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Professional Writing Requirement


Guidelines for the CIPA M.P.A. Professional Writing Requirement

The CIPA M.P.A. Professional Writing Requirement provides an opportunity to synthesize the different elements of the CIPA educational experience and make an original contribution to the field of public affairs. In producing the Professional Writing Project, the fellow is expected to integrate concepts, theories, and analytical techniques by applying them to a public policy problem relevant to their concentration. As a culmination of study in the M.P.A. program, the Professional Writing Project is both critical and creative, reflecting one’s ability to identify and analyze important public policy questions and to devise practical solutions.

There are two options for completing the CIPA M.P.A. Professional Writing Requirement: the first option is a Professional Report and the second option is a Master’s Thesis. Both options must meet the format requirements of the Graduate School. For formatting specifications, students should consult the "Doctoral Dissertation & Master’s Thesis: Formatting, Production, and Submission Requirements" guide available outside of the Graduate School Registrar’s Office in Caldwell Hall. Limited copies of this document are also available in the CIPA Main Office, 294 Caldwell Hall. Students must submit a bound copy of the CIPA M.P.A. writing project and an electronic copy of the CIPA M.P.A. writing project by deadlines published by CIPA over the CPAS-L listserve in late March.

For both the Professional Report and the Master’s Thesis, CIPA fellows are required to work closely with an advisor selected from the CIPA Field Faculty. The role of the faculty advisor is to provide periodic advice to the fellow on issues related to the scope, content, and organization of the independent writing project and to ensure the quality of the final project prior to submission. The CIPA Professional Writing Project is not defended orally, and there are no special committee members in addition to the faculty advisor. Please consult the CIPA Handbook for a listing of CIPA Field Faculty by department or look online at www.cipa.cornell.edu. If a CIPA fellow wishes to work with a faculty member who is not a member of the CIPA Field Faculty, they may petition the CIPA Core Faculty to add said faculty member to the CIPA Field Faculty. It is the responsibility of the fellow to ensure that their faculty advisor is informed of their progress and to see that all deadlines are met.

Thesis Option

The CIPA M.P.A. Thesis represents a substantial, independent research paper of approximately 50-75 pages in length plus appendices and bibliography, that seeks to make an original contribution to the field of public affairs. The essential components of the M.P.A. Thesis are:

  1. Definition of a policy problem
  2. A literature review that constitutes a summary of previous efforts to deal with the policy problem, the success of these efforts, alternative proposals that have sought to address this policy problem and their strengths and weaknesses
  3. A synthesis of a new proposed solution to this policy problem and its advantages
  4. A discussion of the feasibility of the proposed solution
  5. A discussion of any adjustments to the solution that might be requisite to ensure implementation.

Fellows are required to work closely with their Thesis advisor to ensure that they have defined a sufficiently narrow research agenda and that the data they require for the completion of their Thesis is readily available. The CIPA M.P.A. Thesis is most appropriate for those fellows who are pursuing further graduate studies upon graduating from CIPA, or who are unable to obtain a client during their tenure at CIPA.

Evaluating a Thesis Topic 

  1. Determine whether there is current interest in this topic in the field.
  2. Determine is there is a gap in knowledge that work on this topic could help to fill.
  3. Determine if it is possible to focus on a manageable segment of this topic.
  4. Determine a preliminary method of data collection that is acceptable to your advisor.
  5. Determine if a body of literature is available that is relevant to your topic.
  6. Determine if financial assistance is required to carry out your research.
  7. Determine if the data necessary to complete your work is easily accessible.
  8. Determine project purpose, scope, objectives, and procedures.
  9. Determine any potential limitations of the study.
  10. Determine if there are any skills called on by the study that you have yet to acquire.

