Policy Analysis Final Draft

Inequality Policy Analysis

LSJ 490: The Politics of Inequality in the 21^st Century

Objective: You will choose a policy area and conduct an advanced policy analysis. Policy analysis has many dimensions. You must 1. Clearly define the area of policy you are examining (and, by extension, what you are not examining); 2. Develop an analytical framework that guides your analysis; 3. Gather, organize, and succinctly summarize diverse sources of qualitative and quantitative data and research according to your analytical framework; 4. Clearly summarize your policy area and its impacts as it is, as well as explore policy impacts of potential changes to the status quo.

Your policy analysis should engage with existing research and important legislation, judicial precedent, and political realities. Your final policy analysis will probably be about 2,000-3,000 words and must include a well-documented, properly formatted bibliography.

Due Dates:

POLICY ANALYSIS PROPOSAL: April 11 in class

Upload a short document to Canvas that includes the following information:

1. Identify two potential policy topics that you’d be interested in exploring in more detail
2. For each of these two policy topics, look for news articles or research papers that help us understand the real-world impacts of this policy area and why we should care. Provide citations/links as appropriate.

POLICY ANALYSIS ROUGH DRAFT: Sunday, May 5

At this point, you should be about 75% finished with your policy analysis. You should submit a document that includes all progress you have made, including: 1. Any writing and outlines; 2. A rough bibliography documenting all sources supporting your analysis; 3. A short document outlining the work you still have to complete by May 26.

POLICY ANALYSIS FINAL DRAFT: Sunday, June 2

Submit your final policy analysis to Canvas. Your final policy analysis should include: a. Title Page; b. 2,000-3,000 word policy analysis; c. properly formatted bibliography; d. short reflection (250-500 words discussing what you have learned, challenges you encountered, and the ways your thinking has developed during the course of this project).