1. Writing the Term Paper - 1 DON’T TAKE NOTES! ALL THAT FOLLOWS IS IN THE COURSE MATERIALS! As you write the final term paper, it would be useful to keep the following points in mind: 1. START EARLY!! “All nighters” don’t produce the best papers. 2. READ THE SAMPLE TERM PAPER (PAGES 42-62 OF THE SYLLABUS) THOROUGHLY BEFORE WRITING YOUR PAPER.

2. Writing the Term Paper - 2 3. Do NOT advocate a particular policy or make “value judgments.” Remember, you’re an analyst, NOT an advocate. 4. Do NOT make statements that imply there is only one correct viewpoint (e.g., do NOT say something such as “any rational educated mind …”). 5. Do NOT use the first person or offer opinions (i.e., do NOT say “I think that …” or “I feel that”).

3. Writing the Term Paper - 3 6. Make sure your paper meets the following “basic” requirements: (a) it begins with an “Executive Summary”; (b) it compares two, or more, policies/proposals on four different criteria;

4. Writing the Term Paper - 4 (c) it uses at least four of the policy analysis concepts; and (d) it contains both Appendices A and B. 7. Email the paper to me by the time of the class period in which it is due. Later on the same day the paper is due counts as one day late.

5. Writing the Term Paper - 5 Just to make sure you have access to the paper in the future (e.g., to apply to a graduate program and/or employment), I’ll have electronic copies at home and in the political science department office.