Overview: The paper must focus on a critical public lands issue or controversy in California (other
geographic locations can be considered with instructor approval). It should contain: 1) detailed description
of issue; 2) application of relevant class materials and theoretical perspectives; 3) criticisms of current
policy and policy recommendations. The best papers will include personal interviews with real stakeholders in
the issue, along with additional research sources.

Suggested Outline: Here are some questions to stimulate your analytical thinking. Keep in mind, all may not
apply to each paper topic, nor are these exhaustive. Also, good descriptions make an argument, e.g. this is
what is happening and this is why it is happening. Your paper should have a clear research question or
thesis. Each paragraph should have a topic and concluding sentence.

• What is the issue or controversy that you are looking at? Why is the issue interesting, challenging, or
controversial? What is at stake? What is the main argument you will make through the body of the paper?
Remember that you want to focus on a fairly narrow issue (e.g., should allow snowmobiles in Yellowstone?), as
opposed to trying to understand everything that is happening in a particular piece of public land (e.g., the
entire history and management of Yellowstone).

I. Issue Description (3 pages)
• Basic Facts: What are the ownership characteristics of the land you are looking at (e.g., state, federal,
other)? What land management agency (or agency) has jurisdiction? What are some of the basic ecological
characteristics? What is the size and location of the public land? What are the uses of this land, and
statistics about use?
• History/Legal Framework: What is the history of the conflict? Who are the major stakeholders in the
conflict? What are the laws and policies that apply to this issue? How have they evolved over time? Is the
intent of these laws and policies clear, or is it contested by opposing stakeholders?

II. Application of Class Materials (3 pages)
NOTE: You should pick ONE of the following types of analyses for the paper. You do not need to do all of
them. Also, you can offer another type of analysis as long as you clearly state your analytical strategy in
the paper. Also, the sets of questions included in each bullet are recommendations; you do not have to
address every question and may address different questions.
• Regime Analysis: What are the problem characteristics, interests, ideas and institutions that are involved
in your topic? What are the competing points of view and who holds them? What power resources can
institutions and interests draw upon to advocate for their point of view? How do these forces shape the
attitudes and behaviors of involved actors, and the policy outcomes?
• Economic Analysis: What are the economic characteristics of your issue or controversy? What kinds of
economic, environmental or social costs are implicated in your issue or controversy? Does your issue reflect
the tragedy of the commons, public goods, or intergenerational goods? What are the consequences of the
economic characteristics of the land, in terms of how it is used? What kinds of economic arguments are
different actors using to make their case?
• Political Analysis: How does Congress, the President, the Courts, or bureaucracy affect management of this
land (or state/local political institutions)? What are some specific examples of political decisions that
have had very important consequences for this land? Are there any overall patterns of political decisions
that explain management outcomes?

III. Criticism of Current Policy and Policy Recommendations (3 pages)
• Criticisms: Drawing upon your analysis of the public lands conflict in the earlier parts of the paper, what
do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of the laws and policies that govern your issue? What are some
of the most important problems or unintended consequences of current policies, and why to they occur? How do
the policies in place attempt to solve economic problems?
• Recommendations: What changes would you recommend to fix these problems, and what strategies would you
suggest for making those changes happen? This discussion should be clearly related to your earlier arguments.

IV. Conclusion (2-3 paragraphs)
• Brief summary of your issue, main arguments, and conclusions.

V. References (These do not count against the 10-page limit)
• In-Paper References: All quotes and paraphrases in the document should have parenthetical references. For
example:

According to Clarke and McCool (1996), the Forest Service is one of the most powerful public land agencies.
(or)
The forest service is one of the most powerful public lands agencies (Clarke and McCool 1996)
• Bibliography: All references should be documented. Include books, articles, personal interviews (name,
date), Internet sources (include http//: address), and class lecture materials. Make sure you include author,
title, publication date, and any relevant issue numbers. Bibliography should adhere as closely as possible to
conventions of Chicago Manual of Style (although we will not grade down if all the information is there)