PAM 1500

FWS: Reading and Writing in Public Policy

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2022-2023.

In this class, we will discuss how public policies can be understood and evaluated through clear, evidence-based writing. Assigned reading will focus on poverty alleviation in developing countries with the assistance of Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo's Poor Economics – a book which addresses the health, education, and financial lives of the poor. Students will be asked to write a series of essays identifying policy problems, detailing proposed solutions, and arguing in favor of specific policy proposals. Students will choose essay topics based on their own policy-related interests with no requirement that they be related to the reading. Students will be advised and evaluated on the strength of their writing with a special emphasis on clarity and cited evidence.

When Offered Fall, Spring.

Comments For Human Ecology and Brooks School students this course will not count toward the 43 HE credits.

• Identify high quality primary sources regarding public policy topics
• Critically analyze and revise works written by professionals, peers, and themselves
• Write clear and concise summaries of relevant policy topics
• Publicly present and discuss opinions in an academic setting

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