Your capstone project in the course is an individual research assignment on a public
policy/federal law of your choice. We will call this project your Policy Paper which will
be a formal research paper aimed at introducing and/or polishing your skills in the
following:
? Public policy research – policy design, implementation, evaluation
? Understanding a federal law – an Act of Congress
? Effectively exploring and utilizing the library system for research
? Strengthening your academic and competitive writing skills
? Enhancing your critical thinking skills
2 Your Policy Paper is an independent project testing your discipline of self-directed study. You are
encouraged to start early and use your TA’s office hours to gain feedback. Manage this time carefully as
your TA will need to balance his or her time as the term comes to an end. Consider this paper your ‘final
exam’ and note that the paper will stand the test of safe assignment.
The Basic Structure of your Policy Paper is the following (See Appendix One for further
details: Policy Paper Checklist)
1. Description of the policy/law – history and current situation
2. Rationale for public policy – market or government failure
3. Analysis of policy’s efficacy
4. Implementation
5. Evaluation
6. Recommendations
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