Term Paper (20%)
Each student will select a public administration topic covered in the course that fits her/his
research interests. An in-depth analysis of the topic will result in a research paper 5-6 pages in length, one-inch margins on all sides, double-spaced, Times New Roman, Calibri, or Garamond font (size 12). You must use either MLA or APA citation style. Your references page(s) do not count toward the number of pages in your term paper.
TIPS ON FORMULATING YOUR TERM PAPER TOPIC
To perform your analysis, the weekly readings will serve as a point of departure. Your term paper should not be a summary of the reading. Rather, the student should find a theme or important question in the readings as a basis for the term paper and utilize at least three additional sources to construct an argument about a particular topic of your choosing. Citations must follow APA or MLA format. Stick with academic journals and academic texts for your citations.
Students are required to have their topic and the direction of their paper approved by the instructor in advance by giving me a one-page prospectus of your topic, the problem you want to address, and the sources you intend to use by Week 4 (posted in Week 5). If you do not obtain approval, not only will points be deducted from your final term paper, but if the instructor finds your theme or research question inadequate, you will receive a low grade on the paper.
For example, if you are interested in managing human resources and select Chapter 3 as the basis for your topic paper, you would read Chapter 3 in advance, brainstorm topics, and obtain feedback from the instructor prior to writing and submitting your paper.
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  STRATEGY FOR FORMULATING AN ARGUMENT IN YOUR TERM PAPER
A brief summary of the issue you are targeting
o What is the issue/concern/problem?
o Whyisthisapublicadministrationproblem?
An explanation why this issue is significant in public administration today.
o Whoarethekeystakeholders?
o Whatarethecompetinginterests?
o Whatchallengesdoyouseeinsolvingthispublicadministrationproblem?
Based on your research, make a recommendation?
o You need to learn to use reputable academic journals to make your
recommendations. You may include relevant personal experiences (i.e., job or military) but you must carefully explain how they fit.