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What is a policy brief?
A policy brief is a short document presented to decision-makers that provides the most essential information about a policy and presents specific and detailed recommendations to improve it. It should be both informative and persuasive.
Summary of workflow:
Choose a problem/issue.
Explore the research (gather sources)
Read & annotate the research (sources)
Write the policy brief
What assumptions should be made about your readers/audience?
Your audience/readers are policymakers who may need to decide about the policy. Assume the policymakers need to gain detailed knowledge about the policy. Assume that the policymakers are busy and need to understand your arguments quickly.
Your readers do not necessarily share your opinion on the policy, on the policy problem, or even your values. Thus, language that assumes your readers share your worldview should be avoided. Approach the issue from an academic standpoint, informed by research and evidence.
How should the paper be formatted?
Everything about a policy brief should be designed with the reader (a policy decision-maker) in mind. The format should be professional, look, and be easy to read.
Use professional, ADA-compliant fonts. Use bullets to identify a list. Use single or multiple-column formatting.
Follow a standard publication style (APA, MLA, or Chicago). Exception: don’t use running heads or a title page.
What kind of writing is used in a policy brief?
The Policy Brief outlines your rationale (theory, reasons, evidence, etc.) for choosing a particular action to address a problem or issue. The ultimate purpose of a policy brief is to convince a target audience of the urgency of a current situation and the need to adopt the preferred alternative or course of action outlined.
As always, you’ll write in your own words, using your phrasing (i.e., demonstrate the knowledge you’ve gained). Your writing should be concise. Because a reader may not be familiar with the terminology used in practice, all professional/educational terminology must be defined/explained. Write a document that a busy person who isn’t as familiar with your policy as you will understand.
You’ll address and discuss all necessary points to educate and persuade your policymaker readers. Still, it would help if you were mindful to avoid any extraneous language or information not directly relevant to your analysis.
Direct quotes should be minimal. Use up to one direct quote per 500 words; a piece of directly quoted text should be at most four words.
Organize your writing using frequent paragraph breaks. Ensure you communicate a clear take-home message to your reader through your brief.
Use specific headings to tell your story, to communicate your take-home message, and to guide your audience.
How much evidence is necessary, and how should evidence be cited?
Writing to/with sources allows us to analyze, evaluate, and critically explore relevant evidence (empirical evidence and theoretical perspectives) and express all ideas with precision and clarity. All arguments and recommendations should be evidence-based.
To provide evidence that you have conducted adequate research on your topic, you must consult, meaningfully incorporate information from, and cite at least six credible sources — including at least three articles from top-tier, peer-reviewed research journals focusing on US education. Use the ERIC online database of articles. Do not use Google Scholar; it will punk you. I will provide a list of “approved” top-tier research journals.
Relevant evidence (statistics, research findings about the historical issues and current impact of the issue or policy, etc.) and citations must be used to justify your policy analyses and your recommendations. Note that a citation and a direct quote are not the same things!
All words, ideas, data, graphics, etc. that you have learned or “gotten” from other sources must be cited using either in-text citations or footnotes.
In-text citations must include the author’s name(s), year, and page number(s).
Your annotated bibliography (annotated list of all references/sources) appears at the end of the paper. The formatting must be consistent with APA, Chicago, or MLA.
FORMATTING THE PAPER
Summary –
The final policy brief should be 1250 words long, not including the title page, direct quotations, and References (Works Cited).
The assignment must be double-spaced and paginated. The font should be 12-point for the entire document. Use 1-inch margins.
At the top of your document should appear your name, course name, date, and a descriptive title for your paper (hint: “Policy Brief” isn’t descriptive).
Organize your policy brief around the elements/headings below (items a-e). Clearly label the headings and use the headings to structure your writing.
What kind of title should a policy brief have?
The title is essential and should communicate what your brief is about. It can be descriptive (e.g., “Parental Choice in NY Schooling”), or it can sum up your overall argument and communicate your position (e.g., “Expanding Parental Choice Doesn’t Fix Real Problems in U.S. Educational System”).
How should the writing be organized? Use the headings below (the bolded elements, a-e).
Executive summary
The executive summary aims to convince the reader further that the topic is worthy of an in-depth investigation (historically and present). It is significant for an audience that needs more time to see the relevance and importance of the brief in reading the summary. As such, a 2-paragraph executive summary will:
Describe the problem that your paper addresses. Briefly summarize the scope and magnitude of the problem, both historically and present. State why the current approach/policy option needs to be changed.
