE DOING THE RESEARCH, YOU ARE NOT WRITING A SCHOLARLY THESIS, YOU ARE WRITING A LARGE EDITORIAL.

I OFTEN FIND IT CONVENIENT TO SEPARATE WHAT I LEARN IN RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS INTO THREE CATEGORIES: FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS. IF IT HELPS, USE IT, BUT DON’T FEEL COMPELLED TO LEAVE THE STRUCTURE IN YOUR FINAL THESIS.

FINDINGS

SOME THINGS ARE FINDINGS OF FACT. NO READER SHOULD BE ABLE TO ARGUE WITH FINDINGS OF FACT. THEY MAY NOT LIKE THEM, BUT YOU’LL HAVE ALL OF YOUR SOURCES IDENTIFIED, AND YOUR DISAPPROVING READER WILL HAVE TO ATTACK SOMEONE ELSE. MAKE SURE YOUR SOURCES ARE GOOD ONES.

CONCLUSIONS

SOLID, CLEAR LOGIC IS USED TO WEAVE TOGETHER FINDINGS TO PRODUCE CONCLUSIONS. ONE MIGHT EXPECT ANOTHER TO ARRIVE AT A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION, BUT YOUR LOGIC SHOULD BE SUPPORTABLE. THOSE INCLINED TO PUT ASIDE THEIR PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS SHOULD FIND YOUR CONCLUSIONS REASONABLE. IF ANOTHER READER CAN REFUTE YOUR CONCLUSIONS, THAT’S JUST FINE. THAT’S WHAT SCHOLARLY WORK IS ABOUT. THESIS, ANTITHESIS, SYNTHESIS, AS HEGEL WOULD SAY.

RECOMMENDATIONS

BASED ON FINDINGS OF FACT, LOGICALLY DERIVED CONCLUSIONS, CREDIBLE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE WORLD OF THE PREDICTIVE THESIS. THAT IS, BASED ON EVERYTHING YOU’VE PRESENTED SO FAR, YOU CAN PREDICT A CERTAIN OUTCOME, E.G., THE EVENTUAL COLLAPSE OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND. THEN THE TITLE OF THIS SUBSECTION WOULDN’T BE “RECOMMENDATIONS” BUT SOMETHING ELSE.

IF YOUR WORK JUSTIFIES IT, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PRODUCE A PRESCRIPTIVE THESIS. THAT IS, YOU CAN PRESCRIBE A COURSE OF ACTION THAT WILL ACHIEVE A DESIRED SOCIAL OUTCOME, E.G., WHAT POLICY ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN NOW TO PREVENT THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND.

YOUR VIEW

YOU HAVE NOW EARNED THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND. IF YOUR ANALYSIS SAYS THE REFORM WILL FAIL, BUT YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT WHY IT SHOULD PASS IN THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL SECURITY, THIS IS THE PLACE TO SAY IT.

NOW GO BACK AND WRITE YOUR INTRODUCTION, THE PART I ALWAYS STRUGGLE WITH THE MOST.

DO NOT ASSUME THAT THIS OUTLINE AND THESE HEADING TITLES WILL BE RIGHT FOR YOUR FINAL PRODUCT. IT IS OFFERED AS A POINT OF DEPARTURE. AS INDICATED ABOVE, SOME OF THESE SECTIONS MIGHT PROFITABLY BE COMBINED AND REORDERED. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO TELL HOW TO COMMUNICATE YOUR RESULTS UNTIL FAIRLY LATE IN THE PROCESS. YOU CAN, HOWEVER, BE CONFIDENT THAT THE ORDER YOU FOLLOWED CONDUCTING RESEARCH IS THE WRONG ORDER FOR FINAL EXPOSITION. THE FINAL PRODUCT MUST BE STRUCTURED FOR THE CONSUMER, NOT THE PRODUCER.

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A GOOD POLICY ANALYSIS PAPER COVERS EACH OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS (THE WEIGHTING GIVEN TO EACH SECTION WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE TOPIC):

ISSUE DEFINITION: THE POLICY DECISION IS ARTICULATED AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE IS ESTABLISHED.

BACKGROUND: ALL BACKGROUND INFORMATION (TECHNICAL, POLITICAL, ETC.) NECESSARY TO PLACE THE DECISION IN ITS PROPER CONTEXT IS GIVEN.

POLICY OPTIONS: THE VARIOUS POLICY OPTIONS THAT THE DECISION-MAKER MUST DECIDE BETWEEN ARE PRESENTED AND DESCRIBED.

POLICY ANALYSIS: THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH OPTION ARE EXPLAINED. THE VALUE TRADE-OFFS IMPLICIT IN CHOOSING ONE OPTION OVER ANOTHER ARE EXPLAINED.

RECOMMENDATION: BASED ON THE ANALYSIS, A RECOMMENDATION IS MADE. THE BIASES AND JUDGMENT FACTORS THAT WENT INTO THE RECOMMENDATION SHOULD BE EXPLAINED. YOU SHOULD SUMMARIZE YOUR RECOMMENDATION CONCISELY AT THE VERY START OF YOUR PAPER.

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POLICY PAPER ON DIVERSITY ISSUES FOR NGOS’S:

EXAMPLE FORMAT TEMPLATES