Guidelines
1. Theme Development
This is an assignment to study and analyse an environmental policy issue in Canada or in a country you are familiar with. Researching on international best practices on similar policy arena is expected. You are encouraged to choose a relatively less effective policy issue (in your perception) that has been flagged by the government/media/civil society for policy improvement.
2. Analytical Tools
To write a policy analysis on your topic, focus on a particular stage of the policy, e.g., policy development, policy formulation, policy change, policy implementation, policy evaluation, or the full policy cycle. Here are some tips:
2.1. What you need to examine/investigate?
Policy Development
· Has the policy followed a participatory approach or not
· Were the problems adequately analysed?
· Did the policymaker(s) attempt to generate/assess policy alternatives?
· Did the policymaker(s) check/address policy sustainability?
Policy Implementation
· Challenges in policy implementation and the way forward
o Types of challenges (lack of political will,
Policy evaluation
· Weakness(s) in policy evaluation and changes needed.
3. Literature Review and Secondary Data
It is expected that you will promptly complete policy appraisal by reviewing relevant literature and available secondary data (quantitative and qualitative) In order to develop an in-depth analytical discussion on your policy, please synthesize academic literature and available data, government reports and international best practices reports/articles etc.
4. Report Writing
The key to success is critical analysis. Make specific recommendations to suggest how the policy will make more impact, resulting from use of the theory and analysis. Also suggest if there is need for reviewing the policy at the current stage or needs a better implementation mechanism. Use diagrams and graphics where this help. Do not include them if they are not referred to in the text. Some more tips are given below:
• The cover page should include the title of the topic, your name, student numbers, the date of submission, and the word count.
• The report should be typed and clearly laid out, using Times New Roman 12-point font, 1.5 line spacing
• Use a minimum of 15 references. Use APA as referencing style throughout the report; all cited works should beinserted appropriately in the references section. Helpful writing resources can be found here: https://sass.uottawa.ca/sites/sass.uottawa.ca/files/awhc-apa-style.pdf
• Please check your English including structure, spellings, and grammar thoroughly.
• Use tables to cover points concisely, and to compare issues you wish to address.
• Use appendices appropriately, as more detailed explanations, results and evidence which directly support assertions you make in your essay, but which are not suitable for the main body of the text. Do not use them as padding, or for information to which you do not refer in the report.
• Table of Contents and Appendices do not contribute to word count.
• It is essential that you conduct your analysis making explicit and acknowledged use of the theory, synthesis, a theoretical framework which should be tested/applied in your analytical section of the report.
• Please check the Marking Rubrics.
Volume
Your research paper should be written in approximately 2000 words. Please put the word count on the cover page.
Suggested Outline
· Title page (research title, course title, your name, student number and word count at the bottom of the page)
· Abstract – 100 words (with 5/6 key words at the end of Abstract)
· Table of Contents
· List of Tables and Figures
· Section 1: Introduction 10% of volume
o Brief introduction on the policy context in Canada/other country
o The focus of your policy area in terms of the status of the policy under study (policy development, policy formulation, policy adoption/adaption from a best practice, policy implementation, policy review/evaluation)
· Section 2: Literature review 35% of volume (key resource: literature, e.g. academic journals, books, government reports, UN reports, international agency reports etc.)
o Conceptual framework on policy cycle
o Discussion on the policy background and current status
o Policy challenges (at which stage of policy cycle?)
o Local and International best practices
· Section 3: Findings and Analysis 35% of volume (key resource: secondary data, e.g. data from government reports, UN reports and international agency reports etc.)
o Policy performance and results
o Impact of the policy on climate change, human community, environment, society, economy, others (if applicable)
o Challenges and issues in policy planning, policy implementation and policy evaluation (if applicable)
o Lessons learnt from local and International best practices
· Section 4: Recommendations 15% of volume
o Areas for improvement (examine if they are doable, affordable)
§ Short term and long-term recommendations, specify role of policy leaders, policy community)
· Section 5: Conclusion 5% of volume
· References
· Appendices
