1. Issue Identification (5 marks)
a. Describe the criminal law topic (the general problem) that your initiative is
responding to.
b. Address the following areas with respect to your issue:
i. What is the problem?
ii. Who is affected?
iii. Why does this problem exist?
iv. Where is this problem most prevalent?
v. When did the problem begin?
c. Identify agency / branch of government / group or individual raising the issue
and explain how they first identified and framed the issue.
2. Policy Identification (10 marks)
a. Describe the response (policy) that you have identified. Explain the following:
i. What is the policy initiative? How does it work? (2 marks)
ii. Who is affected by it? (who benefits, who pays) (2 marks)
iii. Why was this policy initiative created? (2 marks)
iv. Where is this policy in place? (2 marks)
v. When does your policy come into effect / end? (2 marks)
3. Policy Review (10 marks)
a. Review historical context. (3 marks)
i. Summarize briefly other initiatives or strategies that have attempted to
deal with your issue, and describe the relationship between your policy
and previous policies (i.e. is your policy a response to a previously
failed policy? Or is it something new being tried?)
b. Explain how your selected policy initiative was implemented. (3 marks)
i. State the objective of the policy.
ii. Describe the operation of the initiative (i.e. how does it work to meet its
objective(s).)
c. Assess and evaluate the selected policy. (3 marks)
i. Is it working? If so, how is success measured? Why is it working? If
not, how is failure measured? Why is it failing? Critically analyze the
results of any studies or public evaluations of this policy and draw a
conclusion as to how well the policy is working to achieve the stated
objective
Recommendation – Draw a conclusion about the future of this initiative. (1
mark)
i. Explain whether Should it be continued “as is”, be modified, or
terminated.
ii. Explain why you have drawn this conclusion.
4. Required Academic Sources
a. You must cite a minimum of three (3) ACADEMIC SOURCES (books or an
academic journal)
b. Failure to cite less than three (3) academic sources will result in 20%deduction
on your final grade.
5. Format (5 marks for full compliance with formatting guidelines)
a. Double space your essay
b. 8-10 pages (10 page max.)
c. Number your pages
d. Use Times New Roman 12-point font only
e. You must use the following subheadings
i. Issue Identification
ii. Policy Identification
iii. Policy Review
f. Draft your essay in proper essay format. This means DO NOT use question
and answer format as set out above. The above questions are meant as a
guide to the substance of what information should be included in your essay.
g. Failure to follow the formatting guidelines will result in a max. 10% deduction
from your final paper.
