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POLS 184: Introduction to International Relations Paper Assignment Summer 2005 |
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| Explanation/Abstract Due Date: 6/14/04
Due Date: 7/14/04 To ensure you receive full credit, this paper must conform to the following guidelines: Guidelines: Imagine that you are a top-level advisor and your head of state asks you to submit a major policy review that offers recommendations for responding to pressing security issues. Depending on the realities confronting your state, you might focus on traditional concerns (e.g. arms races or competition over markets), or you might decide that “new” concerns (e.g. environmental degradation or migration) are most important. You can choose any state other than the U.S.. Your paper should defend your policy prescriptions in four stages: 1. identify the most critical concern facing your government, 2. explain the policy options available, 3. assess the pros and cons of each alternative, and 4. put forth your recommendations. Keep in mind that you do not need to adopt a “rational unitary actor” perspective, you may take into account sub-systemic and/or transnational factors such as bureaucratic politics, domestic electoral considerations, the personality of your national leader, or the strength of transnational activists. Write your paper, 5-8 typed pages (double-spaced, standard fonts/margins), in the style of a policy document. Include an ‘Executive Summary” at the front which summarizes the critical issues covered in your report and your key recommendations. (Sample policy documents can be found at http://www.ciaonet.org .) Also, include a bibliography of reputable sources. You must have at least four sources; these may include books, journal articles, government internet sites, news sites, or other sources (of any type) originating in your chosen state or elsewhere. (Your bibliography is in addition to the page count of your paper.) Utilize whichever, APA or MLA, style your feel most comfortable with. Please review the rules for attribution and the definition of plagiarism. If in doubt, consult me before turning in your paper. You must make a state choice by Tuesday, June 14, 2004. Submit a (typed!) one-paragraph explanation of your selection – why you are interested in that state and, which issues you find most important. If you are not sure about which state or what issue you want to pick, submit one or two options and a list of your questions/concerns complicating your choice. Also, please indicate any relevant language skills you may utilize in your research (you do not need to know the language of your state). I will return your abstract with comments and suggestions. Approval of your state/issue is essential for writing a paper that fulfills the guidelines of the assignment. The final papers are due on Tuesday, July 14, 2004. Late work will be penalized severely. You should do your research throughout the semester. If you have a major crisis, contact me before the due date to negotiate an extension. Writing a Policy Paper Once you have selected a state, attempt to narrow your focus to one or a few critical issues facing the government of your choice. Then, narrow this down to the security concern that you deem most important, as this will likely also be the most interesting. Now it is time to think about how you will write a paper from a policy perspective. For this assignment you must think of yourself as part of the policy-making process. As you read about current debates in your state, give some thought to which types of government officials or bureaucracies are most involved in those policy areas. Once you have decided on a particular policy challenge confronting your state, you will need to decide whom to represent. Are you the general “security advisor”, or would you rather be the minister of finance (or environment, health …)? This choice will determine the “voice” you adopt in your paper. Over the course of doing your research, you will probably encounter a few policy papers. There is no universal format for these government documents, but most of them share a few essential features. For the purposes of this assignment, two are most relevant. First, these papers start with what is often referred to as an “Executive summary”. The opening paragraph or page of a policy paper summarizes the main recommendations of the full document. Assume that you are writing for a very busy boss (such as the head of a state). That person needs to understand your main point – your policy recommendation – immediately, without having to wade through pages and pages of background, analysis, and rationales. Also, you will write a better, more organized, coherent, and clear paper if you can write a one-paragraph summary. Tone is the second aspect of government documents that differs from a conventional research paper. You are a participant in the decision-making process, not a distant observer commenting on past events. Because you are a policy-maker, you may have to make a strong case for a position with which you as a student (real person) do not agree. Imagine that the leader of your state (not the instructor) will read your proposals. Utilize active voice and a good deal of first person prose. Keep in mind that the leader of your state would already know the basic history, so you do not need to repeat it in your paper. Only remind him/her of particularly salient information that strengthens your case for making your specific policy recommendations. The four stages of defending your policy prescriptions can be explicit sub-headings within your paper. Do not forget to preface your paper with the Executive Summary and include a bibliography at the end. Unlike a standard research paper, you do not need to end with a separate conclusion, because your policy recommendations are the logical culmination of your paper. If you have any questions about content, formats, or citations, ask me. I may also agree to read a preliminary draft, if you prepare one well in advance of the assignment deadline. |
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