Instead of a final exam, this course has a policy memo due in Week 8. I want to help shape your work and scope your research. Please submit a short (no more than 250 word) summary of your policy memo topic during Week 4 of class.

For the memo, you should imagine that you are a state or city government policy advisor. Your governor or city mayor needs your boss to brief them on a critical problem facing your community. You need to develop a memo that will help your boss "get smart" on the problem and come up with some potential solutions. It is important to select a topic that is very specific. As an example, selecting "education reform" is too general. However, looking at whether your community should expand charter schools or accept new testing standards is better scoped. This specificity will help with your research too.

The full memo requirements are under the Assignments Tab along with a memo template plus the grading rubric to the assignment.

Rubric:

Memo has well-documented supporting facts and demonstrates proficient command of the subject matter. Memo displays comprehensive analysis of facts and concepts in logical sequence.

Policy position is clearly defined and well-supported. Opposing alternatives are considered and rebutted effectively.

Memo shows excellent command of grammar with clear and concise writing style and extensive understanding of word usage.

Memo incorporates at least of five credible sources including at least one peer-reviewed source with proper citations.

Memo Instructions:

Imagine you are a state or city government policy adviser. The governor or city mayor has asked your boss to brief them on a critical problem facing your community (and therefore one of your agency's top policy priorities). You need to develop a comprehensive policy memo that will give your boss:

(1) the critical background information he/she needs on the issue at hand;
(2) analysis of the influence of the state/city legislature, the judicial system, and other state/city government agencies on the formulation and implementation of a specific policy;
(3) an evaluation of the influence that interest groups, political parties and the media have on the policy at hand;
(4) a set of options/solutions for your boss to consider regarding a path forward with all these political players (including pros and cons for each option); and,
(5) a recommended strategy that you want your boss to present to the governor or mayor to win support for your agency's policy agenda.

To recap, your memo should:

- Clearly and concisely state the problem you are trying to tackle
- Provide a summary of the current policy context / relevant background
- Analyze the influence of the state or city legislature, the judicial system, and other agencies
- Evaluate the influence of interest groups, political parties, and the media
- Present a set of solutions to the problem for your boss to consider, including pros and cons for each
- Make a realistic recommendation of one of those options and provide further justification for why you are saying that option is the best.