Specific Requirements (8 – 10 pages: 10 maximum, excluding bibliography and figure):
1.    History and background (1 – 2 pages)
o    Describe the social problem that this policy was meant to address
o    Describe the stated policy goals (explicit goals) and any implicit or unwritten goals
o    Very briefly provide some history of the social policy
♣    When was it enacted, who signed it into law
♣    Who sponsored it and who supported it
♣    Who was against it – was it controversial?

2.    Structure and design of the program (2 – 3 pages)
o    Describe the policy/program using the dimensions of choice model from Gilbert & Terrell. Make sure to use the terms that we discussed to describe social welfare programs (cash, in-kind, vouchers, means-tested, universal, social assistance, social insurance, entitlement program)
♣    What is the basis of allocation (who gets benefits)
♣    What are the benefits
♣    How are benefits delivered
♣    How is program financed
o    What are expenditures on the program
o    How many people receive services through this program
o    Variation by state/locality (if any)
♣    Describe the program in your state (if it differs from the federal policy)
o    Any new developments or recently debated points

3.    Analyze this policy within the frameworks we discussed previously (2 – 3 pages)
o    How does it fit w/American values about social welfare policies? How is this policy framed to make it appealing to American values?
o    How does it address or not address the conundrums inherent in all social welfare policies?
o    How does it fit w/in perspectives on the causes of need in our society?
o    How does it fit within the individualist vs. community perspectives on social welfare policies?
o    Who supports this policy? Who might be against it?

4.    Is the program effective (2 – 3 pages)
o    What has research found about the effects of this program?
♣    Address the explicit goals, implicit goals, and any unexpected consequences
o    What are the critiques of the program?
♣    Are the critiques based on research or ideological differences?
o    What recommendations have been made to improve the program?
♣    You may also provide your own ideas about how this program may be improved (this is the only place where you could use first person ‘I’.)

5.    References (not included in page count)
o    Use at least 10 sources (you may include readings from the syllabus)
o    You must use peer reviewed sources
o    Follow the instructions for all written assignments regarding proper citations and references

6.    Figure (not included in page count)
o    Paper must include a figure (chart, graph, or map) that illustrates one of the required elements above
o    Examples
♣    Figure could be used to show extent of the social problem the policy was enacted to address. e.g.: map of the US showing percent of children in each state living in poverty.
♣    Figure could be used to show how the program has changed over time, or how many different types of individuals the program serves. e.g.: chart showing increase in expenditures on the program between its inception and today.
o    Figure should come from a reputable source: gov’t, think tank, or research org. website, or a reading, etc. (you should not create the figure yourself)
♣    Make sure to correctly cite the source
o    Figure should be called Figure 1 with an appropriate title (e.g. Figure 1: Proportion of Children Living in Poverty by State).
o    You must refer to the figure in the text to illustrate a specific point (e.g. “Figure 1 shows….”).
o    Figure should be copied into a word document and added to the paper after the bibliography, and is not included in the page count