rules

There will be three reports on different phases of the policy process. Each student will choose one policy case and report on the politics of that case with reference to (1) the policy "problem" and solutions, (2) deliberation and decision on the policy, and (3) implementation and evaluation of the policy. These reports will be submitted via the Digital Drop Box and will be posted under Course Documents where they will be available to all class participants for discussion and, especially, for use in writing the final essay on Kingdon's book. Each of the three reports is worth up to 12% of the final course grade. Examples of possible policy topics and some guidelines are given on another webpage.

There will be four Blackboard tests composed of multiple choice and similar such items which test comprehension and retention of materials from the Anderson text and my webpage materials. Each of these four tests is worth up 9% of the final course grade.

For the final, students will be asked to write a critical essay on Agendas, alternatives, and public policies in which they will assess whether Kingdon's interpretation of the public policy process is supported by the case studies prepared by students for this class. I expect each student will rely heavily on his or her own case, but high marks on the essay will require students to draw on the findings of their classmates' reports. The Kingdon essay, which is worth 20% of the final course grade, will be due officially on the day identified as finals day (F 1 July) but can be submitted without penalty as late as 9 am on Monday 4 July.

Students will also be graded on the basis of their contributions to the class in the form of participation in Discussion Board forums. The participation score, which will also be affected by the degree to which students make the learning process a pleasant and effective one, is worth 8% of the final course grade.

To summarize--

Due dates are shown on the schedule page.

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