Problem Statement
The Flint Water Crisis lasted from 2014 to 2019. Due to city and state officials breaking civil law by failing to treat the water duly, lead percolated out from ripening pipes into thousands of homes. Flint’s water crisis affected predominantly Black African Americans and minorities. Lead at any position in the mortal body can be dangerous and has been linked to several conditions, learning disabilities, and behavior issues. As outbreaks of Legionnaire’s disease increased, many cried for help, and it wasn’t until 5 years later they got the help they needed. The Flint Water Crisis gives a focal point through which we can perceive the intricate consolidation of systematic racism and inequality.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Your paper should be 7 to10 pages long (not including charts or references.)
Your paper should include the following sections which should appear as HEADERS in the paper:
Introduction — in a paragraph or two briefly explain what your paper is about.
The Problem — In a few sentences describe your chosen issue as a problem and tell your reader why they should care about. You may want to cite data to make the case for your argument here. Your revised Constrained Choice model should be included at the end of this section. You may choose to include your narrative piece about the “character” from your model here or throughout your paper but you do not have to use it.
Background — this is where you put your evidence and discuss your issue at greater length. It is also where you might include graphs and charts to illustrate your issue and concerns. This part of your paper may be several pages long. Here you should cite evidence from articles you have read, course materials and web sources. You are backing up your statements and opinions here with the research and writing of the experts.
Stakeholders — Who is most interested in the issue and who is affected by it and/or by the response you suggest to it. Be sure to review Bardach for insight into how to create this list. You may describe your stakeholders in narrative paragraphs or in list form. In addition to naming the stakeholders you should briefly explain what their interest is in the issue. You should also include a brief introductory paragraph and summary paragraph in this section. You should give a sense of which stakeholders you are most concerned with. Remember that you are not likely to please everyone when you make policy recommendation. This section may be a couple of pages long.
Possible Policy Responses — You can suggest a single policy response or several. Do not do more than 3. This section should include Pros and Cons for each response you choose to write about. The Pros and Cons can be presented in a list format in a table or written out in narrative paragraphs. The work you did with the Bardach Exercise should be expanded in narrative form and incorporated into this part of your paper and those below. In this section think back to your constrained choice model. How do you your policy options work to remove constraints or introduce new opportunities into your model that would lead to better outcomes?
Best Option and Next Steps — Choose a policy response and present your argument for why it is the best one, incorporate (but do not repeat) the important pros and cons from above section in your discussion. Suggest how this policy might be brought forward, what it would take to make it real. You will use your imagination, common sense and learning from the course to complete this section. This section should be several pages long.
Conclusion — Briefly summarize the main points of your paper. This section should be a page or less.
You are encouraged to include graphs, charts or illustrations that help illustrate your work but it is not required.
Be sure to properly cite all quotes, and any graphs, charts or illustrations.
Sources for your paper should include your textbooks from this course and any of the articles in the course materials, other articles, web material and/or reports from the New York Times, academic journals, government or nonprofit sources.
Wikipedia and other random websites are not acceptable sources.
