Policy Memo

FINAL MEMO INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS Page Maximum The Final Memo will consist of 5 pages of text double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman). The memo will be on a current, or recent, policy issue of your choosing. If you have any graphics or tables they can be included within the five-pages (but don't go crazy). You must include a Works Cited section on a 6th page. The works cited is NOT part of the five pages. Required Memo Contents The memo must contain 5 sections, with the headings indicated below, which you will write and provide in the following order [do NOT number them because that looks less professional]. However, you MUST keep the headings in the document. 1. Nature of the Issue/Problem Here, you describe the problem or issue with which your Final Memo addresses. You should mention here that it has been grabbing media attention or governmental attention or has been triggered by some event – whatever the case may be for your issue/problem. You are making the case that your policy problem is something that policy makers should address as soon as possible. 2. History of the Issue/Problem. This will include past legislation or past programs that have been implemented by the governmental levels you are researching [national, state, local – or all three, depending on how your frame of reference. Remember that we live in a federalist system. Decide in section two if you want to focus on federal or state law. If you want to focus on federal law, look at past federal actions. If you want to look specifically at policy action in one state, that is fine. You can do so in this section. If you are focusing on state policy, make sure that your recommendations are state policy recommendations. In our current federalist system there are often state and federal laws that seek to solve the same policy problem. You can mention both state and federal law, just know that this may include A LOT of different legislative actions. 3. Where Things Stand Now in Addressing the Issue/Problem Here, you will discuss what is working and what is not working or not being addressed per current policies or programs. 4. Possible Policy Alternatives. These will likely be a mix of alternatives that have already been suggested or proposed by members of that policy community and your own carefully considered policy alternatives. You must briefly touch on some pros and cons. You must assert a position on each policy alternative. Do you think it is a good or bad option. Remember this memo is intended to convince lawmakers and the public to take a certain policy action. 5. Recommendations. These are your recommendations based on your research and consideration of the alternatives you discussed and what you believe is feasible from a political, technical, and/or financial standpoint. This section is very important and should be specific. Make a REAL policy recommendation. Don't just say, "we should stop climate change." Say, "climate change is a crisis and therefore we need to take swift policy action by implementing X policy that will cost X dollars and achieve X goal." This should be a REAL recommendation. Pretend that your recommendation is a policy that you want to drag through the policy cycle to adoption. You better know what you are talking about! Sound convincing enough to convince someone else! That is the whole point. Citations In Text and Works Cited - How to do the In-Text Citations and the Works Cited Page? You must provide both in-text citations and a works cited section. In-text citations are required for quotes and any data or knowledge from another source or data that is not commonly known. Here are examples of how to do in-text citations. Yada yada yada yada 56% of smokers yada (Kingdon, 34). “Yada yada yada yada,” (Epstein, 135). Note: Keep quotes to no more than 15 words – no long quotes. Here is an example of a how to provide a source for the Works Cited page if you use APA citation format. You may use APA, MLA, or Chicago Style, etc. format for in-text and works cited citations. Just make sure that you follow the rules and that you are consistent. Purdue OWLLinks to an external site. is a good website [from Purdue University] that explains in clear detail how to do citations in the different formats. Kingdon, J. W. (2011). Agendas, alternatives, and public policies, updated second edition. New York: Longman. Do NOT use Wikipedia as a source and do not cite it or include it in your Works Cited.