Issues Assignments
Scenario:
Issues are problems that have many different components. They require examination by
stakeholders who have different expertise. Issues usually have philosophical components as well
as specific problems with measurable "facts."
Think tanks are groups that study problems from different angles and make recommendations
that have potential to reduce the impacts of these problems. In many cases, think tanks are
grounded in a specific philosophy, i.e., liberal, conservative, "children first," "labor equality,"
"minimal taxation," etc. In most cases, think tanks access information, organize it, analyze it,
and interpret it. Then they provide strategies to reach outcomes they find desirable. Different
think tanks can access the same information and reach different conclusions, in part because their
desired outcomes may be different.
In this assignment, you will be a member of a think tank that develops positions on two (2) classdetermined issues. To develop your position you will access, evaluate, organize, and analyze
information. You will demonstrate your ability to accomplish these tasks by completing
worksheets that include data-based questions, thought-provoking essay questions, and a datasupported group position (strategy). Content, presentation, and teamwork will all be considered
in the evaluation of this project. The instructor will evaluate the content and presentation of the
group submission. Teamwork will be evaluated by peers. It is the group's responsibility to set a
time frame for meeting the goals of this assignment.
Goals:
1. To answer the ten (10) data-focused worksheet questions with accurate, current,
referenced information.
2. To provide thoughtful, data-based answers to two (2) essay questions.
3. To develop a position statement with a data-supported rationale.
Procedure:
1. During the seventh week, participants will consider many issues related to world hunger
using the class bulletin board. Two of these issues will be selected for class exploration.
Think tank groups will be assigned at the end of the seventh week.
2. Class presentations for the seventh week will focus on accessing and using information
efficiently and effectively.
3. Issue 1 schedule:
1. Week 8—Groups make work assignments, develop their peer evaluation criteria,
and complete initial data searches. Initial data searches are due to instructor for
comment via WebCT e-mail on the following Monday by 10:00 AM (Subject
line: Issue 1 Data).
2. Week 9—Think tanks discuss essay questions on their bulletin boards and submit
draft answers to the instructor for comment by Thursday 10:00 AM (Subject line:
Issue 1 Discussion).
3. Week 10—Complete the issues worksheet
1. Groups revise data searches and discussion responses, if needed.
2. Groups develop and write their position papers.
3. Completed worksheets (data, discussion, and position paper responses) are
due to instructor WebCT email on Monday of week 11 by 10:00 AM
(Subject line: Issue 1 Complete).
4. Issue 2 schedule:
1. Week 11—Groups make work assignments and complete initial data searches.
Initial data searches are due to instructor for comment via WebCT e-mail on the
following Monday by 10:00 AM (Subject line: Issue 2 Data).
2. Week 12—Think tanks discuss essay questions on their bulletin boards and
submit draft answers to the instructor for comment by Thursday 10:00 AM
(Subject line: Issue 2 Discussion).
3. Week 13—Complete the issues worksheet
1. Groups revise data searches and discussion responses, if needed.
2. Groups develop and write their position papers.
3. Completed worksheets (data, discussion, and position paper responses) are
due to instructor WebCT email on Monday of week 14 by 10:00 AM
(Subject line: Issue 2 Complete).
5. Note the following general guidelines
1. Files must be in one of the following formats: .doc, .pdf, .htm, or .rtf
2. One file is submitted for the group. The instructors will use the file in the
message with the designated subject line. Use a different subject line for
intermediate versions.
6. The assignment will be evaluated using the “Rubric for Grading Issues Assignments”
with category weighting described in the “Rating Form for Issues Assignments.”
Rubric for Grading Issues Assignments
Criteria
Excellent (A)
10 points
Datafocused
questions
All questions are
answered. Answers
are authoritative,
current, and
referenced
appropriately.
Essay questions
Content
Answers to both
essay questions are
data-based. Data
sources are
authoritative and
current. Data are
used in appropriate
context.
Levels of Achievement
Good (B)
Fair (C)
8.5 points
7 points
All questions are
answered. Answers
for all except one
question are
authoritative,
current, and
referenced
appropriately.
All questions are
answered. Answers
for all except 2-3
questions are
authoritative,
current, and
referenced
appropriately.
Needs Improvement
(D, F)
0-6 points
Some questions are
not answered. Many
answers (more than
3) are not
authoritative,
current, or
referenced
appropriately.
Answers to both
The answer to one Answers to the
essay questions are essay question is
questions are not
primarily datadata-based, but the data-based or data
based. Data are
second question is sources are not
generally
not data-supported. authoritative or
authoritative and
Data are generally current. Data may
current, although
authoritative and
not be used in
some data sources current, although
appropriate context.
are not the most
some data sources
current available.
are not the most
Data are used in
current available.
appropriate context.
Presentation The essays are
The essays have all The essays have
The essays are
complete and well of the major
most of the
incomplete. Several
organized. The
components, but
components, but one components are
work has been
some parts are
component is
incomplete. The
thoroughly spellincomplete. The
missing. The
organization is
checked and
organization is
organization is
disorganized to the
proofread. Words generally good, but unclear. There is
extent that it
are chosen for their some parts seem out more than one
prevents
precise meaning.
of place. There are a spelling or
understanding of the
For the most part, few spelling and
grammatical error content. There are
sentences flow
grammatical errors. per page. Some
frequent misspelled
together to express With a few
words are used
words and serious
the intended
exceptions, words incorrectly.
grammatical errors.
meaning.
are chosen for their Sentences may not Some words are
precise meaning and flow smoothly,
sentences flow
making the reader
together to express try to determine the
the intended
intended meaning.
meaning.
used incorrectly.
Sentences may not
flow smoothly,
making the reader
try to determine the
intended meaning.
Position statement and rationale
Content
The position
The position
The position
The position
statement clearly
statement clearly
statement clearly
statement clearly
describes the think describes the think describes the think describes the think
tank's desired
tank's desired
tank's desired
tank's desired
outcome and
outcome and
outcome and
outcome and
strategy for reaching strategy for reaching strategy for reaching strategy for reaching
the desired
the desired
the desired outcome. the desired
outcome. The
outcome. The
The rationale
outcome. The
rationale includes rationale includes includes answers to rationale includes
answers to most of answers to most of most of the
answers to fewer
the following
the following
following questions than 6 questions.
questions. Specific, questions (at least (at least 6). Specific, Specific, relevant
relevant examples 6). Specific,
relevant examples examples are not
are provided to
relevant examples are not provided to provided to
illustrate points.
are provided to
illustrate points.
illustrate points.
illustrate points.
 What are the
 What are the
 What are the
specific
 What are the
specific
specific
problems
specific
problems
problems
associated
problems
associated
associated
with the
associated
with the
with the
issue?
with the
issue?
issue?
 What are the
issue?
 What are the
 What are the
primary
 What are the
primary
primary
causal
primary
causal
causal
elements?
causal
elements?
elements?
 What
elements?
 What
 What
program(s)
 What
program(s)
program(s)
are currently
program(s)
are currently
are currently
in place to
are currently
in place to
in place to
alleviate the
in place to
alleviate the
alleviate the
problem(s)?
alleviate the
problem(s)?
problem(s)?
 Are these
problem(s)?
 Are these
 Are these
program(s)
 Are these
program(s)
program(s)
sufficient? If
program(s)
sufficient? If
sufficient? If
not, why
sufficient? If
not, why
not, why
not? If not,
not, why
not? If not,
not? If not,
what
not? If not,
what
what