Thesis Prospectus

Prior to soliciting a Thesis advisor from among the CIPA Field Faculty, students should prepare a detailed prospectus of approximately 3-5 pages that objectively evaluates the feasibility of their Thesis topic and formally conveys to their Thesis advisor the level of input that is expected. After evaluating topic feasibility, students should draft an M.P.A. Thesis Prospectus, attach it to the M.P.A. Prospectus Form available in 294 Caldwell Hall, and submit both documents to their Thesis advisor for evaluation. A suggested CIPA M.P.A. Thesis Prospectus should include the following elements:

1. Policy Problem Definition

• A statement of the policy problem
• A theoretical framework for the proposed study
• A statement of the hypotheses or research questions to be investigated
• Any potential limitations of the study

2. Brief Literature Review

• A concise overview of the body of theory and literature that is specific to your topic
• A brief summary of what has or has not been addressed by existing literature on the topic
• A discussion of the contribution that your study will make to the existing literature

3. Research Design

• An outline of the specific procedures for collecting data and performing analyses
• An outline of what data are included in your reseach population or sample if the data required for your project already exists
• An outline of the availability of the data you will need; if conducting a survey
• A description of the preliminary design or your instrument
• A discussion of any potential limitations of your research design

Thesis Components

Although the components of an M.P.A. Thesis will be determined largely by the nature of a student’s policy problem and the instruction of their Thesis advisor, a typical M.P.A. Thesis might include the following components:

    1. Introduction
    2. Literature Review
    3. Model of Arguments/Hypothesis
    4. Case Selection and Justification
    5. Overview of Variables and Measurements
    6. Data Analysis
    7. Conclusion
    8. Appendices
    9. References

Recommended Thesis Timeline

First Academic Year

February - Select a concentration and begin researching potential Thesis advisors.
March - Draft an M.P.A. Thesis Prospectus and solicit a Thesis advisor.
April - Submit M.P.A. Thesis Prospectus and Form to Thesis advisor for evaluation.
May - Establish a research agenda with your Thesis advisor for summer work.

Summer

May to August - Conduct Thesis research according to established agenda.

Second Academic Year

September - Begin writing first draft of Thesis
November - Submit first draft of Thesis to advisor for evaluation.
January - Submit revised draft of Thesis to advisor for evaluation.
March - Submit final draft of Thesis to advisor for evaluation.
May* - Submit the following to 294 Caldwell Hall:

  • 1 Bound Copy of Your Thesis
  • 1 Electronic Copy of Your Thesis on CD
  • 1 Thesis Approval Form (Available in 294 Caldwell Hall)

*Both the bound and electronic copies of the M.P.A. Thesis must be submitted to 294 Caldwell Hall at least two weeks before graduation. For spring graduation, the deadline for submitting all materials is the first week of May.

Professional Report Option

The Professional Report represents an experiential project that is undertaken by a fellow on behalf of a "client" such as a public, private, or non-profit organization that requires the fellow to solve a problem in policy analysis or program evaluation. Ideally, the client is obtained through an internship experience or a clinical course taken while in residence at Cornell. The Professional Report is most appropriate for those fellows who are entering practice upon graduating from CIPA. The Professional Report must be synthetic in nature and both the client and the fellow’s faculty advisor must certify its quality. The client for whom the Professional Report is written may not be hypothetical. The Professional Report should be approximately 40-50 pages in length plus appendices, where appropriate.

In the course of writing a Professional Report in lieu of a traditional M.P.A. Thesis, the student is expected to demonstrate a firm grasp of how knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired as a CIPA fellow are implemented in practice. Although the nature and structure of a Professional Report are largely determined by the professional protocol of the client organization, the faculty advisor’s role is to ensure that the quality of the Professional Report is equivalent to that of an M.P.A. Thesis. As such, the faculty advisor to a Professional Report may, at their discretion, recommend supplementary reading, research and analysis to augment the quality of the Professional Report and to ensure that the academic objectives of the Professional Report are met. Thus, unlike the M.P.A. Thesis, the Professional Report requires approval from two (2) advisors.