Briefly describe the policy change that you’re proposing. Provide an overview of critical elements of the policy – how it works and any aspects(s) of the policy’s history relevant to your analysis.
Context and importance of the problem
This element of the brief aims to convince the target audience that a current and urgent problem requires them to act. The historical context and current importance of the problem are both the brief’s introductory and first building blocks. As such, it usually includes the following:
A clear statement of the problem or issue in focus. What historical, philosophical, social, and political issues are at play (citing our readings and your research/sources as evidence)?
A short overview of the root causes of the problem (with evidence).
A clear statement of the policy implications of the problem establishes the current importance and policy relevance of the issue (with evidence).
Critique of current policy option(s)
The aim of this element is to detail the shortcomings of the current approach or options being implemented (including tracing the historical roots and their shortcomings) and, therefore, illustrate both the need for change and the focus on where the change needs to occur. In doing so, the critique of policy options usually includes the following:
A short overview of the policy option(s) in focus. A discussion of the underlying philosophy of the options as evidenced in our readings and your own research.
An argument illustrating why and how the current approach(es) is/are failing. Our readings and your research show a discussion of politics and sociology.
All opinions on the issue in the debate need to be recognized for credibility.
Policy recommendations
The policy recommendations aim to provide a detailed and convincing proposal of how the failings of the current policy approach need to be changed. This is achieved with:
Presentation and analysis of at least two strengths and weaknesses of the policy you recommend.
Presentation and justification of at least two specific, actionable recommendations for strengthening the policy that you want policymakers to adopt. These recommendations should logically flow from your analysis.
A breakdown of the specific practical steps or measures that need to be implemented.
A closing paragraph re-emphasizes the importance of action.
Annotated bibliography (annotated list of all Works Cited and consulted)
Your annotated bibliography goes at the end of the paper.
Use a standard bibliographic format (APA, Chicago, or MLA).
Use the ERIC database to find peer-reviewed, educational research journal articles if you need additional sources. Journal articles must be at least ten pages long. If a source looks like a magazine article (e.g., if it has photos and colored fonts), it likely is not a peer-reviewed, educational research journal article. If you have questions about whether a source is credible, email me during working hours – include a PDF of the article and a description of your topic. Link to tutorial doc (for finding articles/sources online using ERIC).
Some general info on policy briefs (with short, general examples):
Policy Briefs
POLICY BRIEFS
ASSESSMENT INFO
Assessment Criteria:
Organization and strength of the argument presented, including appropriateness of evidence, historical analysis, logic, and the accurate use of appropriate evidence/sources.
Demonstration of learning; incorporation of relevant, accurate knowledge of course concepts and use of professional/academic language
Grammatical accuracy and attention to writing style.
🎯 TARGET OUTCOMES 🎯
To be assessed in the A to B range, the work must demonstrate clear evidence of meeting target criteria in this column.
1. Specification of the problem and discussion of the problem’s scope/magnitude. Applies/demonstrates mastery of the concepts and frameworks necessary to effectively discuss and analyze the topic and its underlying issues – i.e., the historical roots or origins of the problem and the scope, individuals and groups affected by the problem. Clear statement of the problem. Discussion of who is affected and how. How did the policy come about? Accuracy and completeness of the policy description (e.g., target population, what the policy provides specifically, how it works). The topic and overall inquiry are relevant within the scope of the course.
2. Data/evidence and references. The writer’s major points, analysis, and policy recommendations are grounded in evidence from credible, timely, and relevant sources. Clear identification and critical discussion of at least 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses. Quality of critical analysis.
3. Identification and justification of the policy recommendations. Clear identification of at least 2 specific recommendations, which clearly and logically flow from the discussion/evidence. Strength of the justification for each recommendation.
4. Writing fluency and expression of ideas. Writing style is clear, concise, engaging, and appropriately tailored to the intended audience. Appropriate language, grammar, spelling, and use of in-text citations. Direct quotations are avoided, and the report is written in the writer’s own words. Effective writing such as transitional phrases guide the reader through the report.
5. Organization. Writer follows the directions for formatting. The report is well-organized and easy to navigate: Meaningful title and useful headings.