Each student will select a public administration topic covered in the course that fits their research interests. An in-depth analysis of the topic will result in a topic paper. The weekly reading will serve as a point of departure to perform the analysis. This paper should not be a summary of the reading. Instead, the student should find a theme or essential question in the readings as a basis for the paper and utilize at least three additional sources to construct an argument about a particular topic of your choosing. For example, if you are interested in managing human resources, select Chapter 6 as the basis for your topic paper, you would read Chapter 6 in advance, brainstorm topics, and obtain feedback from the instructor before writing and submitting your paper.
The paper should address the following aspects of your topic:
1. A brief summary of the issue you are targeting: what is the issue, and how did this become a public administration “puzzle” .
2. Explain why the issue is significant in public administration today: who are the key stakeholders, what are the competing interests at work, and what challenges do you see in solving this public administration “puzzle.”
3. What is your recommendation based on the research, experience, and perspective you developed in assessing this “puzzle;” what, ultimately, should be done in practice to help solve this puzzle?
