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While it might seem like including as many numbers as possible is the way to go, overuse can quickly bog down a brief. Before creating your policy brief, understand your audience. By using our site, you agree to our. Explain what research has been conducted, how data was collected and by whom, and other background information that establishes the credibility of your research. In todays blog, Dr Shonagh McEwan, Knowledge Exchange and Impact Advisor, shares insights from a recent workshop on writing policy briefings. How to Write a Policy Brief | Better Evaluation Double check whether you have inadvertently excluded any of themfrom your analysis. It should also capture the essence of what your brief is about. FOIA Dont bog down your brief with too many numbers, though. [subpost] => An official website of the United States government. BetterEvaluation is part of the Global Evaluation Initiative, a global network of organizations and experts supporting country governments to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and the use of evidence in their countries. The site is secure. Like other grant-making organizations, the Open Society Foundations achieve impact largely through the work of its grantees. Policy Brief - The Writing Center at UNC. Some stakeholders might be reluctant to accept your policy change or even acknowledge the existence of the problem, which is why your brief must be convincing in its use of evidence and clear in its communication. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. It may be worth highlighting the positives of other proposals, as well, to demonstrate that your conclusion is balanced and objective. [suppress_filters] => There is a degree of trial and error in the beginning, Habursky says. Policymakers are in demand, and so your communication is competing with many other inputs. They were really long and really dense, says Karen Pearl, president and CEO of Gods Love We Deliver, a New York organization that provides meals to people who are too sick to shop or cook. While your policy recommendations will undoubtedly use persuasive language, keep them rooted in facts. Beware of over-explaining the issue, particularly to a pre-informed audience. Any figures should relate explicitly to your thesis statement. She crafts the message to be in easy-to-understand language, not jargon. These will make your policy brief more reliable. PDF An Essential Guide to Writing Policy Briefs Translating evidence from systematic reviews for policy makers. ) [tag__and] => Array ( [error] => On the other hand, your audience may be government officials who are potentially antagonistic to your message. [post_parent] => If you have turned it off manually in your browser, please enable it to better experience this site. Yet large portions of the states population are unable to access treatment for acne. Voluntary euthanasia provides the opportunity for them to control their death. You might bothuse the exact same sources in writing your papers. Selecting the appropriate brief depends on the level of the evidence available and the stage in the policy process. For example, if you're writing a policy brief about assisted euthanasia, you might mention that terminally ill patients leave behind massive medical bills that could be controlled if assisted euthanasia were an option. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! The target audience may be leaders of organizations, lawmakers or other policy influencers. (PsycINFO Database Record, MeSH The opening sentence is straightforward; instead of focusing on the source, it makes a clear and memorable point that is supported by the source. The biggest mistake people make when writing a policy brief is making it too biased, Habursky says. [category_name] => [w] => 0 ( Focus your writing on data and details that directly lead to your proposed solution. This article offers guidance on how to write a policy brief by outlining 4 steps: (a) define the problem, (b) state the policy, (c) make your case, and (d) discuss the impact. Since you are going to provide recommendations in the brief, you want to make it clear that your recommendations come from a place of knowledge and are backed by research. Careers. [post_author] => 43 It will relate the findingsto current policy debates, with an emphasis on applying the research outcomes rather than assessing the research procedures. Many academic disciplines discourage using unnecessary jargon, but clear languageis especiallyimportant in policy briefs. n.d. The Policy Brief. University of Delaware. [ID] => 8120 Policy Briefs - The Writing Center University of North Carolina at A well-chosen title helps capture attention and makes people want to keep reading. Any views expressed within media held on this service are those of the contributors, should not be taken as approved or endorsed by the University, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University in respect of any particular issue. [tag_id] => Epub 2011 Feb 2. Engage advocates and drive targeted actions with grassroots advocacy software. You may have to write a policy brief for a class assignment, or while working for a corporation or nonprofit organization. [attachment] => How to Write a Policy Brief | 22 Free Templates and Examples Knowing the extent of the problem helps to frame the policy issue for your reader. A policy brief can take two different formats. ) [tax_query] => This slideshow