The essay is structured in a way for students to integrate public administration material and make connections between theory and practice around a selected case study. The essay will include the analysis of a public issue case study from the perspective of five themes using the course topics below.
Topics for the Final Paper:
1. The Civil Service & Human Capital
2. Decision Making
3. Budgeting
4. Implementation
5. Regulation & Accountability
Students will analyze a chosen case study under each of the five topics in a critical essay, using each topic as a lens to provide a thorough assessment of the public issue exemplified in the case study. Each topic provides a different analytical dimension for the case study, which highlights where and how a breakdown or breakthrough happened as well as lessons that can be learned from it.
1. Select a case study that covers an example of a relevant and recent public issue related to the course (no more than 10 years old).
o For example, instances of fraud, discrimination, or examples of success of government coordination, contracting, etc. Hint: Kettl textbook has many great case studies at the end of each chapter, which may help you choose your own.
o Midterm and final papers can use the same or different case studies. Students are encouraged to consult with the instructor on their choice of a public issue case study.
2. Find at least one academic article for each of the five topics listed above that are relevant to your case study from any public administration academic journal. Use the five articles as references for the analysis of your case study to discover the root of the problem and/or the reasons for success.
o The articles should be different from those you’ve been assigned to read (i.e., articles listed in the syllabus). However, students may use syllabus readings, other sources, and your personal experiences, as supplemental material if they are relevant to your public issue case study.
o Public administration academic journals may include, but are not limited to: Public Administration Review, The American Review of Public Administration, Administration & Society, Public Performance & Management Review, and Journal of Public Administration Research & Theory. ODU library has a subscription to all of these journals in electronic format.
Paper Structure and Format
· Introduction – briefly introduce your public issue, the five topics, and how they are connected.
· Main text – provide a reflective analysis of the case study under five different topics (lenses). This critical portion should include the following components:
·
o Clear integration of the selected articles with the public issue and clearly drawn connections among them.
o Persuasive evaluation of each topic as it relates to the case study, highlighting the pros and cons of each article that talks about it.
o Balanced presentation of solutions/ways to look at the public issue using each article.
· Conclusion – provide both a short summary stating what has been done in the essay and conclusions that you have arrived at as a result of your work.
Formatting: 12-point Times New Roman font, double spaced, 1” margins, left-justification, first-line indentation, page numbers, no title page, use subheadings, APA style for citations, spell-checked and proofread for grammar and usage errors
