Final Paper
PAD 6108
Fall 2009
Hedge

 Outlined below are the options for the final paper.

 Option # 1 -- Synthesis Paper -- Students who pursue this option will write a paper which synthesizes in a coherent and insightful manner a major literature in public administration.  For some of you this might be a paper that starts with some of the literature covered in class but which then considers additional analysis and research.  Possible paper topics might include the influence of interests groups on bureaucratic decision making, citizen participation mechanisms, or privatization.  Others of you might choose to review some organizational topic we have not covered in class.  Examples here might include regulatory reform, bureaucratic responsiveness, leadership, affirmative action programs in the public sector, policy implementation, or the role of policy analysis within bureaucracies.  In grading your paper, I will pay particular attention to the comprehensiveness and completeness of your literature review as well as the quality of your synthesis.

 Option # 2 -- Application Paper -- The second option entails applying the literature, including, but not necessarily limited to, the readings in this course, to a particular case (or cases) in public administration.  Part of the paper would provide a synthesis of the relevant literature.  The remainder of the paper would then use those insights to analyze some aspect of public organizational life.  Your application should be well-documented and grounded in additional readings and analysis.  Examples of an "applications" paper might include an assessment of city-county police consolidation in Alachua County, an analysis of proposals for reforming health care in Florida (with particular attention to organizational issues) or a paper that examines the implementation of some public policy initiative (e.g. educational reform initiatives or the privatization of prisons).

 Option # 3 – Research Design – For doctoral students with the requisite research skills and interests, a third option is a “fully articulated” research design.  The expectation here is that you would carefully review the relevant literature (s), develop a set of credible hypotheses and outline the appropriate methods for testing those hypotheses.  Needless to say, your research topic must be relevant to the study of public organizations or bureaucratic politics..

 Regardless of which option you choose, your paper should run about 15 pages (double-spaced, typewritten).  I also encourage each of you to discuss possible paper topics and directions with your instructor and/or other members of the political science faculty.

 Your paper is due Monday, December 14, 2009.   Late papers will be penalized in grading at the discretion of the instructor.

    A Note on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty – Plagiarism is a serious violation of the student honor code  and will not be tolerated.  Students who commit an act of plagiarism will receive an appropriate sanction and  the offense will be reported to the Dean of Students Office. Information on what constitutes plagiarism, UF’s honor code and other pertinent information can be found on the Dean of Students web page.