from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) outlines purpose of, and the the process for writing policy briefs. We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback. A research paper mightalso suggest practical actions, but apolicy brief is likely to emphasize them more strongly and develop them more fully. This includes keeping your sentences short. ) [post__in] => Array OECD Policy Briefs 2001 Jul;16(7):513-9. doi: 10.1177/088307380101600711. Be sure to include enough context so that the reader can understand the problem. This is the section of your policy brief where you get to explain the reasons behind your policy recommendations and show the research and data behind them. An executive summary is a brief synopsis of the main points of the policy brief, including the conclusions and recommendations. [tb] => ) [author__not_in] => Array Washington, D.C. 20004, 2021 State of Public Affairs Industry Report. Make sure the data and information you find is directly related to your thesis. Simply put, a policy brief is a document that outlines a policy in, typically, 700 words or less. eCollection 2019. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial. This is a big issue, and too broad to serve as the focus of a policy brief, but it could serve as a starting point for research. [resource-type] => blog CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Careful editing and revision are key parts of writing policy briefs. Ensure your visuals match your narrative and narrative matches your visuals, Mehlman says. How to write a policy brief Contents Policy briefs are a key tool to present research and recommendations to a non-specialized audience. Jennifer holds a JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. Each bullet point should concisely describe an important detail or takeaway in little more than a single sentence. Long considered a benign rite of passage, acne actually has far-reaching effects on the health and well being of adolescents, significantly affecting success in school, social relationships, and general quality of life. The briefs are usually designed in an aesthetically pleasing way, sometimes with an image or graphic. ) [author__in] => Array Developing a Policy Brief on Child Mental Health Disparities to Promote Strategies for Advancing Equity among Racial/Ethnic Minority Youth. ( News articles and research are helpful. Narrowing to one of these (and perhaps further) would allow you to write a brief that can propose concrete policy action. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. [1] ) [category__not_in] => Array ( Among the major themes of the report are that dermatologic health is essential to general health and well-being and that profound and consequential dermatologic health disparities exist in the state of Outlandia. For people with terminal illnesses, this is only possible if assisted euthanasia becomes legal. [2] The .gov means its official. A policy brief is a document that provides a brief analysis and explanation of policy issues and problems together with the policy options and recommendations for addressing those issues or problems. When drafting a policy brief, having as much information about an issue as possible is critical to success. You can also use your appendices and sources section to provide more background information so you dont disrupt the flow of the main text. This can be difficult sometimes if the problem is broad (like homelessness) and you see all sorts of related issues, but do your best to stay on topic. WHAT? ( Creating narrow and achievable asks with a short, concise agenda can make all the difference, according to John Loyer, CEO of Loyer Consulting. You can share more detailed information if you are asked, or provide a fuller report on request. A policy brief should include a clear description of the issue or problem you want policymakers to address. ( Point to specific benefits (and quantify these if you can), Use engaging, accessible language and active verbs, Use pull-out quotes, stats and infographics, Get a critical friend/non-specialist to read and review your briefing. [feed] => and transmitted securely. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted For example, if you're writing a policy brief on voluntary euthanasia that will be distributed to government officials, you might encourage them to write or promote legislation to legalize voluntary euthanasia. A policy briefing is one way of communicating with policymakers (hint learn about other ways by reading our blog on Engaging with policymakers!). [cat] => They also include a strong visual and a longer, more detailed report that includes citations and more extensive research on the topic. Backing up your argument with statistics is a non-negotiable for a policy briefing. Learn more A policy brief is a short document that either advocates for a particular position or objectively describes a policy issue and the options available. [paged] => 0 Were here to demystify the art of writing a policy brief and make the process simpler and less time-consuming. What are the potential ramifications of inaction on this issue? Policy briefs are typically written for organization leaders, policymakers, and others who are responsible for creating and influencing policy. Once youve identified the problem for yourself, you need to decidehow you will present it to your reader. A law firm was fined $5,000 after one of its lawyers used ChatGPT to write a court brief. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.