- Identify a social problem or social policy: Make it clear to the reader what social problem/issue you will be examining and if there is a particular policy issue that needs to be addressed.
- Explain the historical context of the problem: Did the problem just emerge or has it been a persistent issue
- Examine what are present and potential interventions for this issue: What steps have been taken to address the issue and what are potential interventions yet to be implemented. Furthermore, what interventions are you recommending, and how will those interventions be measured.
- Explain what stakeholders and organizations are involved with combatting the issue: Is the issue simply a policing, courts, etc., problem, or does it involve multiple stakeholders
- Identify what barriers exist with implementing progressive changes meant to minimize or eliminate the particular social problem