Introduction. Grab your reader’s interest. Why is this important? Brief introduction to the issue and the policy and/or program (intervention). Thesis statement. A one-sentence statement about your topic that demands proof. It may be contesting or confirming. Short Background/literature pertaining to the issue. What do we already know about this topic? Is there a history that needs to be explained? This is a good time to expand on the issue (or “challenge”) that needs to be addressed through a public policy or program intervention. Cultural policy framework. Use course readings, scholarly articles, and other literature to walk your policy through the four components of the framework. Show me that you can use this tool and logic.
Norms – What are the shared understandings or expectations underlying the policy? Challenge – What is the issue that needs to be addressed? Who are the stakeholders? How is the problem defined and who has defined it? Rosenstein uses the word “challenge” to talk about the issue in the world that exists that requires some kind of policy/intervention. This is NOT the place to talk about issues or negative consequences with the policy/intervention. Raise those types of issues in the next section under “disadvantages.”
Many students make this mistake and so I am pointing it out here. Rationale – Why does the policy or program need to be in place? Goals – What are the goals of the policy? Policy evaluation: Advantages and disadvantages of the intervention. Questions and statements articulated in your thesis statement should be answered and/or explained in this section. Consider evaluation criteria such as equity, technical feasibility, economic feasibility/financial impact, and stakeholder support. Attribute sources from your research to make these points. Be fair and objective.
Advantages Point one; Point two Disadvantages (counter arguments; discuss at least two). Point one; Point two Position, advocacy, and conclusion. (Approx. 1 page) Offer a solution(s) for problems related to social and or economic sustainability. Provide a plan of action that would support and/or advocate on behalf of that position. Concluding paragraph(s) for the paper Reference list. There is no limit on the number of sources you should review and include; however, a minimum of five secondary sources is required.
