Policy Question Answer Structure? Forum

[VirginiaFan]

Does anyone have any idea how to structure a generic answer for a policy question?

For instance, if we got the question, "Should the insanity defense include an irresistible impulse test?", how would you structure your paper? Particularly, how do you include counterarguments without appearing wishy-washy?

[cavalier1138]

Pick a side, and don't worry about appearing wishy-washy. Use the cases you've studied in class to explain the consequences of policy choices and frame them in a way that supports your central thesis. For your specific example, pick out cases that center on the different insanity standards and show why the irresistible impulse test resulted in a good/bad outcome or would have resulted in a better/worse outcome.