Assignment 4: Policy Analysis
Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.
| Points: 110 | Assignment 4: Policy Outcomes | |||
| Criteria | Unacceptable | Fair | Proficient | Exemplary |
| 1. Construct constitutive and operational definitions for any three (3) of the actions and outcome variables listed in the shaded box under Review Question 1 at the end of Chapter 6. | Did not submit or incompletely constructed constitutive and operational definitions for any three (3) of the actions and outcome variables listed in the shaded box under Review Question 1 at the end of Chapter 6. | Partially constructed constitutive and operational definitions for any three (3) of the actions and outcome variables listed in the shaded box under Review Question 1 at the end of Chapter 6. | Satisfactorily constructed constitutive and operational definitions for any three (3) of the actions and outcome variables listed in the shaded box under Review Question 1 at the end of Chapter 6. | Thoroughly constructed constitutive and operational definitions for any three (3) of the actions and outcome variables listed in the shaded box under Review Question 1 at the end of Chapter 6. |
| 2. Identify three (3) policy problems listed in the shaded box under Review Question 5 and determine an appropriate indicator or index that would help determine whether each of the identified problems are being solved through government action. Justify your position on each. | Did not submit or incompletely identified three (3) policy problems listed in the shaded box under Review Question 5 and did not submit or incompletely determined an appropriate indicator or index that would help determine whether each of the identified problems are being solved through government action. Did not submit or incompletely justified your position on each. | Partially identified three (3) policy problems listed in the shaded box under Review Question 5 and partially determined an appropriate indicator or index that would help determine whether each of the identified problems are being solved through government action. Partially justified your position on each. | Satisfactorily identified three (3) policy problems listed in the shaded box under Review Question 5 and satisfactorily determined an appropriate indicator or index that would help determine whether each of the identified problems are being solved through government action. Satisfactorily justified your position on each. | Thoroughly identified three (3) policy problems listed in the shaded box under Review Question 5 and thoroughly determined an appropriate indicator or index that would help determine whether each of the identified problems are being solved through government action. Thoroughly justified your position on each. |
| 3. Construct valid rebuttals to the following argument using at least four threats to validity: (B) The greater the cost of an alternative, the less likely it is that the alternative will be pursued. (W) The enforcement of the maximum speed limit of 55 mph increases the costs of exceeding the speed limit. (I) The mileage death rate fell from 4.3 to 3.6 deaths per 100 million miles after the implementation of the 55-mph speed limit. (C) The 55-mph speed limit (National Speed Law of 1973) has been definitely successful in saving lives. | Did not submit or incompletely constructed valid rebuttals to the following argument using at least four threats to validity: (B) The greater the cost of an alternative, the less likely it is that the alternative will be pursued. (W) The enforcement of the maximum speed limit of 55 mph increases the costs of exceeding the speed limit. (I) The mileage death rate fell from 4.3 to 3.6 deaths per 100 million miles after the implementation of the 55-mph speed limit. (C) The 55-mph speed limit (National Speed Law of 1973) has been definitely successful in saving lives. | Partially constructed valid rebuttals to the following argument using at least four threats to validity: (B) The greater the cost of an alternative, the less likely it is that the alternative will be pursued. (W) The enforcement of the maximum speed limit of 55 mph increases the costs of exceeding the speed limit. (I) The mileage death rate fell from 4.3 to 3.6 deaths per 100 million miles after the implementation of the 55-mph speed limit. (C) The 55-mph speed limit (National Speed Law of 1973) has been definitely successful in saving lives. | Satisfactorily constructed valid rebuttals to the following argument using at least four threats to validity: (B) The greater the cost of an alternative, the less likely it is that the alternative will be pursued. (W) The enforcement of the maximum speed limit of 55 mph increases the costs of exceeding the speed limit. (I) The mileage death rate fell from 4.3 to 3.6 deaths per 100 million miles after the implementation of the 55-mph speed limit. (C) The 55-mph speed limit (National Speed Law of 1973) has been definitely successful in saving lives. | Thoroughly constructed valid rebuttals to the following argument using at least four threats to validity: (B) The greater the cost of an alternative, the less likely it is that the alternative will be pursued. (W) The enforcement of the maximum speed limit of 55 mph increases the costs of exceeding the speed limit. (I) The mileage death rate fell from 4.3 to 3.6 deaths per 100 million miles after the implementation of the 55-mph speed limit. (C) The 55-mph speed limit (National Speed Law of 1973) has been definitely successful in saving lives. |
| 4. 2 references | Does not meet the required number of references | Â Meets the required number of references; some or all references poor quality choices. | Meets number of required references; most references quality choices. | Meets number of required references; all references high quality choices. |
| 5. Clarity, writing mechanics, and formatting requirements | More than 6 errors present | 5-6 errors present | 3-4 errors present | 0-2 errors present |
