Define The Problem Essay
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to begin writing your policy analysis report. The Eightfold Path step two is assembling some evidence. You will be providing your client with evidence that the chosen topic is worth investigating.
Assignment: Continuing with the topic you chose in Module 2: Week 2, begin writing the section of the Policy Analysis Project Template labeled Evidence or Pre-Existing Policies (depending on your chosen topic). Your writing style and formatting will follow the Preface example found in the Weimer and Vining textbook and Appendix A in Bardach and Patashnik.
Requirements: Following the Eightfold Path guide, Policy Analysis Project: Part 2 – Assemble Some Evidence Grading Rubric, and the Policy Analysis Project Template, submit a well-written Word document of at least 500 words providing evidence that your problem is indeed an issue worthy to be studied. Because accumulating evidence can be overwhelming, you are required to provide a minimum of 3 pieces of evidence with a thorough explanation (i.e., IPEDS, journal article data, newspaper). At least 2 authoritative sources are required to support your claims and conclusions. Follow current APA formatting requirements for all in-text citations and the Sources section of the report.
More Explanation: How paper is formatted using this template see below:
To: XYZ University
From: [Policy Analyst]
Date: November 15, 2020
Concern/Problem: Declining Enrollment
Executive Summary -This was Part 1 completed last week. (DONE)
Statement of the Issue/Problem: (Phrase the topic as a question that requires a decision. This question can be as short as one sentence.)
Policy Problem: Shortened Title (In this section, you will attempt to define the problem and give background information about how the problem has come about. The problem definition is written first but will be edited as the analysis develops.)
THIS IS THE SECTION DUE-Evidence or Pre-existing Policies- (In this section you will attempt to provide evidence of the problem that has been provided from other research or depending on your topic, you may discuss pre-existing policies that have been tried in the past. 500 words) ***This is the Section that is due this week By Sunday Nov 15 10pm****
Policy Options: (Based on the evidence or pre-existing policies, delineate the possible courses of action or inaction that your organization may pursue. Please provide the decision maker with at least three potential courses of action. According to the Eightfold Path this section would incorporate steps 3 – 6)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Policy Option: (Write this section from the perspective of the entity that you represent. For clarity, you may present the pros and cons of the options in bullet points or outline format.)
Biblical Worldview Perspective: (What principles found in scripture could relate or should be considered when selecting your recommendation. This section would be important to consider if you are providing an analysis for a Christian organization, however it is good to think about such topics for your own benefit.)
Your Recommendation: (After prioritizing the relative pros and cons of the above options, please recommend one option to your client and explain why.)
Sources Consulted or Recommended: (This is essentially an annotated bibliography in the event that the decision maker has the interest and time to read up on a specific issue. Please provide a one to three sentence description and evaluation of each source listed in this section.
Additional information (not to be included in the final report):
Formatting
– Single spacing throughout
– Headings in bold; subheadings indented and italicized
– In-text citations and sources will follow current APA formatting
– Paragraph spacing should be set to 6 before and after
– Font: New Times Roman 12 pt
– Each page numbered and centered at the bottom
– Left justification with no paragraph indents
– 1” margins
– Remove header in final form
Scholarship
– No less than 1,750 words
– At least six authoritative sources are required
– At least three of them are peer-reviewed, empirical journal articles, written within the past five years
– Remove (explanation about each heading in final form)
Include your Project the Outcomes Matrix as Appendix A
Ex
