One of the most important steps in the learning process is conscious reflection on the material to which you've been exposed. As we near the end of the course, I'd like you to spend some concentrated time reflecting on what you have learned over the course of the semester. In particular, your assignment is to write a brief summary of the central lessons you've derived from PAD 680: Public Policy and how they help you understand a particular policy issue.

Pick a policy issue of your choice (e.g., forest policy, recycling, casino construction, school vouchers, etc.). It would be good to choose a policy issue that relates to your current or future work. Then, write a brief, 4-6 page double-spaced paper summarizing what you have learned in the course (e.g., stakeholder analysis, equity analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, models of public policy, incrementalism, environmental scanning) and how it applies to that particular policy issue. In your paper, reflectively summarize your intellectual, cognitive, intrapersonal, and interpersonal experiences in this Public Policy course.What have been the most important lessons?

Conclude your reflective statement with a description of how you have applied or will apply these lessons to your work. You may also wish to project forward your concerns about your future professional expectations/experiences given your experiences in the class.

For examples of this assignment, please see the material available at the Writing Memoranda page.