Course Syllabus - Askew School of Public Administration and Policy ...

Course SyllabusPAD 6908 Action ReportSpring Semester 2012, Tuesdays, 5:30-8:15 p.m., Bellamy 243Dr. Lance deHaven-Smith e-mail: ldehavensmith@fsu.eduProfessor of Public Administration and PolicyOffice: Bellamy 652Phone: (850) 567-8636Office Hours for Students: Mondays 3:00-5:15 pm; Tuesdays 1:30-3:00 pmTextsRequired:William A. Sabin, The Gregg Reference Manual, Boston: McGraw-Hill, most recentedition.Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, published by the AmericanPsychological Association, Washington, DC, most recent edition.Course Organization and PurposeThis course is for Master of Public Administration degree candidates and serves as a finalsemester culmination of learning in the program. As such, it fulfills the requirements of theNational Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Eachperson is to prepare a paper relating to a significant administrative practice or problem.This is considered an essential component in the development of professional knowledgeand ability in applying the study of public administration to important issues. The ActionReport, therefore, should be regarded as a major applied research project akin to aMaster's thesis; students should arrange their schedules accordingly. Departmentalfaculty may lend assistance, as appropriate, in topic identification, on procedures andmethods, and for general reaction to findings. Seminar meetings will explore issues andmethods related to writing the Report. Students are expected to attend scheduledsessions, participate in discussions, make presentations, and offer critiques of oral andwritten reports.ScheduleJan. 10:Jan. 17:Jan. 24:Introduction – Attend ClassIf not yet approved, submit your Problem Statement during the week so thatI can review it.Individual consultations as necessary.Individual consultations, as necessary.Turn in Diploma request (see Velda Williams).

Jan. 31:Feb. 7:Feb. 14:Feb. 21:Feb. 28:Mar. 6:Mar. 13:Mar. 20:Mar. 27:Apr. 3:Apr. 10:Apr. 17:Individual consultations, as necessary.Individual consultations, as necessary.Attend class to submit 1 st draft of report.Individual consultations, as necessary. Reviews of 1 st drafts will be placed instudent foldersIndividual consultations, as necessarySpring Break – No ClassesAttend class to submit 2nd draft of report.Action Report presentations to class.Remaining Action Report presentations to class.Last day to submit final reportIndividual consultations, as necessaryIndividual consultations, as necessarySubmission RequirementsAll papers should be stapled in the upper left hand corner and submitted in a "two pocket"folder. In the left section, place the most recent instructor-corrected copy (earlier draftsshould not be included); in the right section, the newest draft with appropriate checklist.Be sure to put your telephone number(s) and e-mail address on the front of the folder.This class is structured to ensure progress toward course completion and relies onindividual consultations and student presentations. Not meeting deadlines demonstratesinadequate planning. Please do not ask for special favors; brief extensions will be grantedonly on the basis of extreme, documented emergencies.Do not expect the instructor to copyedit and proof your work. Names of proof readers andeditors can be obtained from the English Department (644-4230).The final Action Report that is submitted should be bound and include an electronic copyof the manuscript. Kinkos, Target, and similar outlets can provide binding. The electroniccopy should be on CD or floppy disc.

Action Report StandardsThe MPA Program is to "produce professionals capable of intelligent and creativeanalysis, communication, and action in the public sector context." The Action Report, asnoted earlier, is the capstone of this educational experience. Accordingly, it provides theopportunity for students to demonstrate ability to define and diagnose decision situations,collect relevant data, perform logical analysis, develop alternatives, implement a course ofaction, and evaluate results; organize and communicate clearly to a variety of audiencesthrough formats including verbal presentations, technical reports, and statistical charts,graphs, and tables (NASPAA Standards).Action Report LayoutThe Report should be: from 25 to 35 manuscript pages (plus appendices), professionallytyped and of a quality comparable to a monograph published by university servicebureaus, government agencies, legislative committees, or professional organizations.Following the title page, letter of transmittal, table of contents, and a brief executivesummary (describing the problem, the methods used in the study, alternatives considered,and the recommended action), the Report should be presented as described below.I. Problem Statement (two pages in a 30-page report (not including front matter,references, and appendices))Concise statement of the problem or question being investigated;Brief discussion of issues surrounding the problem and/or proposed actionsExplanation of why the problem or question is significant in public administration.II. Background and Literature Review (about six pages)Backgroundo The nature of the problem should be elaborated. How did the problemevolve? How has it changed over time?o What is the current status of the problem?o Specify the context in which the problem occurs and its timeliness for publicadministration.Literature Reviewo Summarize the literature. Include academic research and major reports ofgovernment agencies.o Describe how the present study relates to existing literature. Whatguidance does the literature provide? What issues remain that are pertinentto the problem under analysis?

Violations of the Academic Honor Code are delineated in Chapter 8 of the FacultyHandbook, as follows (8.22.1 (b) ):..1. During examinations, violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include referringto information not specifically condoned by the instructor. It shall further includereceiving information from a fellow student or another unauthorized source.2. Regarding academic assignments, violations of the Academic Honor Code shallinclude representing another's work or any part thereof, be it published orunpublished, as one's own. It shall also include presenting or submitting anyacademic work in a manner that impairs the instructor's ability to assess thestudent's academic performance. For example, plagiarism includes failure to usequotation marks or other conventional markings around material quoted from anysource.3. Violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include obtaining, distributing, orreferring to a copy of an examination which the instructor/department has notauthorized to be made available for such purpose.4. Violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include any act which impedes theability of other students to have fair access to materials assigned or suggested bythe instructor. For example, removal or destruction of library or other sourcematerials violates the Academic Honor Code.5. Academic dishonesty shall include tampering with another student's work orimpairing in any way the instructor's ability to assess the academic performance ofanother student.6. Violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include alteration of grades or anyother records related to the academic performance of students. This shall alsoinclude submitting any false records in order to gain admission to the University.7. Violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include assisting, attempting to assist,or conspiring to assist another student in committing the offenses as outlinedabove.8. Violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include attempting to commit anyoffense as outlined above.Students should pay special attention to paragraph 2, above. Plagiarism on anydraft of the Action Report may result in a failing grade for the course.ADA PolicyStudents with disabilities needing academic accommodation should (1) registerwith and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and (2) bring aletter to the professors indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This shouldbe done during theGrades

Grades for the course will be based on a multidimensional evaluation of the ActionReport. The criteria and the weight assigned to them are as follows:Conceptualization and Writing (30%)Clarity, cogency of problem conceptualizationRelevance and range of evaluative criteriaClarity and grammatical correctness of writingResearch (30%)Scope and organization of background and literature reviewQuality of analysis and interpretationRecommendations (20%)Consistency in application of evaluative criteria.Appropriateness of conclusions and recommendations.Presentation (20%)Organization and conciseness of presentationQuality of speakingGrade equivalencies are: 100-93=A, 92-90=A-. 89-87=B+, 86-83=B, 82-80=B-,79-77=C+, 76-73=C, 72-70=C-, 69-67=D+, 66-63=D, 62-60=D-, 59-0=F. In thecomputation of final grades, all decimals from .5 and above are rounded up, and all belowthis are rounded down.