Description

Goal: to produce a policy analysis RETURN TO WORK POLICY AFTER COVID-19 PANDEMIC FOR THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA VA.

 The paper should be based on the components of policy analysis should involve a problem definition; 4-5 specific alternatives for addressing that problem (i.e. policy options); 4-5 evaluation criteria; a criteria-alternatives matrix with outcomes; a tradeoff analysis (with a succinct statement of tradeoffs); and your recommendation(s). Throughout, your argument should be backed by logic and evidence. 4) This is to be written as a memo, not as an academic paper.

However, it should include citations as an academic paper would (citations don’t count toward your word limit). Any standard recognized citation format is fine; I recommend Chicago Manual of Style. 5) WORD LIMIT: 3500 words. Keeping your paper to 3500 words may take work. Concise, informative writing is a key skill in policy work. Your goal is efficiency: convey maximum knowledge, as clearly as possible, in a minimum of words. Use plain language; avoid jargon. Remember that your audience is likely busy and distracted. Your first priority is to help them quickly grasp important core arguments and take-aways. Finally, remember that your writing should be good from a technical perspective: spelling, grammar, flow, style, etc. Noticeable problems in these areas will impact your grade. GW has a Writing Support Program (writingcenter.gwu.edu) that offers free, individual help on technically strong writing. They are holding virtual sessions on Zoom in response to the pandemic. Note: Citations are separate; you should not count them in your word count. 6) In addition to the paper itself, you will have three related tasks: 1) create a presentation summarizing your findings (due ); 2) create an abstract and tweet summarizing the essence of your memo in 140 characters. Individual presentation and reviews/comments using Powerpoint or an equivalent program, create a presentation of 5-7 slides (you may also have an additional “cover” slide with your name/project title/etc.) aimed at presenting your developing work to a relevant client in a late-stage interim report.

Include a criteria-alternatives matrix, even if it has some cells you cannot yet fill in because you are still doing outcomes projection. Remember two things: first, your client is busy and not nearly as immersed in the project details as you are. Therefore, you will need to be brief and clear. Use simple language, keep slides from getting too crowded, and be efficient in what you convey. It is better to identify and convey the truly important core points clearly than it is to crowd every detail of your analysis onto your limited number of slides. Think about what your client needs to know. Second, your client wants you to be truthful but also to leave them confident that you are going to deliver a stellar product. Therefore, it may be important for you to think about how you can convey to your client that areas of your analysis that are still under development have a plan and are on their way to completion – without pretending to greater certainty than you can currently offer. You want to show your client that you are headed to a strong final product, but not over-promise something that will make it obvious if you under-deliver.

Issue area/problem and client: both of these are up to you. Pick a problem that is scoped such that you can handle it in the time you have, and a client that makes sense in the context of the problem (e.g. a mayor, a secretary in a federal agency, a city or state official – someone who has some policy responsibility for your policy problem); in the context of this assignment having a notional client should help you focus your analysis, develop criteria, etc. Your analysis should explain why your problem “matters” and needs to be addressed, and what its root causes and consequences are. You should develop a succinct problem definition.