Social Welfare Policies & Services II (SWPSII)
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Get Help Now!Policy Analysis – Brief Instructions
General Instructions:
- Paper should be 10-12double-spaced pages. NOT longer (including final figure but not including bibliography)
- Use headings and subheadings to match the main sections outlined below
- Grammar and spelling count
- 10> References
Describe, discuss, and analyze a federal social welfare policy that addresses a particular social problem, in the form of an informative “Policy Brief”. Alternatively, state-level policy implications may be addressed as part of the paper. Domains of social welfare policies and examples of policies are below (domains are not mutually exclusive).
You may choose a policy within the broad special topic group categories as – note: it must be a different policy and a different paper than any previously submitted paper, as completed for SWPS 1.
- LOOK AT OUTLINE ALONG WITH THE INFORMATION BELOW FOR THIS PAPER TO BE SUCCESSFUL
Specific Requirements (10-12 pages: 12 maximum, including figure, excluding bibliography: include Abstract, Introduction, Conclusion or Summary):
- History and background (1-2 pages)
o Describe the social problem that this policy was meant to address
o Describe the stated policy goals (explicit goals) and any implicit or unwritten goals
o Very briefly provide some history of the social policy
- When was it enacted, who signed it into law
- Who sponsored it and who supported it
- Who was against it – was it controversial?
- Structure and design of the program (2 – 3 pages)
o Describe the policy/programusing the dimensions of choice model from Gilbert & Terrell. Make sure to use the terms that we discussed to describe social welfare programs (cash, in-kind, vouchers, means-tested, universal, social assistance, social insurance, entitlement program)
- What is the basis of allocation (who gets benefits)
- What are the benefits
- How are benefits delivered
- How is program financed
o What are expenditures on the program
o How many people receive services through this program
o Variation by state/locality (if any)
- Describe the program in your state (if it differs from the federal policy)
o Any new developments or recently debated points
- Analyze this policy within the frameworks we discussed previously (2 – 3 pages)
o How does it fit w/American values about social welfare policies? How is this policy framed to make it appealing to American values?
o How does it address or not address the conundrums inherent in all social welfare policies?
o How does it fit w/in perspectives on the causes of need in our society?
o How does it fit within the individualist vs. community perspectives on social welfare policies?
o Who supports this policy? Who might be against it?
- Is the program effective (2 – 3 pages)
o What has research found about the effects of this program?
- Address the explicit goals, implicit goals, and any unexpected consequences
o What are the critiques of the program?
- Are the critiques based on research or ideological differences?
o What recommendations have been made to improve the program?
- You may also provide your own ideas about how this program may be improved(this is the only place where you could use first person ‘I’.)
- References(not included in page count)
o Use at least 10 sources (you may include readings from the syllabus)
o You must use peer reviewed sources
o Follow the instructions for all written assignments regarding proper citations and references
- Figure (not included in page count)
o Paper must include a figure (chart, graph, or map) that illustrates one of the required elements above
o Examples
- Figure could be used to show extent of the social problem the policy was enacted to address. e.g.: map of the US showing percent of children in each state living in poverty.
- Figure could be used to show how the program has changed over time, or how many different types of individuals the program serves. e.g.: chart showing increase in expenditures on the program between its inception and today.
o Figure should come from a reputable source: gov’t, think tank, or research org. website, or a reading, etc. (you should not create the figure yourself)
- Make sure to correctly cite the source
o Figure should be called Figure 1 with an appropriate title (e.g. Figure 1: Proportion of Children Living in Poverty by State).
o You must refer to the figure in the text to illustrate a specific point (e.g. “Figure 1 shows….”).
o Figureshould be copied into a word document and added to the paper after the bibliography, and is included in the page count
-Topic is sufficiently focused
-Thesis is clearly defined and presented
-Scholarly evidence and use of course resources is presented in support of the argument
-As relevant to the assignment, argument demonstrates clear understanding of principals of social problem definition, policy dynamics, the processes of policy development and implementation, policy analysis (following Gilbert & Terrell Benefit Allocations Framework) and role of policy in service provision, policy critique and advocacy
-Argument is compelling
-Tone is objective and evidence-based, appropriate for policy brief (i.e., not personalized or casual; direct, not passive voice)
Organization, logic and clarity of the argument
-follows APA format and use of headings, subheadings to organize the paper (use outline subheads provided or alternate subheads)
-paragraphs with topic sentences and transitions between paragraphs
-sentences in paragraphs organized logically to build argument
-evidence incorporated in support of argument
Grammar/Mechanics
-Standard English grammar rules are observed: subject/verb agreement; tenses; punctuation; spelling
-sentence structure: clear, concise sentences (avoid run-ons and complex sentences)
-appropriate word usage
-evidence of proofreading
Integration of scholarly sources using APA formatting of citations/references
-see APA manual for direction on citation and formatting of journal articles, documents/reports, web resources and other materials