alternatives
are
recommende
d?
What
partnerships
and
resources are
needed for
the
program(s)
to work
effectively?
What are the
short-term
benefits of
the
recommende
d
program(s)?
What are the
long-term
benefits of
the
recommende
d
program(s)?
Will any
groups be
disadvantage
d by the
implementat
ion of the
recommende
d
program(s)?
If so, how
will their
needs be
addressed?
Why are the
recommende
d program(s)
selected over
other




what
alternatives
are
recommende
d?
What
partnerships
and
resources are
needed for
the
program(s)
to work
effectively?
What are the
short-term
benefits of
the
recommende
d
program(s)?
What are the
long-term
benefits of
the
recommende
d
program(s)?
Will any
groups be
disadvantage
d by the
implementati
on of the
recommende
d
program(s)?
If so, how
will their
needs be
addressed?
Why are the
recommende
d program(s)
selected over
other




alternatives
are
recommende
d?
What
partnerships
and
resources are
needed for
the
program(s)
to work
effectively?
What are the
short-term
benefits of
the
recommende
d
program(s)?
What are the
long-term
benefits of
the
recommende
d
program(s)?
Will any
groups be
disadvantage
d by the
implementati
on of the
recommende
d
program(s)?
If so, how
will their
needs be
addressed?
Why are the
recommende
d program(s)
selected over
other




