Foreign Policy Memo
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INR2001 - Spring 2018 Foreign Policy Memo Writing Guidelines
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to provide students with an opportunity to:
- explore/analyze an issue in international relations in greater detail; - practice applying theories of international relations to substantive topics in world affairs.
Topic: Students should identify the leader of a major state or organization involved in international relations (e.g. the President of the United States, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister of India, President of Russia, President of Ukraine, Prime Minister of Israel, Secretary General of the United Nations) and a current problem/issue relevant to the identified leader’s state or organization. Some general problems or issues students might consider are as follows:
- War in Syria - War in Yemen - Conflict in Ukraine - Refugee crisis in Europe - Chinese expansion in the South China Sea/East China Sea - Trade war between China and the U.S. - Kashmir territorial dispute: India, Pakistan, and China - ISIS in Iraq, Libya, Syria, or Somalia - Boko Haram in Nigeria - Implementation of the Paris climate deal - The North Kora nuclear program - Implementation of the Iran nuclear deal/the Iran nuclear program
While the list above represents some possible topics, students are free to select any current problem or issue in international relations for the Memo. Format: • The Foreign Policy Proposal (500-800 words) should be addressed to the identified leader and
should incorporate the following components: 1. Standard memo headers (To: From: Date: Re:). 2. One-paragraphs description of the foreign policy problem/issue. 3. List (preferably with additional descriptive detail) of at least three (3) distinct interest of
the leader/state/organization with respect to the identified policy problem. 4. List (preferably with additional descriptive detail) of three (3) policy options for
addressing the problem/issue and furthering the interest (however defined) of the identified leader/state/organization.
5. Bibliography/Works Cited page with at least five (4) sources the student will use for background and/or empirical evidence in the final version of the Memo, and/or the student used while preparing the proposal.
• The Final Foreign Policy Memo (1500-2000 words; excluding Bibliography/Works Cited) should be addressed to the identified leader and should incorporate the following components:
- Should include standard memo headers (To: From: Date: Re:) - Overview of the identified problem or issue, including a one-sentence summary of the
problem/issue facing the leader/state/organization as well as the proposed solution/recommendation; relevant background and an analysis of the of the causes of the
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problem, using relevant academic literature and other published sources (e.g. media, IGO, and NGO reports).
- Identification and explanation of the political, security, and/or economic interests at stake for the identified leader/state/organization. In other words, why does the identify problem/issue matter for the relevant leader/state/organization? Let the decision maker know why he or she should address this issue now. Why it is an important issue?
- Discussion of THREE (3) policy options, drawing from theories of international relations and other concepts discussed in the course, and evaluation of the pros, cons, and tradeoffs of these options for furthering the interests of the identified leader/state/organization. This discussion should refer to relevant EMPIRICAL evidence, including analogous historical cases, and discuss the possible obstacles to implementing each of the identified options.
- Recommendation of the BEST (or least-worst) available option for addressing the problem/issue in accordance with the interests of identified leader/state/organization, including an explanation of why the selected option is preferable to others.
- Remember: the recommended option/s must be in the national/organizational interests of the person you are advising, not the interests of the nation of which you are a citizen.
General Guidelines: • Citations:
- Students may use any standard reference style (e.g. MLA, APA, Chicago), but should use a consistent format though the paper (appropriate in-text citations or footnotes, following a standard reference style documenting all outside sources).
o MLA style: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_ guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
o APA style: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_ guide/general_format.html
- Note: Students must be careful to attribute all ideas that are not their own (including both direct quotations and summaries or paraphrases of others’ ideas).
• World Counts:
- Student must adhere to the designated word counts: 500-800 words for the Proposal and 1500-2000 words for the Final Memo.
• Formatting:
- All submissions must be typed in standard font (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman), 12-point with 1’’ margins all around, and single spaced.
- The proposal as well as the Final Memo should include standard memo headers (To: From: Date: Re:).
- Example: To: [name of the leader you are advising]; From: [your name]; Date: [assignment due date]; Re: [issue].
• Submissions:
- Both the Proposal and Final Memo should be submitted electronically via Turnitin on the course Canvas site.
• Deadlines and Extensions:
- The Foreign Policy Memo Proposal is due on February 17th (Sunday, Week 6) no later than 11:59pm. It has to be submitted electronically via the Canvas site.
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- If submitted on time, the Proposal is worth maximum nine (9) points; submissions turned in after the deadline are worth zero (0) points. Extensions will be granted only in case meeting the criteria for “schedule absence” as outlined in the “Attendance” section of the course syllabus.
- The Final Foreign Policy Memo is due on April 21st (Sunday, Week 15) no later than 11:59pm. It has to be submitted electronically via the Canvas site.
- If submitted on time, the Final Memo is worth maximum 81 points; submissions turned in after the deadline are worth zero (0) points. Extensions will be granted only in case meeting the criteria for “schedule absence” as outlined in the “Attendance” section of the course syllabus.
Evaluation Criteria: • The Foreign Policy Memo Proposal (max 9 points) will be grade according to the following
criteria: - 2 points: Clear description of the problem/issue - 3 points: Interests (for each defined interest one point, 1x3) - 3 points: Options (for each defined option one point, 1x3) - 1 point: Bibliography/Works Cited (minimum four sources)
• The Final Foreign Policy Memo (max 81 points) will be grade according to the following
criteria: - Overview (max 18 points):
§ 4 points: clear statement of the problem or issue, identification of relevant actors, and the solution/recommendation;
§ 6 points: discussion of relevant historical and political background to the § problem/issue, using reliable sources; § 8 points: accurate analysis of the causes of the problem or issue, using reliable
sources and referring to relevant international relations theories or concepts where appropriate.
- Interests (max 18 points; 6 points x 3 interests=18 points) § 3 points: clear specification and discussion of relevant political, economic, etc.
“interest” of the leader/state/organization, using relevant international relations theories, concepts, and empirical evidence as appropriate;
§ 3 points: explanation of relevant obstacles to achieving identified interests with respect to the problem or issue.
- Policy Options (max 27 points; 9 points x 3 options=27 points) § 4 points: clear statement of policy option, including overview of how the policy
would plausibly serve the interests of the identified leader/state/organization; § 5 points: logical discussion of pros, cons, and tradeoffs of each option,
drawing upon relevant empirical evidence and historical analogies of similar case as appropriate.
- Recommendation (max 10 points) § Logical explanation of the relevant advantages of the recommended policy option
compared to alternative options. Why the selected option is preferable to others? - Overall quality and clarity of the Memo
§ 4 points: citations/correct use of stand English grammar; § 4 points: overall structure of the Memo, i.e., logical sequencing and appropriate
transitions between sections and ideas.