Embedded Files
Outcome 4: Analyze alternative explanations, using multiple theories, frameworks, and approaches, for international affairs outcomes and provide evidence-based conclusions
Outcome 4: Analyze alternative explanations, using multiple theories, frameworks, and approaches, for international affairs outcomes and provide evidence-based conclusions
The ability to clearly articulate what you know about problem solving is essential to public service and to your professional growth in the workplace. Opportunities for increased responsibility and promotion will depend on how well you can communicate your ability to systematically solve problems and present your finding through policy briefs. Thus, not only do you need to be able to solve problems, you must also be able to explain how you do so. For example, a writing prompt given to applicants for a management fellows program includes the following: "Describe the most complex analysis that you have completed either in a past internship, job or school assignment.
Please specify where you completed the analysis, why it was done, what the outcome of the analysis was and any analytical tools used to complete the project." Many of your courses have required you to prepare policy briefs describing your analysis of a policy issue and a position or a course of action for a decision maker. Drawing from a brief or briefs you have recently prepared, reflect on the process of problem solving that helped you arrive at your recommendations. If you have permission from your instructor to attach the brief(s) as samples of your work completed in their courses, include them with your reflection. If not, you may want to include the executive summary or abstract only with your reflection.
See Writing about Class Assignments and Writing about Projects for guiding questions specific to assignments and projects.
Courses, assignments, and high-impact experiences addressing this outcome
INTA 606 (International Politics in Theory and Practice)
INTA 608 (Fundamentals of the Global Economy)
INTA 689-603, The Politics of Egypt, Erin Snider, "How should US policy objectives be re-aligned to reflect changes in Egypt since 2011?"
Problem-Solving Guiding Questions
Problem-Solving Guiding Questions
What did you do? Identify & Analyze
What steps did you take to arrive at a thoughtful policy recommendation, to a solution to a problem posed by a client, or one identified through your research? What was involved with each step or with each critical component to solve a problem and prepare the brief? What did you need to learn or determine and how did you do it?
What does it mean? Evaluate & Synthesize
Based upon the analysis of critical components to drawing sound conclusions, explain why each step/component is important? (What happens if you skip a step?) How do you know if your solution worked? What was the outcome of your analysis or recommendation? What type of feedback did you receive? Support your explanations with examples drawn from your own experience.
Who benefits and how? Transfer (Bottom Line)
How do you expect to use these steps when analyzing new problems, requiring you to evaluate an issue and advise accordingly? What are you learning about problem solving and decision making? Describe how this credential will be useful in the professional work you will be pursuing after graduation.
Examining Policy from Multiple Points of View
Examining Policy from Multiple Points of View
What did you do? Identify & Analyze
What policy issues (or historical outcomes) have you examined through your course assignments from multiple theoretical views? What methodologies did you use to examine these issues?
What does it mean? Evaluate & Synthesize
What did you conclude from your examination of these issues from multiple theoretical points of view? How have these conclusions influenced your understanding of how policy decisions are made and who is most impacted by those policy decisions? How has your understanding of international affairs changed (or been broadened) by examining different approaches to policy issues?
Who benefits and how? Transfer (Bottom Line)
How will the policy work you are pursuing post graduation benefit from your understanding of multiple theoretical views?
Critical Thinking (see this sub-page)
Critical Thinking (see this sub-page)
Image source: ©iStock.com/RBFried
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse