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Assignment

Policy Brief

5-8 pages policy brief + 5min pitch + 5min Q&A: Students must research and watch a video of how to do a policy brief pitch.

  • Write a total 5-8 pages (single-spaced, 12 Times New Roman, two-column style with a cover page) policy brief on one of the following topics
  • APA citation style: In-text citations and the “works cited” page citations must be correctly formatted. Although policy briefs would not have as many in-text citations, yours should follow normal academic paper guidelines and include in-text citations as well as works cited page. ALL your sources must be scholarly sources.

1. US Foreign Policy on Terrorism:

  • You are an adviser to the US President
  • Your task is to write a policy brief to the President on what course of action US should take in the face of ISIS activity in the ME and in the US
  • Brief the President on what ISIS is: its origins, goals, make-up, strengths and weaknesses, and how much of a threat it poses to whom
  • You will need to include who chooses to join ISIS and why, and how the roots of the problem can be eliminated
  • Outline 3 alternative policies/courses of action
  • Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each policy
  • Discuss which policy you recommend and why

2. US-Iran Nuclear Controversy: 

  • You are an Iranian policy analyst and an advisor to the Iranian President
  • Your task is to write a policy brief to Iranian President on what course of action Iran should take in the face of this controversy
  • Brief the President on the current situation (and its history as relevant)
  • Outline 3 alternative policies/courses of action
  • Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each policy
  • Discuss which policy you recommend and why

3. Israel-Palestine Controversy:

  • You are a Palestinian policy analyst and an advisor to the Palestinian Authority
  • Your task is to write a policy brief to the Palestinian President on what course of action Palestine should take in the face of the ongoing controversy with Israel
  • Brief the President on the current situation (and its history as relevant)
  • Outline 3 alternative policies/courses of action
  • Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each policy
  • Discuss which policy you recommend and why

4. Syrian Uprising:

  • You are a Syrian policy analyst and an advisor to Syrian President
  • Your task is to write a policy brief to Syrian President on what course of action Syria should take in the face of current events in Syria
  • Brief the President on the current situation (and its history as relevant)
  • Outline (at least) 3 alternative policies/courses of action
  • Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each policy
  • Discuss which policy you recommend and why

5. Democratization and Political Instability in Egypt:

  • You are a policy analyst and an advisor to the US President
  • Your task is to write a policy brief informing the President on what stance the US should take in the face of current events in Egypt
  • Brief the President on the current situation (and its history as relevant)
  • Outline 3 alternative policies/courses of action
  • Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each policy
  • Discuss which policy you recommend and why

6. Political Turmoil in Iraq:

  • You are a policy analyst and an advisor to the US President
  • Your task is to write a policy brief to the President on what course of action the US should take in the face of current events in Iraq
  • Brief the President on the current situation (and its history as relevant)
  • Outline 3 alternative policies/courses of action
  • Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each policy
  • Discuss which policy you recommend and why

Policy Brief example

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New York Times - Middle East Articles

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