How To Write An Policy Brief

Writing a Policy Brief/Policy
Paper
Miruna Troncota, PhD.
How to Approach Writing a Policy Brief
Structure and Writing Style
Problems to Avoid
Policy memo/ policy paper
definition
Policy brief writing assignments are intended to promote the following learning outcomes:
 Help students learn how to write academically rigorous, persuasive papers about a
specific “real-world” issue,
 Learn how to choose and craft a document’s content based on the needs of a
particular audience [rather than for a general readership],
 Prepare students about how to write effectively in non-academic settings,
 Teach students to be client-oriented and to better anticipate the assumptions and
concerns of their targeted readership, and
 Enable students to create original work that synthesizes their research into a succinctly
written document advocating change or a specific course of action.
A POLICY PAPER IS NOT AN ACADEMIC
PAPER
 You should not approach writing a policy brief (also knows as memo) like you
would an academic research paper.
 Yes, there are certain commonalities in how the content is presented [e.g., a
well-written problem statement], but the overarching objective of a policy
memo is not to discover or create new knowledge.
 It is focused on providing a pre-determined group of readers the rationale for
choosing a particular policy alternative or specific course of action.
 In this sense, most policy memos possess a component of advocacy and
policy advice intended to promote evidence-based dialog about an issue.
 Academic papers are focused on showing what you know. Policy memos are
focused on what you do with what you know in the real world, not I the
abstract theoretical debates.
Focus and Objectives
The overall content of your brief should be strategically

aimed at achieving the following goal:
convincing your target audience about the accuracy
of your analysis and, by extension, that your policy
recommendations are valid.
Avoid lengthy digressions and superfluous narration that
can distract the reader from understanding the policy
problem.
Professionally Written
Always keep in mind that a policy memorandum is a

tool for decision-making.
Keep it professional and avoid hyperbole that could
undermine the credibility of your document.
The presentation and content of the memo should be
polished, easy to understand, and free of jargon.
Writing professionally does not imply that you can’t be
passionate about your topic, but your policy
recommendations should be grounded in solid
reasoning and a succinct writing style.
Evidence-based
 A policy brief is not an argumentative debate paper.

 The reader should expect your recommendations to be based
upon evidence that the problem exists and of the consequences
[both good and bad] of adopting particular policy alternatives. To
address this, policy memos include a clear cost-benefit analysis that
considers anticipated outcomes, the potential impact on
stakeholder groups you have identified, clear and quantifiable
performance goals, and how success is to be measured.
Accessibility
 A policy brief requires clear and simple language that

avoids unnecessary jargon and concepts of an academic
discipline. Do not skip around.
 Use one paragraph to develop one idea or argument and
make that idea or argument explicit within the first one or
two sentences. Your memo should have a straightforward,
explicit organizational structure that provides well-explained
arguments arranged within a logical sequence of reasoning
[think in terms of an if/then logic model--if this policy
recommendation, then this action; if this benefit, then this
potential cost].
Presentation Style
 The visual impact of your brief affects the reader’s ability to grasp
your ideas quickly and easily.
 Include a table of contents and list of figures and charts, if
necessary. Subdivide the text using clear and descriptive headings
to guide the reader. Incorporate devices such as capitalization,
bold text, and bulleted items but be consistent, and don’t go crazy;
the purpose is to facilitate access to specific sections of the paper
for successive readings.
 If it is difficult to find information in your document, policy makers
will not use it.
Practical and Feasible
Your brief should provide a set of actions based on

what is actually happening in reality.
The purpose is never to base your policy
recommendations on future scenarios that are
unlikely to occur or that do not appear realistic to
your targeted readers.
 Here again, your cost-benefit analysis can be
essential to validating the practicality and feasibility
to your recommendations.
Explicit Transparency
 Provide specific criteria to assess either the success or failure of the policies you are
recommending. As much as possible, this criteria should be derived from your cost/benefit
analysis. Do not hide or under-report information that does not support your policy
recommendations. Just as you should note limitations in an original research study, a policy
memo should describe the weaknesses of your analysis. Be straightforward about it because
doing so strengthens your arguments and it will help the reader to assess the overall impact of
recommended policy changes.
 NOTE: Technically, your policy brief could argue for maintaining the status quo. However, the
general objective of policy memos is to examine opportunities for change and describe the risks
of on-going complacency. If you choose to argue for maintaining the current policy trajectory,
be concise in identifying and systematically refuting all relevant policy options. Summarize why
the outcomes of maintaining the status quo are preferable to any alterative policy options.
How to organize a policy brief
 The contents of a policy brief can be organized in a variety of ways. Below is a general
template adapted from the
 “Policy Memo Requirements and Guidelines, 2012-2013 edition”
published by the Institute for Public Policy Studies at the University of Denver and from
suggestions made in the book, A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to
More Effective Problem-Solving [Eugene Bardach. 4th edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage,
2012] .
I. Cover Page
 Provide a complete and informative cover page that

