The readings for Sept. 11 are extremely informative and should be done
carefully. The chapters from Schon and Rein's "Frame Reflection"
suggest a new way to analyse policy controversies that may be helpful
to you.

Our main focus in class with be on *your* examples of frame conflicts
that you have encountered and how they were resolved, or your
suggestions of how they might have been resolved. Be sure to consider
individual as well as institutional frames.

The following questions may help you to focus on some of the
significant points.


Concentrate more on chapter 2 because it suggests a new approach,
while chap. 1 is an analysis of what has been.


Chapter 1:

1) What makes policy controversies so intractable? Give some of your
own examples of what you consider policy controversies rather than
disagreements.

2) What are the authors' 3 traditions of policy making, and what are
their criticisms of them? Which do you think is most useful?

3) Is it necessary to assume that people and groups are "rational
actors" in a microeconomic game? What is wrong with this assumption
when it comes to policy making?

----------------------

Chapter 2:

4) What are frames and how do they affect thinking about policy?

5) What are the 2 major frames at work in their urban renewal
discussion?

6) What does this mean: "Each story constructs its view of social
reality through a complementary process of naming and framing."

7) What are some of the basic social (generative) metaphors to which
policy makers appeal? Give some examples from your own culture or
subculture.

8) Why is it important for the policy maker/analyst to understand the
"normative dualisms" in policy controversies?

9) Why is it difficult for a player to see the various frames
operating around him in policy controversies? Why are there no
objective observers in policy situations?

10) Why is the institution, or institutional framework, in which
policy is discussed important?

11) What is the difference between political debate and political
action? How do rhetorical and action frames differ?

12) What are institutional action frames, and how do they evolve?

13) What is the nature vs. nurture debate?

14) Why is it difficult to analyse frames?