The policy position paper offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to analyze a policy problem, discuss a range of policy solutions, analyze the rational and political ramifications of each alternative, and support a proposed policy change with evidence from the professional literature. This paper synthesizes the policy analysis approaches learned throughout the semester.
Students will select a social welfare policy problem of their choice and clear the topic with the instructor no later than week 6 of the semester. Students will conduct a search of the available literature (with emphasis on peer-reviewed journal articles) surrounding the selected policy problem. Students will prepare an 8 to 10 page paper (not including title page or references page) in APA-6th edition style. Topics to be addressed (use these as headings in your paper) are:
1. Brief introduction to the policy problem (briefly explain the social issue the policy is addressing)
2. History of social welfare policy in this area (what previous policies have aimed to address this issue?)
3. Alternative proposals to address this problem (minimum of two alternatives). Identify at least 2 policy proposals that aim to address this issue
4. Analyze and compare these alternatives using a rational policy analysis approach (refer back to text book and lectures on rational policy analysis)
5. Identify the political ramifications of each alternative (what are the real or predicted consequences/outcomes of the proposals? Arguments should be based on scholarly research and data. Reference the findings of reputable policy institutions (Lincy, Urban Institute, Brookings, etc), and policy forums focused on the policy area.
6. Proposal for policy change based in the alternatives (with evidentiary support from the literature) (based on your critical analysis of the alternatives, what policy action should occur?)
7. Summary and conclusion.
You can find my textbook online. It is called Social welfare: Politics and Public policy, (2016) by DiNitto and Johnson
