The document provides instructions for a 10-12 page research paper for a PADM 550 class. Students must apply the May-Can-Should policy analysis approach to analyze two policy alternatives for a selected policy issue. The paper must include citations from required course readings and at least 15-20 additional scholarly sources. It must be in current APA format and submitted by the deadline in Week 8. The document also provides a grading rubric that will be used to evaluate the papers.

1. PADM 550
Research Paper Instructions
In Module/Week 8, you will submit a 10–12-page paper (not
including the title page, abstract, and reference page) in current
APA format in which the May-Can-Should (How) approach is
applied in an in-depth fashion to a policy issue of your choice.
Instead of focusing on just one policy analysis proposal, you
must discuss 2, and only 2, pieces of legislation for solving
your chosen policy problem. Accordingly, you must pay close
attention to the grading rubric and use the Research Paper
Template to properly format your paper. Both documents are
provided. Also note the Policy Brief vs. Final Paper comparison
document for clarification on the similarities and differences
between the Final Paper and the Policy Brief.
You must include citations from:
1. All of the required reading presentations from Modules/Week
1–2,
2. The course texts, and
3. 15–20 additional scholarly sources.
4. Please feel free to use the following link for the purposes of
additional research. Not all of the sources in this link are
necessarily considered “peer reviewed” or “schoalrly”, but it is
a good start.
Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of
Module/Week 8.
Running head: YOUR PAPER TITLE 1

2. YOUR PAPER TITLE HERE 2
Your Paper Title
Your Name
Date
Class Name and Section
Dr. Kahlib Fischer
Abstract
Defining the Problem
Overview
Root Causes
Competing Interpretations
Impacts
Policy Alternatives

3. Legislation Option 1 Comment by Fischer, Kahlib: Change
each of these headings to reflect the names of the actual policy
alternatives.
Legislation Option 2
May
Legislation Option 1
Biblical guidelines.
Constitutional guidelines.
Legislation Option 2
Biblical guidelines.
Constitutional guidelines.
Can
Legislation Option 1
Political feasibility.
Financial feasibility.
Practical feasibility.
Legislation Option 2
Political feasibility.
Financial feasibility.
Practical feasibility.Should
Legislation Option 1
Legislation Option 2

4. Summary
References Comment by Fischer, Kahlib: List your sources
in APA format below.
Final Research Paper Rubric
Criteria
Levels of Achievement
Content
(70%)
Advanced
92-100%
Proficient
84-91%
Developing
1-83%
Not Present
Total
Defining the Problem
14 to 15 points:
Overview of Root Causes; Competing Interpretations (i.e. how
conservatives define the problem vs. how liberals define the
problem).
Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from
required sources.
12.5 to 13.5 points:
Overview generally provides the following: Root Causes;
Competing Interpretations (i.e. how conservatives define the
problem vs. how liberals define the problem).

5. Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from
required sources.
1 to 12 points:
Overview fails to include all of the following: Root Causes;
Competing Interpretations (i.e. how conservatives define the
problem vs. how liberals define the problem).
Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from
required sources.
0 points
Not present
Introduce Policy Alternatives
9 to 10 points:
Reference and briefly discuss 2 and only 2 pieces of legislation
which serve as solutions to the problem.
Thoroughly explains how each bill attempts to solve root causes
of the problem.
Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from
required sources.
8 to 8.5 points:
Reference and briefly discuss 2 and only 2 pieces of legislation
which serve as solutions to the problem.
Generally explains how each bill attempts to solve root causes
of the problem.
Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from
required sources.
1 to 7.5 points:
Reference and briefly discuss 2 and only 2 pieces of legislation
which serve as solutions to the problem.
Often fails to explain how each bill attempts to solve root
causes of the problem.
Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from
required sources.
0 points
Not present

6. May:
Biblical
14 to 15 points:
Biblical guidelines for government involvement for each bill
includes discussion of how inalienable rights, natural law,
institutional separation of Church and State, Sin/Crime
distinction and sphere sovereignty help determine if government
is the appropriate sphere to address the issue.
Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from
required sources.
12.5 to 13.5 points:
Biblical guidelines for government involvement for each bill
generally includes discussion of how inalienable rights, natural
law, institutional separation of Church and State, Sin/Crime
distinction and sphere sovereignty help determine if government
is the appropriate sphere to address the issue.
Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from
required sources.
1 to 12 points:
Biblical guidelines for government involvement for each bill
often fails to include a discussion of how inalienable rights,
natural law, institutional separation of Church and State,
Sin/Crime distinction and sphere sovereignty help determine if
government is the appropriate sphere to address the issue.
Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from
required sources.
0 points
Not present
May:
Constitutional
14 to 15 points:

7. Constitutional guidelines for government involvement as it
relates to each bill.
Includes references to specific enumerated powers and relevant
Supreme Court cases as needed.
Avoids vague use of the "General Welfare" clause.
Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from
required sources.
12.5 to 13.5 points:
Constitutional guidelines for government involvement as it
relates to each bill is provided for the most part.
Generally includes references to specific enumerated powers
and relevant Supreme Court cases as needed.
Avoids vague use of the "General Welfare" clause.
Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from
required sources.
1 to 12 points:
Minimal discussion of Constitutional guidelines for government
involvement as it relates to each bill.
Fails to include references to specific enumerated powers and
relevant Supreme Court cases as needed and/or engages in
vague use of the "General Welfare" clause.
Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from
required sources.
0 points
Not present
Can:
Political
9 to 10 points:
Political Feasibility: 1) Use of relevant surveys, polls, etc.; and
2) Articulation of key political leaders, parties, etc. who are for
and/or against piece of legislation.
Thorough discussion of whether or not the bill is likely to pass
the House and Senate, and be signed by the President.
Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from
required sources.

