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2007 - 2011 Plan of Work

Needs Assessment --
Instructions for Preparing Issue Area Papers

Issue Area Papers Overall Guidelines

• Issue area papers are to be a maximum of four pages in length. 

  • Page 1: Abstract -- 250 words maximum. (See Writing 250-word abstracts for POW issue papers for more information.)
  • Page 2-3: Narrative -- see Guidelines for the Narrative below.
  • Page 4: Citations, References, and Peer Reviewers.

• The use of credible resources is assumed.  Resources used need to be documented --  see Citation/Reference Format below.

• Each Issue Area Paper will be peer reviewed, with reviewers listed on page four of the Issue Area Paper.  It will be the responsibility of the author to coordinate the peer review. A minimum of three people will be included on the peer review team for each Issue Area Paper:

  • One person must be a UMCE Program Administrator

  • One person from outside of UMCE, if possible.

• Font: 12 point/Times New Roman

• Margins of no less than 1/2 inch on all sides

• Pages should be numbered

Timeline and submission information
Final peer reviewed Issue Area Papers are to be submitted to Plan of Work Task Force:

• Via email to the Plan of Work Task Force [ powc@umext.maine.edu ]

• Submission Format: MS Word file.

• Submission Date: August 1, 2004

Guidelines for the Narrative
The following six major headings should be addressed in the Narrative:

1. The Scope of this Issue Area:

Is this area broad…, including many other sub-issues or is it a more focused area? (i.e. production agriculture vs. livestock [beef, swine, etc.], dairy, crop [potato, broccoli, etc.], fruit [tree fruit, blueberries, etc.] etc. OR health and wellness vs. physical [nutrition, fitness, smoking cessation, etc.], mental [stress, etc.], emotional [relationships, etc.], spiritual, or financial health and wellness)

2. The Current Situation… An Overview:

What issues rise to the forefront in this area? Use relevant statistics and cite sources.

3. What are the societal impacts and consequences in Maine if this Issue Area is not being addressed or resolved?

• Describe the impact on people, communities [businesses, organizations, local governments], the state, and our society.
• Why should we be concerned with these issues?
• Use examples, illustrations, or case studies if possible.

4. What changes need to be made to improve the current situation?

• What programmatic goals and objectives could we work toward to improve the current situation?
• Cite any research that has been done that links these changes with desired improvements.

5. What type of programmatic or corrective action is indicated or could be taken to produce the desire results?

What does the research or other sources indicate are some successful techniques or actions that can be taken to bring about the desired changes. Cite sources.

6. Who else is addressing this issue area in Maine?

• What pieces of the issue are being addressed by others within or outside of UMCE? What pieces are not being addressed?
• Who are potential collaborators?

Citations and References Format

Full (first) citation, book:
1. Howard P. Segal, Future Imperfect: The Mixed Blessings of Technology in America (Amherst: The University of Massachusetts Press, 1994), 37.

Subsequent citation, book:
2. Segal, Future Imperfect, 52.

Full (first) citation, article in a periodical:
1. Kathleen Burnett and Eliza T. Dresang, "Rhizomorphic Reading: The Emergence of a New Aesthetic in Literature for Youth," Library Journal 69 (October 1999): 439.

Subsequent citation, article in a periodical:
2. Burnett and Dresang, "Rhizomorphic Reading," 441.

Full (first) citation, chapter in a multiauthor book:
1. Ben Shneiderman, "Universal Usability: Pushing Human-Computer Interaction Research to Empower Every Citizen," in Media Access: Social and Psychological Dimensions of New Technology Use, ed. Erik P. Bucy and John E. Newhagen, 255-257 (Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004).

Subsequent citation, chapter in a multiauthor book:
2. Shneiderman, "Universal Usability," 260.

Online material with authors:
1. L.J. Mehrhoff, J.A. Silander, Jr., S. A. Leicht and E. Mosher, “Catalogue of Species,” IPANE: Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (Storrs, CT: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut), http://webapps.lib.uconn.edu/ipane /browsing.cfm?descriptionid=25 (accessed May 2003).

Online material without authors:
1. University of Maine Cooperative Extension, "Issue Areas for 2000 to 2004," http://www.umext.maine.edu/resources/issues2.htm (accessed March 2004).

Interview, unpublished:
1. Cindy Eves-Thomas (webmaster and graphic designer, University of Maine Cooperative Extension), interview by Dennis Harrington, November 30, 2003.

Personal communications:
1. Jane Smith, e-mail message to author, April 17, 2002.

Unpublished papers:
1. Deborah Dice and Richard Pool, "Marketing Extension" (working paper, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Orono, Maine, 1999).

Issue Areas

The list of issue areas can be found at Issue Areas. (4/9/04)

If you have questions regarding these guidelines, contact the Plan of Work Task Force by sending emails to the Plan of Work Task Force login or powc@umext.maine.edu.

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