The short writing assignment of 3-5 pages (not including the title or reference pages) assesses the students' knowledge about a social policy issue, legislative process or the outcome. Sections of the writings may require students to reflect on competency knowledge involving ethics, social values or professional practice standards within the policy making process.
1. Policy Definition: Response to A Single Story?
The first step in the policy making process is Problem Definition. How one defines a social problem is directly related to how the problem is solved. But how does one define a social problem? Is it based on individuals most affected by the problem? Is a problem defined by the most affluent in society, who may not be directly impacted by the problem? What about individuals who do not believe certain problems exist, while others firmly believe such problems do exist? Who is right, and who is wrong? Every policy has a defined problem. The problem is based on one's perception about what is observed in a community. Sometimes the problem definition is based on one's single story. Each individual has their own single story based on their perception of a problem.
View the Adichie video (2009) on the danger of the single story: EDGlobal. (2009). Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story [Video file].
This writing assignment involves drafting a statement about the particular problem in your selected legislative bill you are tracking for the final assignment. The bill that you selected is a proposed answer to a public problem. Review the instructions for the legislative brief. In 3-5 pages provide a draft of the first section of the legislative brief - Problem Definition, addressing as many of the questions/issues as possible. Be certain to provide objective evidence (census data, data from special reports, etc) showing the problem exists as suggested in the bill. Do you have the sense the problem is based on someone's single story or is it based on a collective voice of constituents? What questions do you need answered to complete this section of the brief? How will you obtain the answers to those questions?
Note: It is not expected the Problem Definition section of the paper to be complete. But it is expected the assignment shows considerable thought and critical thinking about the specific problem. This section is not about the proposed solution.