Examine a contemporary foreign policy issue between the United States government and one other foreign government.

Examine a contemporary foreign policy issue between the United States government and one other foreign government.

*Policy Paper Project (*Mandatory)

Introduction

This project is an opportunity to carefully examine a contemporary foreign policy issue between the United States government and one other foreign government.

There are four steps to completing this project:

 

Step 1 – Identifying the Issue

Thepolicypaperwilladdressa USforeignpolicyconcern towardacountryorspecifictopic.Only one of the topics listed below may be selected.

 

Pick one topic below, making sure that the final paper focuses primarily on US policy:

US policy towards NATO

Costs and Benefits of rejoining the Paris Agreement

Deforestation of the Amazon

Confronting Iran without resorting to force

Nigerian politicalinstability

US policy towards the Kashmir dispute

Political development inVenezuela

Future of US involvement with the World Health Organization

US response to China’s Hong Kong policies

Political development inAfghanistan

 

Step 2 – Gathering Sources

Conduct research to locate three academic journal articles(aka: peer-reviewed or scholarly sources) that specifically address issues within the foreign policy relationship you selected and meet the following criteria:

The articles must be no more than ten (10) years old.

The article must have more than five (5) pages of actual content (without graphs, charts, footnotes, citations,etc.).

Books,dissertations,andtheseswillnotcounttowardthescholarlysource minimumrequirements.

Carefully choose sources that provide a variety of perspectives on your selected topic. In addition to the minimum research requirements, you should use high quality sourcesfor essential current events information relevant to your topic. These include academic sources that are not peer-reviewed (position papers), newspaper articles, magazine articles, and other quality or reputable sources.

 

The course textbook, encyclopedias (including Wikipedia), and almanacs, are reference materials and are not to be listed as sources at the college level.

 

Step 3 – The Proposal

The proposal must:

Identify the topic in one or twoparagraphs:

Summarize the central issue(s) of the foreign policy topic you will beaddressing

Describe the current status of the policy ortopic

Describe why this policy is important to the UnitedStates

Cite each of your academic journal articles at least once in the paragraph using correct MLA in-text citations.

Include the Works Cited or Reference section with the three (at a minimum) peer- reviewed academic journal articles that will form the basis of your policy paper.

These three references must be cited in the final policypaper.

Additional sources can be added (and should if a good grade is desired), but they cannot be removed without permission after the proposal isapproved.

In-text citations and the Works Cited or Reference section must be formatted using MLA citation style. Other MLA formatting elements (e.g. header, page number format, etc.) are not used in thisassignment.

Do not use block quotations (or any quotation that exceeds three lines of text) or first person in the proposal or final policypaper!

 

 

A fundamental expectation of college writing is that all key arguments, facts, assertions andclaimsaresupportedwithresearch(i.e.parentheticalcitations).Whenasourcehas beencited,youareexpectedtoacknowledgethesourceinthebodyofyourtextandon a Works Cited page using formal MLA citation format. The paper must be completed using the formatting guidelines provided in the syllabus as “Guidelines for all Coursework.”

 

 

Step 4 – The Policy Paper

Prepareaformalresearchpaperregardingtheselectedpolicy.Theassignmentmustbe between 5-8 pages excluding quotations, cover page, and Works Citedpage(s).

 

The essay should address the following:

 

The reasons for initiating changes to existingpolicy.

The possible policy options or alternatives to be considered (discussseveral).

The pros and cons of each policy option or alternative (costs vs.benefits).

The best policy option or alternative (pickone).

A summary andconclusion

 

Do not use first person in the proposal or final policy paper!

 

The paper body must be a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 8 full pages in body length, double-spaced.

 

No more and no less is necessary for this activity. Keep direct quotes to a minimum; do not use block quotations or any quotation exceeding three lines of text. All key arguments, facts, assertions, and claims must be supported with research. The references approved in the policy proposal must be used in the policy paper: you may add additional sources (and should if you seek an A on the assignment), but you must seek approval from the instructor at least 72 hours before the policy paper due date if you intend to change any of the scholarly sources approved in the proposal.