Describe the problem or issue with which your Final Memo addresses.

FINAL MEMO INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Page Maximum: The Final Memo will consist of a max of 5 pages of text single-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman). The memo will be on a current, or recent, policy issue of your choosing. If you have any graphics or tables they must be included within
that five-page maximum. You must include a Works Cited section, which can go onto a 6th page/6th side, if needed.

Required Memo Contents: The memo must contain 5 sections, with the headings indicated below, which you will write and provide in the following order [do NOT number them because that looks less professional]:

1. Nature of the Issue/Problem
Here, you describe the problem or issue with which your Final Memo addresses. You should mention here that it has
been grabbing media attention or governmental attention or has been triggered by some event – whatever the case
may be for your issue/problem.

2. History of the Issue/Problem.
This will include past legislation or past programs that have been implemented by the governmental levels you are
researching [national, state, local – or all three, depending on how your frame of reference.

3. Where Things Stand Now in Addressing the Issue/Problem
Here, you will discuss what is working and what is not working or not being addressed per current policies or programs.

4. Possible Policy Alternatives.
These will likely be a mix of alternatives that have already been suggested or proposed by members of that policy
community and your own carefully considered policy alternatives. You must briefly touch on some pros and cons.

5. Recommendations.
These are your recommendations based on your research and consideration of the alternatives you discussed and what
you believe is feasible from a political, technical, and/or financial standpoint.

Citations
In Text and Works Cited – How to do the In-Text Citations and the Works Cited Page?
You must provide both in-text citations and a works cited section. In-text citations are required for quotes
and any data or knowledge from another source or data that is not commonly known. Here are examples
of how to do in-text citations.

Yada yada yada yada 56% of smokers yada (Kingdon, 34).
“Yada yada yada yada,” (Epstein, 135).
Note: Keep quotes to no more than 15 words – no long quotes.

Here is an example of a how to provide a source for the Works Cited page if you use APA citation format.
You may use APA, MLA, or Chicago Style, etc. format for in-text and works cited citations. Just make
sure that you follow the rules and that you are consistent. Purdue OWLLinks to an external site. is a good website [from Purdue
University] that explains in clear detail how to do citations in the different formats.

Kingdon, J. W. (2011). Agendas, alternatives, and public policies, updated second edition. New
York: Longman.

Do NOT use Wikipedia as a source and do not cite it or include it in your Works Cited.

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