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