8. 8 to 8.5 points:
Political Feasibility: 1) Use of relevant surveys, polls, etc.; and
2) Articulation of key political leaders, parties, etc. who are for
and/or against piece of legislation.
Discussion of whether or not the bill is likely to pass the House
and Senate, and be signed by the President.
Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from
required sources.
1 to 7.5 points:
Political Feasibility: 1) Use of relevant surveys, polls, etc.; and
2) Articulation of key political leaders, parties, etc. who are for
and/or against piece of legislation.
Minimal discussion of whether or not the bill is likely to pass
the House and Senate, and be signed by the President.
Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from
required sources.
0 points
Not present
Can:
Financial
9 to 10 points:
Financial Feasibility-includes for each piece of legislation a
thorough discussion of the following: 1) Cost of one piece of
legislation vs. another
2) Cost of action vs. no action for each piece of legislation
3) Cost benefit analysis for each piece of legislation
Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from
required sources.
8 to 8.5 points:
Financial Feasibility-generally includes for each piece of
legislation: 1) Cost of one piece of legislation vs. another
2) Cost of action vs. no action for each piece of legislation
3) Cost benefit analysis for each piece of legislation
Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from
required sources.

9. 1 to 7.5 points:
Financial Feasibility minimal discussion of the following: 1)
Cost of one piece of legislation vs. another
2) Cost of action vs. no action for each piece of legislation
3) Cost benefit analysis for each piece of legislation
Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from
required sources.
Can:
Practical
9 to 10 points:
Practical Feasibility-includes for piece of legislation a thorough
discussion of the following:
Discussion of physical resources, manpower, etc. needed to
implement policy as well as practical challenges associated with
implementing the bill, to include timing and logistics.
Discussion of necessary, practical steps needed to implement
the bill
Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from
required sources.
8 to 8.5 points:
Practical Feasibility-includes for piece of legislation an
adequate discussion of the following:
Discussion of physical resources, manpower, etc. needed to
implement policy as well as practical challenges associated with
implementing the bill, to include timing and logistics.
Discussion of necessary, practical steps needed to implement
the bill
Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from
required sources.
1 to 7.5 points:
Practical Feasibility-often fails to include for piece of
legislation:
Discussion of physical resources, manpower, etc. needed to
implement policy as well as practical challenges associated with

10. implementing the bill, to include timing and logistics.
Discussion of necessary, practical steps needed to implement
the bill
Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from
required sources.
Should
18.5 to 20 points:
Persuasive summary of the key issues supporting your decision
to either support, amend, and/or reject the legislation. Must be
based upon the May and Can portions of your analysis.
Makes the case in light of what is going on politically and
whether other political actors should support the legislation in
light of competing political agendas.
Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from
required sources.
17 to 18 points:
Generally persuasive summary of the key issues supporting your
decision to either support, amend, and/or reject the legislation.
Must be based upon the May and Can portions of your analysis.
Generally makes the case in light of what is going on politically
and whether other political actors should support the legislation
in light of competing political agendas.
Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from
required sources.
1 to 16.5 points:
Minimally persuasive summary of the key issues supporting
your decision to either support, amend, and/or reject the
legislation. Often not based upon the May and Can portions of
your analysis.
Fails to make the case in light of what is going on politically
and whether other political actors should support the legislation
in light of competing political agendas.
Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from

11. required sources.
0 points
Not present
Structure (30%)
Advanced
92-100%
Proficient
84-91%
Developing
1-83%
Not Present
Total
Sources
11 to 12 points:
All required sources from Modules/Weeks 1–2 (must include the
"Biblical Principles of Government" article), Scripture, and the
required readings and presentations from the assigned
module/week are cited.
Used 15-20 empirical sources
10 to 10.5 points:
Most of the required sources from Modules/Weeks 1–2 (must
include the "Biblical Principles of Government" article),
Scripture, and the required readings and presentations from the
assigned module/week are cited.
Used 10-14 empirical sources
1 to 9.5 points:
Few of the required sources from Modules/Weeks 1–2 (must
include the "Biblical Principles of Government" article),
Scripture, and the required readings and presentations from the
assigned module/week are cited.
Used 9 or less empirical sources
0 points
Not present
APA format (citations and references)

12. 11 to 12 points:
Sources are cited and listed in current APA format.
10 to 10.5 points:
Sources are generally cited and listed in current APA format.
1 to 9.5 points:
Numerous deficiencies with respect to proper APA, grammar,
and spelling.
0 points
Not present
Page Length
10 to 11 points:
Length no less than 6 pages; not including title and reference
pages.
9 to 9.5 points:
Length less than 6 pages but more than 5; not including title and
reference pages
1 to 8.5 points:
Length less than 5 pages
0 points
Not present
Grammar and spelling
9.5 to 10 points:
Proper grammar, and spelling are used throughout.
8.5 to 9 points:
For the most part proper grammar and spelling are used
throughout improper abbreviations.
1 to 8 points:
Numerous deficiencies with respect to proper grammar, and
spelling.
0 points
Not present
Professor Comments:

13. Total:
/150