Prior to soliciting an academic advisor from among the CIPA Field Faculty, students should attach a complete Professional Report Preliminary Form available in 294 Caldwell Hall to their research proposal for evaluation by the academic advisor.

There are two methods of soliciting client organization participation in a Professional Report:

    1. A CIPA fellow drafts an independent project proposal for a client organization.
    2. A client organization dictates a research project to a CIPA fellow during an internship.

Evaluating the Worth of a Research Project for a Client Organization 

The first method of soliciting client organization participation in a Professional Report requires the CIPA fellow to provide the client organization or a supervisor from the client organization with an incentive to dedicate staff time and resources to overseeing the completion of the Professional Report. As such, it is the student’s task to produce a strong project proposal that clearly articulates the worth of the project to the client organization and provides an incentive for supervision. Like the M.P.A. Thesis, prior to engaging the client organization, the student should conduct an assessment that includes, but is not limited to, the following considerations:

    1. Determine the current mission of the client organization.
    2. Determine how the proposed project advances the mission of the client organization.
    3. Determine if there is a gap in the work of the client organization that this project will fill.
    4. Determine if there is a body of literature/data available that will ensure project success.
    5. Determine if financial assistance is required to complete the Professional Report.
    6. Determine project scope, purposes, objectives, and procedures.

Research Proposal 

After conducting a preliminary assessment that defines an incentive structure for the client organization to participate in the production of the Professional Report, a student should submit a research proposal to a potential supervisor within the client organization. Ideally, the research proposal should include the following basic elements:

    1. Cover Letter that defines a student’s interest in working with the client organization
    2. Research Proposal that includes a proposal statement or introduction, a discussion of the technical approach and methodology the student will employ to complete the project, a proposed timeline for completing the report, and the extent of supervision that the student requires from the client organization to complete the report
    3. Resume outlining the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are relevant to completing the project

Once a research proposal has been accepted by a client organization and a project supervisor from the client organization has been secured, the student will complete an M.P.A. Professional Report Preliminary Form available in the CIPA Main Office, 294 Caldwell Hall. The student will then submit the Research Proposal and Professional Report Preliminary Form to an advisor from the CIPA Field Faculty who will supervise the academic aspects of the Professional Report.

Students who are able to secure client organization participation through an internship may or may not be required to submit a research proposal to initiate the Professional Report production process. In addition, these students may, at the discretion of their client supervisor, be restricted in terms of the technical approach and methodology utilized in the project. If a student is planning on producing a Professional Report out of an internship, they should make this objective clear to the client organization when they are researching and accepting an internship offer.

Professional Report Components

Although the form of the Professional Report will be determined by the professional protocol of the client organization, a typical Professional Report might include the following items:

    1. Executive Summary
    2. Introduction
    3. Methodology
    4. Data Analysis
    5. Conclusion and Recommendations
    6. Appendices
    7. References

Recommended Professional Report Timeline: Professional Reports through Internship 

First Academic Year

September - Begin researching potential client organizations for internships.
October - Begin applying for summer internships with client organizations.
January to May - Accept internship offer from client organization.

Summer

Meet with client organization supervisor to establish an agenda for project completion; conduct research and submit a first draft of project for supervisor evaluation; obtain signatory approval from supervisor.

Second Academic Year

September - Research and solicit an academic advisor from among CIPA Field Faculty.  Submit first draft of report to academic advisor for evaluation.
November - Submit revised draft of report to academic advisor for evaluation.
January to March - Submit final draft of report to academic advisor for evaluation.
May* - Submit the following to 294 Caldwell Hall:

  • 1 Bound Copy of Your Professional Report
  • 1 Electronic Copy of Your Professional Report on CD
  • 1 PR Approval Form (Available in 294 Caldwell Hall)

Recommended Professional Report Timeline: Professional Reports through Proposal 

First Academic Year

September - Begin researching potential client organizations.
November - Choose a potential client organization and draft a research proposal. Research and solicit an academic advisor from among CIPA Field Faculty. Present research proposal to academic advisor for evaluation.
December - Finalize research proposal with academic advisor.
January - Submit research proposal to client organization.
February to May - Meet with client organization to establish an agenda for report completion.

