Step 3: Our Policy

Students should propose a policy solution to their problem based on their research and analysis of alternative policies. The following activities will help students:

understand the five most common types of policies
choose the best policy to address their problem
write an outstanding summary of their policy

Note: Many of these activities could be used during during "Step 2: Alternative Policies" instead of during "Step 3: Our Policy"

Types of Policies

Use the first part of the Prezi, below, to teach about the five main types of policies that they can choose from.
Types of Policies Chart: Google Doc; pdf

Graphic organizer for students can take notes about each type of policy

Here's a link to the Prezi; you can save a copy and edit to fit your needs.

Choosing the Best Policy

Use second part of the Prezi to introduce the importance of cost, effectiveness, and popularity in choosing the best policy
Choosing the Best Policy: Google Doc; pdf

Guide students through this activity to help them evaluate and score their three alternative policies to decide which is the best policy to address their problem. Students must rank the three criteria based on which is most important to them: cost, effectiveness, or popularity. Then, students assign values to each policy based on their research. Finally, students choose the best policy.

Choosing the Best Policy: DUI Examples: Google Doc; pdf

These three one-page articles provide a good model of the process for choosing the best policy. First, rank the criteria (cost, effectiveness, and popularity) from most to least important as a class. Then, divide the class into three groups and assign each group to read one of the articles and score it on the chart. Finally, discuss the values that each group assigned to their alternative DUI policies, and discuss how they will use this method to choose the best policy for their problem. Each student will also need the Choosing the Best Policy chart: Google Doc; pdf

Writing an outstanding Summary of Our Policy