alternatives
are
recommende
d?
What
partnerships
and
resources are
needed for
the
program(s)
to work
effectively?
What are the
short-term
benefits of
the
recommende
d
program(s)?
What are the
long-term
benefits of
the
recommende
d
program(s)?
Will any
groups be
disadvantage
d by the
implementati
on of the
recommende
d
program(s)?
If so, how
will their
needs be
addressed?
Why are the
recommende
d program(s)
selected over
other
programs?
programs?
programs?
Presentation The position
statement and
rationale are
complete and well
organized. The
work has been
thoroughly spellchecked and
proofread. Words
are chosen for their
precise meaning.
For the most part,
sentences flow
together to express
the intended
meaning.
The position
The position
statement and
statement and
rationale have all of rationale have most
the major
of the components,
components, but
but one component
some parts are
is missing. The
incomplete. The
organization is
organization is
unclear. There is
generally good, but more than one
some parts seem out spelling or
of place. There are a grammatical error
few spelling and
per page. Some
grammatical errors. words are used
With a few
incorrectly.
exceptions, words Sentences may not
are chosen for their flow smoothly,
precise meaning and making the reader
sentences flow
try to determine the
together to express intended meaning.
the intended
meaning.
Referencing All sources are
clearly referenced
with appropriate intext citations. A
complete
bibliography is
furnished. Citations
follow the APA
format.
All sources are
clearly referenced
with appropriate intext citations. A
complete
bibliography is
furnished. Citations
generally follow the
APA format, but
there are minor
errors that would
not keep the reader
from finding the
source..
Assignment The group meets all
requirements assignment
and
requirements and
deadlines
deadlines.
programs?
The position
statement and
rationale are
incomplete. Several
components are
incomplete. The
organization is
disorganized to the
extent that it
prevents
understanding of the
content. There are
frequent misspelled
words and serious
grammatical errors.
Some words are
used incorrectly.
Sentences may not
flow smoothly,
making the reader
try to determine the
intended meaning.
All sources are
The assignment is
clearly referenced incompletely
with appropriate in- referenced.
text citations. A
complete
bibliography is
furnished. Citation
errors would keep
the reader from
finding the
reference sources.
The group does not
meet all assignment
requirements and
deadlines.
Peer
evaluation
Peer evaluation will be completed by group members.
Rating Form for Issues Assignments
Criteria
Datafocused
questions
Points
All questions are answered. Answers are authoritative, current, and
referenced appropriately.
Points: _____ x 5
Comments:
Essay questions
Content
Answers to both essay questions are data-based. Data sources are
authoritative and current. Data are used in appropriate context.
Rating: _____ x 3
Comments:
Presentation The essays are complete and well organized. The work has been
thoroughly spell-checked and proofread. Words are chosen for their
precise meaning. For the most part, sentences flow together to express
the intended meaning.
Rating: _____ x 1
Comments:
Position statement and rationale
Content
The position statement clearly describes the think tank's desired outcome
and strategy for reaching the desired outcome. The rationale includes
answers to most of the following questions. Specific, relevant examples
are provided to illustrate points.







What are the specific problems associated with the issue?
What are the primary causal elements?
What program(s) are currently in place to alleviate the
problem(s)?
Are these program(s) sufficient? If not, why not? If not, what
alternatives are recommended?
What partnerships and resources are needed for the program(s) to
work effectively?
What are the short-term benefits of the recommended
program(s)? What are the long-term benefits of the
recommended program(s)?
Will any groups be disadvantaged by the implementation of the
recommended program(s)? If so, how will their needs be
addressed?

Why are the recommended program(s) selected over other
programs?
Rating: _____ x 3
Comments:
Presentation The position statement and rationale are complete and well organized.
The work has been thoroughly spell-checked and proofread. Words are
chosen for their precise meaning. For the most part, sentences flow
together to express the intended meaning.
Rating: _____ x 1
Comments:
Referencing All sources are clearly referenced with appropriate in-text citations. A
complete bibliography is furnished. Citations follow the APA format.
Rating: _____ x 3
Comments:
Assignment The group meets all assignment requirements and deadlines.
requirements Rating: _____ x 2
and
Comments:
deadlines
Peer
evaluation
Rating: _____ x 2
Comments:
Total points