Abstract: The abstract is the paper in microcosm. It should contain the thesis and the best synopsis of the arguments you can manage within the word limit.

Introduction: Every paper needs some sort of introduction to prepare the reader for what follows. A good introduction will state the paper's thesis or the question it is supposed to investigate. Since this is a policy paper, it follows that the thesis will be your policy recommendation. Your introduction should also describe the plan of the paper so as to provide a kind of road map for the reader.

Research: I am looking for clear evidence that you have found and made use of the best available source material. "Best available" means different things in different circumstances. Primary or original sources are excellent. Primary sources are the creations of individuals or groups involved in the policy process. Examples would include the testimony of witnesses at Congressional hearings, the reports of Congressional committees, the speeches of political actors, the press releases and web sites of interest groups. Secondary sources vary widely in quality. Scholarly books and articles in scholarly journals are excellent sources when they are available. Real scholarship is characterized by a serious effort to document sources and methods of investigation. It will have citations or notes and a bibliography. Real scholarship has often been reviewed prior to publication by experts in the employ of a scholarly journal or publishing company. Journalistic sources are of lower quality and should be avoided unless they are literally the "best available." Journalists work on tight deadlines, get most of their information informally, and rarely tell you where they got it. Internet sources deserve a special word of warning. The Internet is exploding with information: there are more than 10,000 new web sites per day. Much of what is becoming available on line qualifies as primary or original sources. Examples include Supreme Court decisions from the Supreme Court and Congressional documents from the Library of Congress. On the other hand, much of what is available is garbage. Consider that scholarly books and articles have been reviewed by experts prior to publication as well as by editors employed by the publisher. Even popular newspapers and magazines contain information that has been subjected to a modicum of checking for accuracy and balance. "Information" appears on the Internet without any guarantee of accuracy beyond the professional reputation of the individual or organization that posted it. This places an enhanced responsibility on you to determine the reliability of your sources. Don't be duped into representing somebody's misinformation or propaganda as fact.

Argument: A really persuasive argument requires at least three things:

Prose: I am looking for effective use of the language. That means, at the least, clear organization, effective use of subheadings and paragraphs to orient the reader, good transitions from one part of the text to the next, a conclusion that is both substantive and relevant, and sound grammar, punctuation, spelling and usage.

Documentation: Documentation as to source is required for all direct quotations and specific facts beyond the realm of common knowledge. Except when your reference is to a book or article generally, that documentation must lead the reader to the specific page on which you found the quotation or facts cited. Documentation is important for both ethical and practical reasons. Ethically, documentation gives credit where credit is due. Practically, documentation enhances the credibility of your work by demonstrating its reliance on and relationship with credible sources of information. I expect you to use parenthetical citations consistent with one of the three styles of documentation approved for this course. See the three approved styles for documentation. See also samples of Internet citations in each of the three approved styles.

Editing and Rewriting: You will have a period of time in which to rework your paper prior to handing it in for a final evaluation. You may make as many or as few changes as you wish, but logic and self-interest should suggest a serious effort to come to grips with all the comments, criticisms, and suggestions attached to your penultimate draft. As a practical matter, doing a good job of making technical corrections will preserve your original grade; making substantial improvements will raise it.

IMPORTANT DETAILS: