You will write a policy analysis paper on an approved policy area, to be between 5 and 6 pages in length. This does not include cover page, charts, graphs, images or reference pages. This means that you will use academic sources to explore an issue that has more than one facet or solution, or ask a question that may have more than one answer, using scholarly research and evidence to craft and support your viewpoint. Remember to keep in mind who the policy stakeholders are and whether or not this is a “stand alone” policy. Does this solution work? If not, can it be fixed?
This means that a “how to” or historical piece is not acceptable for this assignment. Please note that sources like Wikipedia, Google, About.com, Ask.com, etc. are NOT academic sources and the use of these sources in ANY assignment will result in a dramatic point deduction. A rough rule of thumb to follow is that you should have at least two sources per page of the paper. The purpose of writing this paper is to show that you can find, read, understand and synthesize information about policy and present that information in an organized, concise academic format. If you need assistance locating academic sources, please do not hesitate to ask, but a good place to start would be the online getting started guides provided by the MU Library.
You must use APA format, including in-text citations and a reference list. The syllabus (Posted on Blackboard) provide websites to assist you with APA formatting. Proper grammar, structure and formatting are expected. This means no slang, no “text language” or emoticons; the use of first person and contractions are also not appropriate in academic/professional writing. Remember that you must cite any information or ideas that are not originally yours, doing otherwise is plagiarism. A helpful rule of thumb is that you should cite anything you have to look at while writing. Additionally, quotations should be used very sparingly and deliberately. For a paper this short, there should be no more than one quotation used.
Rubric
Some Rubric
Some Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
Page Length Requirement 5.0 pts
Organized 5.0 pts
Page Numbers 2.0 pts
Academic Writing 5.0 pts
APA Format: In-text citations 5.0 pts
APA Format: References 10.0 pts
On a clearly defined policy 10.0 pts
Tie to or relevance to CJ demonstrated 10.0 pts
Responded to previous feedback 5.0 pts
Thesis statement 10.0 pts
Appropriate Literature/Support: Source Type 5.0 pts
Appropriate Literature/Support: Number of Sources 3.0 pts
Content 15.0 pts
Analysis/Not a report 10.0 pts
Total Points: 100.0