includes the document title, date, the full names and titles
of the writer or writers [i.e., Joe Smith, Student, Department
of Political Science, University of Southern California]. The
title of the policy memo should be formally written and
specific to the policy issue [e.g., “Charter Schools, Fair
Housing, and Legal Standards: A Call for Equal Treatment”].
For longer memos, consider including a brief executive
summary that highlights key findings and recommendations.
II. Introduction and Problem Definition
 A policy memorandum should begin with a short summary

introduction that defines the policy problem, provides important
contextual background information, and explains what issues the
memo covers. This is followed by a short justification for writing
the memo, why a decision needs to be made [answering the
“So What?” question], and an outline of the recommendations
you make or key themes the reader should keep in mind.
Summarize your main points in a few sentences, then conclude
with a description of how the remainder of the memo is
organized.
III. Methods
 This is usually where other research about the problem or issue of

concern is summarized.
 Describe how you plan to identify and locate the information on
which your policy memo is based.
 This may include peer-reviewed journals and books as well as
possible professionals you interviewed, databases and websites
you explored, or legislative histories or relevant case law that you
used. Remember this is not intended to be a thorough literature
review; only choose sources that persuasively support your
position or that helps lay a foundation for understanding why
actions need to be taken.
IV. Issue Analysis
 This section is where you explain in detail how you examined the issue
and, by so doing, persuade the reader of the appropriateness of your
analysis. This is followed by a description of how your analysis
contributes to the current policy debate. It is important to
demonstrate that the policy issue may be more complex than a basic
pro versus con debate. Very few public policy debates can be
reduced to this type of rhetorical dichotomy. Be sure your analysis is
thorough and takes into account all factors that may influence
possible strategies that could advance a recommended set of
solutions.
V. Proposed Solutions
 Write a brief review of the specific solutions you evaluated, noting the criteria
by which you examined and compared different proposed policy alternatives.
 Identify the stakeholders impacted by the proposed solutions and describe in
what ways the stakeholders benefit from your proposed solution.
 Focus on identifying solutions that have not been proposed or tested
elsewhere.
 Offer a contrarian viewpoint that challenges the reader to take into account a
new perspective on the research problem. Note that you can propose
solutions that may be considered radical or unorthodox, but they must be
realistic and politically feasible.
VI. Strategic Recommendations
 Solutions are just opinions until you provide a path that delineates how
to get from where you are to where you want to go. Describe what you
believe are the best recommended courses of action ["action items"].
In writing this section, state the broad approach to be taken, with
specific practical steps or measures that should be implemented. Be
sure to also state by whom and within what time frame these actions
should be taken.
 Conclude by highlighting the consequences of maintaining the status
quo [or if supporting the status quo, why change at this time would be
detrimental]. Also, clearly explain why your strategic recommendations
are best suited for addressing the current policy situation.
VI. Limitations
 As in any academic paper, you must describe limitations to your analysis. In

particular, ask yourself if each of your recommendations are realistic,
feasible, and sustainable, and in particular, that they can be implemented
within the current bureaucratic, economic, political, cultural, or other type
of contextual climate in which they reside.
 If not, you should go back and clarify your recommendations or provide
further evidence as to why the recommendation is most appropriate for
addressing the issue. If the limitation cannot be overcome, it does not
necessarily undermine the overall recommendations of your study, but you
must clearly acknowledge it.
 Place the limitation within the context of a critical issue that needs further
study in concurrence with possible implementation [i.e., findings indicate
service learning promotes civic engagement, but there is a lack of data on
the types of service learning programs that exist among high schools in Los
Angeles].
VII. Cost-Benefit Analysis
This section may be optional but some policy memos

benefit by having an explicit summary analysis of the
costs and benefits of each strategic recommendation. If
you include a separate cost-benefit analysis, be concise
and brief.
Most policy memos do not have a formal conclusion,
therefore, the cost-benefit analysis can act as your
conclusion by summarizing key differences among
policy alternatives.
Structure of a policy paper
 Introduction – abstract with the main ideas

 Description of policy problem
 Policy analysis – describing various policy alternatives
 Cost benefit analysis – providing the policy recommendations and assessing their impact
 Conclusions
conclusions
 In your policy brief you should:

 Follow the most recent events on that particular topic
 Make a very detailed synthesis of different views of that policy issue
 Use infographics
 Show what is the impact on Romania’s agenda for the 2019 EU Presidency
 Conclude with a paragraph with the most original contribution of your policy brief to the
overall topic (something that is memorable and useful for your readers)
 Never forget who is your audience – be very focused on your targer group!

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Writing a Policy Brief/Policy

The overall content of your brief should be strategically

Always keep in mind that a policy memorandum is a

 A policy brief is not an argumentative debate paper.

 A policy brief requires clear and simple language that

Your brief should provide a set of actions based on

 Provide a complete and informative cover page that

 A policy memorandum should begin with a short summary

 This is usually where other research about the problem or issue of

 As in any academic paper, you must describe limitations to your analysis. In

This section may be optional but some policy memos

 Introduction – abstract with the main ideas

 In your policy brief you should:

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