Choose a pressing global issue you are passionate about- that matters to you. When writing on a topic you are passionate about, your personality and voice are more likely to be on display. Follow this idea when choosing the subject of your essay /policy memo. When you are interested in the topic, you will write with more conviction, clarity and expertise Examples include: human rights violations, child labor, hunger and poverty, gender discrimination, climate change, genocide, Ethnic and civil strife, refugee crises, global inequality, trade imbalances • Ensure your topic is manageable within the scope of at least seven pages and allows for detailed analysis. ➢ Analyze the Global Issue Define the issue: why it matters (significance in international relations), what it is, where it occurs, why it happens, when it became relevant, who is affected Provide a brief history and explain the global impact. Examine current policies addressing the issue and their shortcomings. ➢ Apply IR Theories and Other Frameworks Use at least three International Relations theories Incorporate one foreign policy model to analyze the issue. Discuss how these frameworks explain the problem and guide policy solutions.
➢ Identify Key Stakeholders Focus on international actors, organizations, and stakeholders involved in the issue ➢ Media and Public Opinion Assess how global issue has been framed by media. Are there biases in the coverage? Has public opinion been swayed by media representation? Reflect on how media coverage might impact the success of your proposed policy. ➢ Propose Policy Recommendations Provide creative and actionable solutions /policies (at least two) based on your research: o Explain how your recommendations improve on current policies. o Connect the background with your evidence and proposed action. o Highlight why they are achievable and sustainable. Address potential counterarguments and challenges to your recommendations (counter-arguments against your position (as well as a rebuttal to these counter-arguments) ➢ Provide Conclusion that ties back to the thesis and reflect on the lear
Then add “end reflection” (separate page-one paragraph at least)
Reflect on how working on the essay expanded, challenged, or reaffirmed your understanding of the topic under the examination, what college level skills you had to utilize to complete the essay, why you think is important to add evidences when writing essays? What are the lessons in studying International Relations? Has your perspective changed in any way from the start of the project (assumptions you had initially) through the end of the project? How can you raise awareness about it and influence decision makers-how will you take this learning and stay an informed citizen /voter? What are the lessons of IR that helped you navigate this global issue? What have you learned from this exercise -how what you have done connects to our class?
