M4 | Propose Project Topic with Current Event
Overview
Now it’s time to pick your policy and explain it to you instructor with a current event.
Set yourself up for success
Your issue must have reasonable arguments on both sides. You need controversy. This project culminates with each student writing and recording a persuasive policy speech. Choose a policy that demands persuasion. In other words, pick something about which not all state residents and policymakers (governors and legislators) don’t agree.
Find one news article (not a journal or a blog- find a source on a news site) about this problem or policy from the past 5 years. Give a full citation. Link the URL as a text comment. Note: state news outlets are often best. Check for something with the name of the big city (or cities in a big state). Kaiser Health News does carry stories from these sites. Resources for finding an article.
Your policy must meet one of the following criteria:
• A policy that is currently under discussion in your state but not voted on yet.
• A policy that was proposed in your state but failed to be passed/signed or never got to a vote
• A policy from another state that you want to propose for your state.
• You could propose REPEALING an existing policy in your state.
• You could also propose REPLACING an existing policy with your version
Description and Directions
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Provide an outline of your information (numbered list okay)
1. What is your state?
2. What is the problem or gap you will address?
3. What is your policy? Be specific (e.g., SB 402 (2019) from State X in your chosen state or HB 14 which has been proposed in your state or eas proposed in 2020 but never votes on or did not pass). Your policy must meet one of the following criteria:
o A policy that is currently under discussion in your state but not voted on yet.
o A policy that was proposed in your state but failed to be passed/signed or never got to a vote
o A policy from another state that you want to propose for your state.
o You could propose REPEALING an existing policy in your state.
o You could also propose REPLACING an existing policy with your version
4. What is the mechanism or type of policy? Pick one: funding, prohibition, regulation, taxation, provision of services.
5. Identify 1 reason to support the policy and 1 to oppose it. Target arguments about access, quality, the cost to payors (employers and insurance companies), the costs to government/taxpayers, the cost to individuals, the cost to providers, equity, or population health. Give enough detail for the listener to understand your reasoning. See the example below for the level of detail expected. You do not need evidence or citations.
Integrate your current event
1. Give a full citation with URL.
2. Give a 3 sentence summary of the article (if you can’t come up with 3 sentences, the article is too short).
3. Explain how your current event related to your policy in about 6 sentences.
Resources
Page of resources to find news articles
(Links to an external site.)
Rubric
Propose policy with current event
Propose policy with current event
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIdentified state and disparity/gap 1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIdentified policy
A policy that was proposed in your state but failed to be passed/signed or never got to a vote
A policy from another state that you want to propose for your state.
You could propose REPEALING an existing policy in your state.
You could also propose REPLACING an existing policy with your version 2 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMechanism
Pick one: funding, prohibition, regulation, taxation, provision of services. 1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReasons to support + oppose
Identify 1 reason to support the policy and one to oppose it. Target arguments about access, quality, the cost to payors (employers and insurance companies), the costs to government/taxpayers, the cost to individuals, the cost to providers, equity, or population health. Give enough detail for the listener to understand your reasoning. See the example below for the level of detail expected. You do not need evidence or citations. 2 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePost the policy 1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePost a news article
Find one news article (not a journal or a blog- find a source on a news site) about this problem or policy from the past 5 years. Give a full citation. Link the URL as a text comment. Note: state news outlets are often best. Check for something with the name of the big city (or cities in a big state). Kaiser Health News does carry stories from these sites. 1 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeExplained or related current even to chosen policy 2 pts
Total Points: 10