Bravo for Brevity: Using Short Paper Assignments in International Relations Classes* S AMUEL L UCAS MC MILLAN Lander University This paper examines the use of short writing assignments in undergrad- uate international relations courses. It gives instructors ideas about thinking beyond traditional research papers and instead focuses on shorter assignments that demand critical thinking skills. The ability to write concisely is useful for students with future careers in government, business, nonprofits, journalism, electoral politics, or academia. By requiring application of theoretical frameworks (perhaps as policy rec- ommendations in a memo), students can see how policymakers employ international relations theories, thereby simulating the work inside the National Security Council or US State Department. This highlights the connections between theory and policy. Short papers can also better showcase role playing and connect with active learning techniques. Research papers of 10 pages or more may not be as useful as shorter assignments that focus students’ attention on analyzing an issue, present- ing a case study, or writing a policy brief. Keywords: writing assignments, role playing, teaching, simula- tions For too long, students in higher education have been expected to write a 10- page research paper for many undergraduate political science courses. Bob (2001) notes that the “method of choice for many instructors is the term paper.” 1 Instead of traditional research paper assignments, shorter writing assign- ments may serve the same purposes of encouraging students to develop critical thinking skills, conduct research, and provide evidence to support their argu- ments. The ability to write in a concise fashion is a useful skill for students with future careers in government, business, nonprofits, journalism, electoral politics, or even academia. 2 Professional positions in these fields are much more likely to require persons to write memos, letters, policy briefs, and articles rather than full research papers. Some examples include Congressional staffers writing letters to *Author’s note: The author thanks the editors and anonymous reviewers for their help in improving this manuscript. 1 Although some faculty members have gone away from the 10-page research paper, it remains the default writ- ing assignment model. For example, Bob (2001) discusses undergraduate writing assignments and says that his tem- plate of instructions is appropriate “for a 10- to 15-page research paper” (653), and Josefson (2005) discusses his own 10-page essay assignment used in introductory classes for eight years. 2 For example, the first two basic tools of writing in Writing Classified and Unclassified Papers for National Security are clarity and conciseness (Major 2009:4–7). McMillan, Samuel Lucas. (2014) Bravo for Brevity: Using Short Paper Assignments in International Relations Classes. International Studies Perspectives, doi: 10.1111/insp.12003 Ó 2013 International Studies Association International Studies Perspectives (2014) 15, 109–120.