Summer

Conduct research and submit a draft of report to supervisor; obtain signatory approval from supervisor.

Second Academic Year

September - Submit first draft of report to academic advisor for evaluation.
November - Submit revised draft of report to academic advisor for evaluation.
January to March - Submit final draft of academic advisor for evaluation.
May* - Submit the following to 294 Caldwell Hall:

  • 1 Bound Copy of Your Professional Report
  • 1 Electronic Copy of Your Professional Report on CD
  • 1 PR Approval Form (Available in 294 Caldwell Hall)

*Both the bound and electronic copies of the M.P.A. Thesis must be submitted to 294 Caldwell Hall within two weeks of graduation. Students who are using the Professional Report to satisfy the CIPA Professional Writing Requirement should discuss submission requirements with their client organization prior to initiating a project. Students are responsible for being aware of any security protocols a client organization may have in place that might prevent submission.

Tips for Success

  1. If you are interested in working with a particular academic advisor on your M.P.A. Thesis or Professional Report, try to enroll in or audit a small seminar with them prior to soliciting their assistance. If you have only taken a large course with a potential advisor, try to obtain feedback from the faculty member and not from a teaching assistant. Observing the interaction of a faculty member with students in a small seminar and the level of input you receive on submitted work is an excellent gauge of whether the faculty member will be an appropriate supervisor for your Thesis/PR.

  2. Make sure that your client organization and/or academic advisor’s ability to supervise your project is consistent with your needs. If you are a student who requires extensive supervision or are engaging in a project that utilizes unfamiliar methods, you will need to solicit a faculty member who is willing to invest a substantial amount of time into your project. Be sure to check on the supervisor and faculty member’s schedules in the long-term. Is the faculty member scheduled for a sabbatical during the course of your project? Will your supervisor be out of contact for an extended period of time during the course of your project? If so, are your supervisors willing to remain in contact with you by phone, fax, and e-mail?

  3. Keep your Thesis advisor and client supervisor updated on your progress. Submit drafts by the chapter/section so that you are receiving constant feedback on your work. It is much easier to revise a chapter/section than an entire M.P.A. Thesis/PR. It is recommended that you meet with your Thesis advisor and/or check in with your client supervisor at least every two-three weeks (when you are not interning with the client organization).

  4. Thesis information is a component of our alumni directory. If you are interested in a particular Thesis advisor but would like to get a better idea of the level of support that a faculty member has been able to offer in the past, try contacting a member of the CIPA alumni for their impression or speak with a second-year student. Alumni are also an excellent source of potential client supervisors, so check with the Office of Professional Development during the initial stages of your research to determine if there are any alumni who are relevant to your report.

ALL STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE AND FILE A COPY OF THEIR THESIS PROSPECTUS FORM OR PROFESSIONAL REPORT PRELIMINARY FORM WITH THE CIPA MAIN OFFICE PRIOR TO THEIR FINAL SEMESTER AT CIPA. THESE FORMS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE. FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE FORMS PRIOR TO YOUR FINAL SEMESTER WITH CIPA WILL RESULT IN YOUR NAME BEING OMMITTED ON THE COMMENCEMENT BROCHURE AND YOUR DIPLOMA WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT GRADUATION. THE GRADUATE SCHOOL NEEDS FORMAL NOTIFICATION FROM CIPA OF YOUR EXPECTED GRADUATION DATE MONTHS IN ADVANCE SO THEY ARE ABLE TO ORDER DIPLOMAS AND PRINT THE COMMENCEMENT BROCHURES.

Approximate Due Dates for Thesis Prospectus form and/or Professional Report Preliminary Form:

Mid-January - May Degree Candidates
June 1 - August Degree Candidates
Mid-September - January Degree Candidates


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