Empirical evidence or references to documented events or experiences is at a premium.

Empirical evidence or references to documented events or experiences is at a premium.
Policy memos (written): The purpose of policy memos is to learn executive and advisory roles from real situations. Students should at the beginning of the semester choose 3 topics on which to write memos. In doing so, you should adopt the point of view of an actor (be it a government leader, judge, public official, director of an international institution, leader of a national or an international civil society organization, or an editor). In other words, the voice of the memo should be active. It could be advisory (you ought to do this, despite the constraints!) or executive (we will do this, given the constraints). This will help in focusing choice and taking responsibility. Arguments should preferably be based in the analytical references offered by the course but can be drawn from elsewhere. Empirical evidence or references to documented events or experiences is at a premium. Here is where the imperative of facing an issue, analyzing binding constraints, and finding a way forward. Key to good grading will be clarity and credibility based on context.The memos themselves do not need footnotes, but the origin of references should be able to be proven in later, follow-up documentation, if needed. The use of brief annexes is encouraged up to a point (but will not be counted against the 2-page limit). Hyperlinks may sometimes be useful, but the flow of argument should stand by itself.