Everything’s Political Write a mock policy memo about a contemporary topic of interest Policy is everywhere: from the humanities to science. Even if you don’t plan on working in Washington D.C. during your career you will likely need to confront a policy issue that will effect your work. Science funding, civil rights issues, the relationships between the federal government and big business, national security implications and even just simple tax issues will inevitably become relevant to you. Often in academia you are praised for the ability to go on and on about a topic of interest. In Washington D.C. you will be fired for not getting to the point. If you are working on an issue in Washington, your superiors will often ask for your recommendation on a complex issue. It is up to you to do the research, succinctly describe the dilemma and your recommendation, and then send it in for a quick briefing by someone who has the power to implement change. Usually you are expected to send the memo ahead of time and then briefly present on the topic to answer questions. Here you will just write a mock memo on a policy issue of your choice. To complete the skill module: 1) Go read the news and find an area affected by policy that’s aligned with your interests. (Examples include stem cell research, academic funding, privacy issues, net neutrality controversies, etc.) 2) Select a government agency that makes decisions relevant to that issue (White House, Pentagon, FDA, NSF, etc.) and find a high ranking official you want to make your point to. 3) Do research on the topic to form a cohesive background and gather enough information to make an informed recommendation. 4) Write up a mock memo with your research and recommendation formatted similarly to an example I did for a policy class but feel free to find your own style of memo. 5) Send it to elainesedenberg@mail.utexas.edu for approval or contact me if you have any questions. !"#$%
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