Policy Briefs

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What is a policy brief?

A policy brief summarizes a particular issue, offers options for addressing the issue, and usually recommends a course of action with the goal of facilitating policy decisions. Before beginning your draft, answer the preparation questions and read through the document characteristics described in the table.

Draft

Put yourself in your reader's shoes. What questions might he ask regarding the policy issue, proposed options, implementation, and recommendations? Next, answer those questions as succinctly as possible. The best way to know if your document is clear, comprehensive, and easy to read is to ask a member of your targeted audience to read it and give you feedback on the areas of clarity, development, and readability.

Checklist

Is my document

___ focused

___ professional (not academic)

___ evidence based

___ succinct

___ understandable

___ accessible

___ practical and feasible

___ action oriented

The following table represents a typical structure of a policy brief.1

Revise

Because policy briefs are read by busy people, brevity and strategic document design (headers, callouts, visuals, and page layout) will increase readability. Therefore, revise your brief to provide a concise, easy to read document meeting the following guidelines2:

    1. Keep your brief brief. Policy briefs are 4-5 pages and no more than 1500 words.

    2. Write for your audience. Assume your readers are educated, able to distinguish good from poor evidence and strong from weak logic, but may not be informed about the issue. If you assume many of your readers disagree with the position presented in your brief, you may be better positioned to create a much stronger, clearer argument than if your position merely "preaches to the choir."

    3. Say it succinctly. Write efficiently, avoiding unnecessary words, shortcuts, or jargon your reader may not understand.

    4. Write with impact. Use clear, concise sentences and repeat key ideas.

    5. Use visuals. Create graphics (tables, charts, and other images) to convey your message clearly.

    6. Design with typography. Set off key points using headlines and callouts.

    7. Use action captions. Avoid cliche headers, such as "Implications." Instead, create informative headlines, ones that capture the main point you want to make: "Avoiding the Pitfalls through Public-Private Partnerships."

    8. Create an attention-getting title. Instead of "Hydraulic Fracturing," why not "Water Use for Hydraulic Fracturing: a Texas-Sized Problem." Thus your title should interest the audience your brief targets, and it should be accurate, i.e., it should not misrepresent your topic.

    9. Set off your takeaways. Use a callout (or shaded box) to make them easy to see.

    10. Cite reputable sources. Use only reliable, current, and reputable sources, not ones that represent a clear bias.

Policy Structure

Additional Sample Policy Briefs

The Takeaway: Policy Briefs from the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy

Policy Brief Template-MS Word (by TemplateLab)

First 5 LA Public Policy Brief--Sugary Drinks: A Big Problem for Little Kids

1The table information has been adapted from the following source:

How to Write a Policy Brief provided at http://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page, which is available for adaptation under their Creative Commons license and Attribution Requirements.

2Many of these guidelines were inspired by Dr. Lori Taylor, frequent contributor and editor of The Takeaway: Policy Briefs from the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy.