HLST 3120 health policy II: analyzing processes of power and politics Guidelines: Policy Brief Due: December 2, 2019 Worth: 25% For your final assignment you will write a health policy brief. Chose a...

HLST 3120 health policy II: analyzing processes of power and politics Guidelines: Policy Brief Due: December 2, 2019 Worth: 25% For your final assignment you will write a health policy brief. Chose a municipal, provincial or federal policy area of interest. Imagine you are a policy analyst that has been asked to prepare materials for a city councilor, member of the legislative assembly or a member of parliament on your topic of interest. Your policy issue can be framed as a question. For example: “How can the city of Toronto reduce gun violence?” Or, “What is the best way to provide health services to new immigrants in Ontario?” Or “What is needed to ensure a housing first approach for mental health across Canada?” A policy brief is a succinct summary of a policy question or issue that is meant to: 1) Give an overview of the current state of the evidence related to the issue (e.g., what do we currently know about the prevalence of gun violence in the city of Toronto?) 2) Discuss the equity dimensions of the issue (are some communities impacted more by the problem than others, and in what ways?) 3) What are the current policy approaches to the issue presented? 4) How can the policy response be strengthened? What are your policy recommendations as these relate to the evidence surrounding the issue you are presenting? Your policy brief should be no more than 1000 words. Your policy brief should also contain relevant scholarly references and can include other forms of evidence (e.g., community-based research reports). TIPS FOR WRITNG A POLICY BRIEF For tips on writing a policy brief consult the following websites: https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Poli Formatting requirements: • Make sure you have a thesis statement • Include an executive summary • Use subheadings • All papers must be submitted to TURNITIN. Instructions on how to do this will be given during the class • Title page with the following 1) title of the paper; 2) your full name and student number; 3) instructor name; 4) course title; 5) date of submission; 6) word count • 12 point font • Single or Double spaced • 1 inch margins • Spell-checked ESSAYS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO THESE GUIDELINES WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOSE 5 MARKS Marking system for policy briefs: 1. Style (5 marks) 1. Writing style: ➢ Fluent writing, sentence structure, syntax ➢ Awkward writing, diction, idiom 2. Grammar/spelling ➢ Good ➢ Weak 3. Length ➢ Suggested ➢ Under (more than 500 words less than required) 4. Readability ➢ Clear ➢ Difficult to follow 5. Reference style ➢ Correct use of APA or other recognized reference style ➢ Incorrect use of APA or other recognized reference style 2. Organization (5 marks) 1. Paragraph structure ➢ Coherent construction, logical progression ➢ Incoherent, doesn’t finish thoughts in paragraph 2. Development of argument ➢ Argument logically developed ➢ Lacks continuity, clarity, unity, flow 3. References ➢ References properly inserted in text to support points made 3. Originality of thinking (5 marks) 1. Overall analysis of issue ➢ Goes beyond simple presentation of material to synthesizing what has been presented ➢ Simply repeats conclusions of others 2. Integration of source material ➢ Integrates source material into coherent whole ➢ Source material presented as isolated facts 4. Content (10 marks) 1. Acknowledgement of sources ➢ Adequate acknowledgement of sources ➢ Inadequate acknowledgement of sources 2. Use of secondary sources ➢ Secondary material from multiple sources (books, journals, web sites) ➢ Secondary material from single source 3. Examination of topic ➢ Amount of content permits in depth examination of topic ➢ Amount of content permits superficial examination of topic REFERENCING STYLE Any recognized referencing style is acceptable so long as it is used consistently. If you are not familiar with a referencing style, please see a librarian. Failure to use a recognized referencing style will mean the automatic loss of 5 marks on any assignment.