Policy Paper
For this assignment, you will first identify and describe a current or anticipated problem related to child or youth development and psychological wellbeing in general. We cover a broad spectrum of issues related you young humans, from education, technology, poverty, to violence and play. You need to identify an issue for which you want to advocate by writing a white paper addressed to a policy making body of the government. You need to propose a thoughtful, persuasive solution to the problem you identified. You will present the problem and solution in the form of a white paper or policy paper, as it is also referred to. White papers guide decision makers with expert opinions, recommendations, and analytical research.
Although the policy paper relies on your authority over the deep research that you have conducted on the issue or problem, you should also pay close attention to audience, the professional expectations and jargon of your targeted decision makers, and the structure and flow of your argument.
Your white paper should be 4-5 double-spaced pages long (not longer than 1300 words) with 12-point font and 1-inch margins. The works cited (References) page does not count toward the length requirement. You should organize your white paper carefully and use clear, specific headings so that busy readers can scan the document effectively.
The white paper is worth 25% of your final grade. The paper will be the result of your five weeks’ research work and a demonstration of your ability to apply your knowledge so that you have an actual policy recommendation to make. You will complete the paper through 5 steps. Detailed instructions for each step of the process will be provided timely. A failure to complete and submit any of the steps on time will result in the 2% deduction from your final paper grade.
Step 1 entails listing three developmental psychology problems that could be possible topics for your white paper.
Sample topics:
There should be a universal pre-K education for all children from families with annual income below $80,000
Parents should be held responsible for their children’s actions
Trying Children as Adults
Note: You may not use the sample topics provided in this assignment sheet for your own white paper.
After creating your list, you should do some preliminary research on each problem in order to determine what kinds of sources are available. Based on your preliminary research, select the problem you feel you will be able to write about most successfully.
Format and Contents of Final Paper
Your white paper must contain all of the following parts and be written using the APA style:
Title Page: Your name, the class, the assignment, a descriptive title (not “White/Policy Paper”).
Introduction/Summary: This section should provide a brief overview of the problem you have identified and the solution you will propose. It should be a preview of the information contained in each section of your paper. This helps busy readers quickly grasp the main point and easily navigate the document. Remember, the introduction is just a preview; it should be precise and clear, but it should save specific details for later sections.
Problem/Background: This section should clearly and firmly state the current or anticipated problem you have identified. Be sure to explain the significance of the problem and its consequences—why is this issue important? Objectivity is your priority, so resist the urge to overstate.
After stating the problem, you need to provide background information about it to help readers make their decision based on a clear understanding of the facts. You also need to demonstrate your own expertise on the subject so that readers will perceive your solution as credible. Explain what is known about the problem and what caused it. Explain the consequences of the problem. Describe what is likely to happen if nothing is done. Describe previous attempts to solve the problem and explain why they were not successful.
Specific evidence is very important in this section, and you will need to do research. When possible, use numbers, statistics, and/or concrete facts. You will need to demonstrate a familiarity with the details, statistics, data, etc. that are relevant to your argument. Provide examples of the problem’s negative impacts. Show how you arrived at the findings or recommendations through analysis of qualitative or quantitative data. Draw careful conclusions that make sense of the data and do not misrepresent it. Make sure to properly cite your sources for this information using APA in-text citations.
5. Solution: This section should propose and defend your solution to the problem. Again, be specific. Why is this the best solution? What steps will be required to implement it? How will it improve the situation? How will people be able to judge, measure, and evaluate its effectiveness? You should acknowledge any drawbacks to your recommended solution and address any objections your readers might have. Address—and when appropriate rebut—counterarguments, caveats, alternative interpretations, and reservations to your findings or recommendations. Your credibility as a policy analyst relies on your ability to locate and account for counterargument. You should be especially sensitive to the likely counterarguments that a decision-maker would face in implementing or acting on your recommendations or findings.
6. Conclusion: This section should briefly wrap up your paper by summarizing the main arguments and making a final, firm case for your solution. You should avoid repeating phrases and sentences from earlier in your paper. Find an original, succinct way to sum up your argument. Distill the conclusions succinctly in a concluding section and remind the decisionmaker of the big picture, the overall goal, the necessity of the investigation, or of the urgency for action. This answers the “Who cares?” question that reminds the reader of the value of the research and recommendations. If you are targeting a decision maker, you should reflect the decision-maker’s primary concerns.
7. Works Cited: At the end of your paper, make sure to include a list of all the sources you used when writing the paper. You must use the minimum of seven sources, at least 3 of which need to be from the reading list for this class. Remember, you need to cite a source even if you don’t quote directly from that source—sources that you paraphrase or take data from must also be cited. Use APA format for both your works cited page and your in-text citations.
8. Visuals: You may use visuals (such as charts, tables, and graphs) in your white paper, but you are not required to do so. If you do use visuals, make sure they are easy to interpret, professional in appearance, clearly captioned, and relevant—don’t use visuals simply to fill space.
