1. Research Paper: Choose a policy problem
Examples: crime, pollution, poverty, traffic, day care, discrimination, morality issues, declining quality of education, drug abuse, the national debt, terrorism, access to health care, etc.
Don’t choose a policy (i.e. national health care legislation, death penalty, etc.)

2. From there Discuss the following
Definition of the Problem: society, personal, media, etc.
Literature Review: previous studies
Policy History: past policies
Qualitative Research: interviews
Conclusion: summary, policy recommendations

3. Social Problem: Local Teen Pregnancy
Department of Political Science
Kenneth E. Fernandez

4. Definition of the Policy Problem
1. How does society view this policy issue? (general public opinion/media)
2. How do you view this policy issue?
3. How does the academic community see this problem?
4. What’s the scope of this problem? Is this an international, federal, state or local problem (or all of the above)

5. Example: Definition of the Problem
How society sees the problem:
Socioeconomic problem
Moral Problem
Health Problem
How I see the problem
Quality of Life Issue

6. Academic Perspective

7. The Literature Review
The formal literature review is a very specific piece of writing designed to:
inform your readers of your topic
establish your credibility as a researcher
argue the need for, and relevance of, your work 

8. Writing your Literature Review
Writing a good review requires you to:
read a few good reviews
develop a structure
write purposefully (rather than randomly)
use the literature to back up your arguments (especially in your conclusion)

9. Academic Sources
Your literature review section should use only academic sources.
What is an academic source?
You can use anything else in any other section (Time magazine, internet source, newspaper, etc.), but in the literature review section use only academic sources.

10. Use Correct Citation Style
Use APSA citations style
Don’t use titles or authors’ full name in text (only in bibliography).
Look at academic articles in journals like American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, Political Research Quarterly, etc.

11. Example: Pape (2003)

12. Teen Pregnancy Example
What does the literature say about?:
Causes: Why don’t teens use contraception?
Causes: What Factors are associated with Teen Pregnancy?
Parents Married/Unmarried
Lived in same home since age 6
Family Income
Race / Culture
Solutions: Contraceptive use v. abstinence

13. Policy History What has been considered What has been Implemented
rejected

14. Teen Pregnancy Policy History Examples
Increased Information
In-School presentations (school board decisions)
Advertisement (state & county public health dept. programs)
Promoting Family Values (Federal Govt./Private Sector)
Increased access to services (Planned Parenthood/State & County Public Health Department)
New Technology (RU-486; emergency contraception)

15. Qualitative Research
Identify the local experts and political actors that are addressing this issue
Interview at least 2 policy experts
What is an expert?
If in doubt me who you will interview

16. Conclusion: What caused this problem?
What should be done about it (what policies should be adopted)?
How would one begin to accomplish this (policy implementation)?
Back up with evidence from lit review and what the policy experts you identified said

17. Example Causes: Two parents working (less supervision)
Mixed messages – elites saying sex is bad, media – sex is good
Lack of access to birth control.
Alcohol and drugs.
Culture/Race/Religion

18. Recommendations
High-risk vs. low risk / Street contact vs. School contact
After-care referrals
Access to emergency contraception
Access to information
Limitations?

19. The End
I hope this presentation gives you some ideas on how to approach your problem and how to organize your paper.
Of course it pretty easy to sit here and talk about a problem and have some bullet points. The tough part is to write up a well-organized, well-researched, paper that articulates all the points discussed above.
Start early. If writing isn’t your strong point get help.