Policy Writing and Analysis Precapstone

Harvard Extension School

GOVT E-595

Section 1

CRN 17163

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The aim of the course is to provide students with the critical and analytical skills to evaluate, design, and write a policy paper. A policy paper is a scholarly work that analyzes a relevant policy issue and provides evidence-based, actionable recommendations. Emphasis is placed on the identification of policy problems, the use of methodological tools to analyze them, and the design and presentation of potential solutions. Class meetings feature presentations of policy papers that address the students' topics of interest, discussions of research strategies employed by policy analysts, and assignments that bolster written and oral communication. Students learn about all aspects of policy paper design, including the identification of relevant data sources, techniques for analysis, and the proper method of presenting policy paper findings. Examples of policy paper topics include migration and refugee policies, social and economic inequality issues, environmental and sustainability issues, gender equality and gender-based violence issues, cyberwarfare strategies, counterterrorism strategies, and issues of international security and nuclear proliferation.

Instructor Info

Nicholas Coburn-Palo, PhD

Preceptor in Public Speaking, Harvard University


Meeting Info

M 6:00pm - 8:00pm (9/3 - 12/21)

Participation Option: Online Synchronous

Deadlines

Last day to register: August 29, 2024

Prerequisites

Registration is limited to officially admitted candidates in Master of Liberal Arts, government or international relations, who are in their penultimate semester. Prospective candidates and students with pending admission applications are not eligible. Candidates must be in good academic standing, have completed the engaging in scholarly conversation series (if required), and be in the process of successfully completing all other degree requirements. Candidates must enroll in the capstone, GOVT E-599, in the upcoming spring term as their one and only final course (no other course registration is allowed simultaneously with the capstone). Candidates who do not meet these degree requirements are dropped from the course.

Notes

This course meets via web conference. Students must attend and participate at the scheduled meeting time.

Syllabus

All Sections of this Course

CRN Section # Participation Option(s) Instructor Section Status Meets Term Dates
17163 1 Online Synchronous Nicholas Coburn-Palo Open M 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Sep 3 to Dec 21
15493 2 Online Synchronous Michael Miner Waitlisted W 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Sep 3 to Dec 21