As noted in the course syllabus, you will be required to write a research paper. The particular topic you choose is not so important; however, pick a topic that is important to you.
As you have seen, throughout the semester, we have studied the policymaking process. The purpose of the research paper is for you to describe how your chosen policy has gone through the major steps of the policymaking process. Listed below is a suggested outline and possible questions that you may want to address within your paper. Again, these are suggested questions to address. This assignment is meant to be an essay, NOT a questionnaire. In other words, don’t answer each of the questions below individually.
Problem Identification
What, exactly, is the policy issue under consideration here?
Provide some context of the policy issue. You don’t need a long and detailed history, but you do need to explain why this issue is important.
For whom is this issue considered a problem?
Is this an issue that has affected the country as a whole, but is more prominent in the West? Is this a regional issue? If so, why should others know about it?
What research has been conducted on this issue?
Show that you understand the context of the issue. You can cite newspaper articles, podcasts, webpages, etc.
One of the most important things is that you show what academic research has been done. (This is where information on Google Scholar can be of great use.)
Within the academic literature, is there a consensus concerning the issue? If not, what do the various views have to say about the issue?
Agenda
Has the issue reached agenda status? Why? On which government level(s) is it on the agenda?
Who are the major actors involved in pushing the issue on the agenda?
This is where you really want to show how policymakers, the media, and interest groups have addressed the problem. (Remember your friends and mine: those iron triangles.)
Have the groups who’ve supported or opposed this issue changed over the years?
What aspects of leadership to you see in the agenda process?
Owing to this course have a nominal connection with leadership, you should describe here what types of leadership you see among the policymakers. Who are the most effective leaders? How so?
Formulation / Adoption
How has the issue been formulated?
What alternatives have been proposed?
What policies have been adopted?
Implementation
When was the policy (or policies) implemented?
Describe the environment in which the policy was implemented
What was the public’s reaction?
What has the public done to support or oppose the policy?
How have governmental agencies affected the policy’s implementation?
Do you see that, owing to bureaucratic overlap, that some bureaucracies may be thwarting the efforts of other bureaucracies?
How has the policy changed since its original implementation?
For example, has the policy been amended since its implementation? Why?
Evaluation
Has the policy been “successful?” How so?
What groups remain supportive (or not) of the policy? Why?
How would you evaluate the policy? Why? In what sense?
Things to note:
Your paper should be approximately 2,500 words in length. You may use endnotes, but not footnotes. Endnotes do not count as part of the paper’s length. You should include both primary and secondary documents in your research. While there is no required maximum number of references, you should have at least ten sources of reference.
One of the best places to start your research is on the UTPB Library’s Falcon Finder webpage
(Links to an external site.)
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Within the text of your paper:
Please use 12 point Times New Roman font – nothing fancy here. Double-spacing.
1” margins all around — Don’t use “page stretching” techniques to make your paper appear longer than it actually is. 2,000 words are approximately seven to eight pages of text.
All papers must conform to the APSA style manual. You can read a copy of it here
(Links to an external site.)
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Avoid any form of plagiarism. Instances of plagiarism will be punished: at the least, a zero on the paper. All papers will, after their submission, be checked for plagiarism through a third party.
Avoid spelin errors, and don’t use no bad grammar. Yes, I do pay attention to those “little things.”
If you have any questions about your research (e.g., what topics, where to look, possible “angles,” etc.), please contact me.
Above all, try, actually, to tell a story. What I mean is that you should make every attempt to keep the reader interested in the topic. Make sure you focus on the “flow” of your writing.
Papers must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 4th. A paper turned in late will have its respective grade reduced by one letter grade each day that it is late.
You must include a bibliography. This also does not count as part of the paper’s length.
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