Coastal Management Problem Memos

One of the ways that you will develop your skills as a coastal manager is to use the theories, concepts, and legal precedents to analyze a series of coastal management problems. Some of these problems are hypothetical while others are based on real places and events. These problem assignments are designed to heighten your interest and awareness of the significant issues that coastal and environmental managers face. They also allow you to practice diagnosing problems and to develop your ability to respond to these situations. This does not promise that you will learn how to solve problems without creating others but it should help sensitize you to some of the more obvious issues and traps involved in problem-solving and help you to better understand the consequences of alternative courses of action.

Over the course of the semester you will be required to prepare 5 memos for these assignments that respond to a particular, question, problem, case, or readings. Each assignment generally asks you to analyze the readings and apply the topics and concepts discussed. The memos and briefing presentations are also designed to develop your communication skills. Since many of the problems are complex and involve a variety or real or hypothetical issues, you will benefit from discussing these assignments with your classmates. While you must prepare your own individual written assignments, I encourage you to work together in analyzing the problems.

Case Memos

Over the course of the semester you will be required to prepare 5 memos that respond to a particular, question, problem, case, or reading (See each assignment's web page below).

	Problem Memo #1: User Conflicts
	Problem Memo #2: Public Trust Doctrine
	Problem Memo #3: Public Access
	Problem Memo #4: Integrated Problem
	Problem Memo #5: Regulatory Takings

Each assignment generally asks you to analyze the readings and apply the topics and concepts discussed. The problems are designed to heighten your interest and awareness of the significant legal issues and policy problems that coastal managers and local officials face. Your memos should be formatted professionally and be well written. They are limited to no longer than 3 single-spaced pages with 1 inch margins and 12 point font. This doesn't include any attachments or figures. Blackboard contains a variety of readings to provide guidance in terms of preparing memos.

Briefing Presentations

Each case memo assignment is targeted at a specific decision maker. Accordingly, each student will present their analysis of 1 case to the class as if they were providing a briefing to the decision maker or a group of decision makers. Accordingly, it should be professional in nature. Accordingly, your presentation should be brief, well organized, and professional. It is limited to 10 minutes. You should rehearse the presentation to ensure that you complete it in the time allowed. You should also use appropriate audiovisual aids (no more than 5 - 10 slides). Since everyone will have read the case, your presentations should focus on your analysis should focus on the alternatives, evaluative criteria, systematic comparison of the alternatives, and the presentation of a recommendation grounded in the data from the analysis. You may wish to provide a handout as you would if making a presentation to decision makers. See the set of readings on Blackboard that provide advice on making good presentations.

	Problem Memo #1: User Conflicts: James Dixon, Megan O'Hare
	Problem Memo #2: Public Trust Doctrine: Connor Finnerty, Patrick O'Mahony
	Problem Memo #3: Public Access: Christy Herring, Austin Scott
	Problem Memo #4: Integrated Problem: Lashana Marshburn, Erin Udvare
	Problem Memo #5: Regulatory Takings: Ryan McAlister, Robert Walker

Grading

Your memos will be evaluated based on your analysis of the problem, the organization of your ideas, your ability to properly apply the theories and concepts discussed in class and the quality of your writing (e.g., spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.). Your goal is to write as clearly, concisely, and directly as possible. Elegance of style, while desirable, is a secondary consideration. Short declarative sentences often convey ideas equally well; convoluted grammar confuses things and often leads to misunderstandings. Remember that you are trying to convey your ideas to people who have infinite demands on their time. A simple, direct style economizes on time. Your memos are also expected to be professional in nature. Thus, they should utilize a standard professional format. Any format is acceptable provided that is businesslike and prepared in a professional manner.

Length is also a critical matter, particularly if your memos are addressed to top agency officials. If greater length is required, it should take the form of an attached analytical paper with a short cover memo summarizing its contents. For this class, your memos should not exceed 3 single-spaced typed pages with 1 inch margins. If it is longer, I will only read the first 3 pages and it will be graded accordingly.

When you are required to provide a briefing presentation, your grade for that memo assignment will factor in the quality of the presentation and your ability to fit it within the allocated time constraints.

Case Discussion & Class Participation

We will spend a considerable portion of each class period discussing the problems. Failure to actively participate and contribute to these class discussions will adversely effect your participation grade.

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