Policy Impact on Community Issues

Policy Impact on Community Issues To complete this assignment, you will craft a 500-word (minimum) essay with at least two references properly cited and listed in APA format. The purpose of this assignment is threefold: To explore how policy impacts community issues. To identify what force(s) shape public policy. To discuss means for improving the impact of current policy. The assignment must meet the following college writing expectation: Writing should establish the purpose of the essay with a clear, sustained point of view. Writing should follow the conventions of Standard English (correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling). Writing should be well ordered, logical, and unified as well as original and insightful. Writing should follow APA citation and reference style. Utilize the Assignment Resources for further direction if needed. Identify the issue: To prepare for this paper, you will identify an issue of interest to you within your community. The issue can be very precise (e.g., single-use plastics) or more general (e.g., local environmental concerns). Research the issue: Once you have identified an issue of interest, you will research the specifics of the issue as needed to write about it in an informed manner. Research can include personal observations, news articles, or scholarly work. Connect the issue to a governmental policy: Next you will investigate policies in place to deal with the community concern chosen above. You will choose one policy that is in place which addresses or impacts the community concern. The policy can be at any level of government (e.g., a local law banning single-use plastics, a state-wide policy regarding recycling, a federal-level regulation regarding waste or pollution). Research the policy: You can use local, state, or government websites, websites from special interest groups, news reports, or academic papers to find a specific policy to investigate. Once you have found a policy of interest that impacts your community issue, you will research the origins and specifics of that policy. Reflect on the situation: Finally, you will research and reflect on ways to improve the current policy to better address your community concern. You do not need to “solve” the problem: simply explore one logical step that could be taken to improve the situation. This could be anything from an increase or decrease in budget for the actions required by the policy, an amendment to the policy to specifically address your concern, a repeal or replacement of the policy for something new entirely, and anything in between. Remember, even if the current policy is good, it can always be made better. Part 1: Introduction Your introduction should accomplish the following: Open by clearly identifying the community issue of interest. Identify the general nature of the issue (education, environment, health, social, etc.). Provide enough specifics to explain why the issue is of interest or concern to you. Use personal observation and/or academic sources as needed. Finally, identify one current policy that is in place related to the issue. Be sure to cite the policy properly in APA format. Part 2: Policy Overview Your overview should include the following: Discuss the specifics of the current policy in place that relates to your community issue. Identify the level of government that enacted the policy (local, state, federal). Provide a brief summary of the origin (or history) of the policy. The summary must identify one major factor that influenced the formation of the policy (e.g., partisan politics, special interest groups, lobbyists, litigation, community action, governmental oversight). Outline the purpose or function of the policy in place. Be sure to cite the policy and any references properly in APA format. Part 3: Critique and Conclusion Your conclusion should include the following: A discussion of the policy in place regarding how well it addresses your specific community issue. (The discussion can speak to positives or negatives or both.) Use personal observation as well as published works to discuss where the policy performs well or falls short regarding your community concern. Apply at least one reference to substantiate your point of view. Propose one specific change that could improve the policy and thus improve the situation in your community. Explain how your proposed change to the policy will improve its effectiveness or outcomes. Part 4: References List all cited references in alphabetical order by author in APA format. verzion 7 RESOURCES APA Demystified in 5 Minutes (5:43) Writing With Integrity The PG Writing Center Assignment Rubric