The Assigments

For your final paper, you will combine the research and writing you have already completed for the semester about your public, research, observation, and twitter.  You will add one final section. This final section will address a challenge that your public is facing.  This challenge could be, but is not limited to:

Change (present, immediate future, or long range) such things as:

· Policy

· Internal/Organizational

· External/Environmental/Market

· Obsolescence/Innovation

· Change in knowledge about your public or that your public relies upon

Uncertainty

· Intrinsic to your public/or an uncertain future

· Known Unknowns

· Resiliency/Capacity Buidling

Democratic Governance

· Something unique

· Conflicts

· Potential

· Downfalls

· Values, etc.

Format and structure

Your paper should frame the challenge in a manner that is informative to your reader and builds from the work you have already done. Once you frame the problem, you will present a solution that is rational and fits within how we have been talking about public discourse.  Remember the context is not just issues of governance, but also how to nurture a healthy democracy whether in education, the law, refugees, etc.

Fiction, science, historical case studies or fiction, and other genres are highly encouraged.  A traditional policy brief, white paper, or extended essay are also acceptable formats. If you choose the more traditional formats, you are allowed to rework your twitter assignment into a section of the paper—if it is appropriate and useful in framing your public’s challenge.

Page length for undergraduates is 2 single space

References

The more academic references, from class and beyond, the stronger your argument will be.  Remember your post early in the semester that had academic references included? Now is the time you can use them.  No matter how you decide to frame and address your public challenge, your paper should consider what you have learned from the academic research you have done, the class readings and discussions, and twitter feeds

There is no set number of references you must meet, but any factual claim should be supported with evidence/research. Avoid presuppositions, assumptions, and personal opinions.  The only acceptable use of your opinion is when you present what your recommendations in addressing your public’s challenge—this recommendation should be clearly supported by your work.