1 SOSS1000 Policy and Society – Term 1 2022 Assessment 3: Major Essay Questions Answer one of these questions: 1. Joshua Newman (2017: 1108) observes that for many scholars of evidence-based policy, ‘Research evidence is just one influence on a complicated decision-making process, and not necessarily the most important one, either’. Use one of the policy issues presented in weeks 8-10 (a. drug harm minimisation, b. gendered violence, or c. poverty and welfare) as the case study for your essay. To what extent can the policy process be described as evidence-based, in your chosen policy area In what circumstances has research been utilised by decision- makers, and why 2. McClelland and Smyth (2014, 43) remark that in the agenda-setting stage, ‘[h]ow the problem or issue is understood has a large impact on the kind of options considered for adoption in the policy analysis and decision stages’. Use one of the policy issues presented in weeks 8-10 (a. drug harm minimisation, b. gendered violence, or c. poverty and welfare) as the case study for your essay. How is the ‘problem’ in your chosen area understood by the different policy actors What impact has this understanding had on the way in which the problem has reached the policy agenda, and been addressed by the government Tip: to answer these essay questions, you will need to briefly outline a specific policy issue and jurisdiction, from the broader case study – for example, NSW policy in relation to safe injecting rooms in the context of drug harm minimisation. Then you will need to discuss (or analyse, or critically evaluate) that issue in relation to the theory that is referred to in the question (evidence-based policy or agenda-setting and problem definition). The word limit for this major essay is 2,000 words (+/- 10%). Sample essay structure: Your essay may be structured in various ways. A useful essay structure that you might like to follow is: 1. Provide the question you are answering so the examiner knows which question you are responding to. This is essential. 2. Introduction, approximately 200-300 words. The introduction should provide an overview of the entire argument, in a very brief form. Importantly, it should also tell the reader what you conclude. For example, the final sentence might read ‘Finally, I conc
lude that Mill’s work remains highly relevant in Australia today’. 3. The argument in paragraphs, approximately 1600 words (total, points 4 – 6 below shows how we suggest you divide it up). 4. Start with an overview of the case study you have chosen, 600 words. Situate the essay by outlining the case study or your fieldwork. What are the facts of the issue If the case study is school attendance among migrant communities, what does the data tell us If you saw a refugee group speak at the City of Sydney, what issues did they 2 raise and how did they conduct themselves This part of the essay will often be written with reference to the ‘grey literature’, for example, government and NGO reports. You may also like to call on literature about fieldwork methods and what can be learnt about being in the field. 5. Move on to the theory, 200 words. Introduce the theoretical aspect briefly, ie either evidence-based policy or ideology and policy. 6. Link the case study and the theory, 800 words. What does one tell us about the other It is this part of the essay that makes it more challenging than the first essay for the course. You are linking theory and real-life events. 7. A conclusion, 200 words. The conclusion rounds out the essay. It does not offer new argument, but briefly sums up the key points. 8. A reference list. This is not included in the word count and should include all works cited in the body of the essay. An essay of this length is likely to have between 8 and 15 references. The more references you use the clearer it is to the examiner that you have research the essay and that you have not plagiarised. A few extra tips: 1. This is still quite a short essay. You will only have space to make a small number of points. In an essay of 2,000 words it is better to choose three or four main points and argue them – with reference to the evidence. 2. References are absolutely essential. If you submit an essay without references you may be referred to the academic integrity team. 3. Key your language clear and simple. Avoid using words that you are not confident in using. It is better to make a clear argument using straightforward language, than to misuse words. 4. Editing is a very important part of the writing process. Start your essay early and leave yourself lots of time to edit the final product.