Assignment task:
Now that you have researched and presented testimony about a social problem, it is time to policy brief. Your policy brief should be approximately 2-3 single-spaced pages, not including the reference list. The policy brief is on the changes I want to be done to HEARTH. The change I want to see in the HEARTH policy is the implementation of trauma-informed care practices within homeless assistance programs.
What is a policy brief? A policy brief is a short document presented to decision-makers providing the most essential information about a policy and presenting specific and detailed recommendations to improve a specific policy. It should be both informative and persuasive.
What assumptions should be made about your readers? Your readers are policymakers who may need to make a decision about the policy. Assume the policymakers do not have detailed knowledge about the policy. Assume that the policymakers are busy, and need to quickly understand your arguments. Your readers do not necessarily share your opinion on the policy, on the policy problem, or even your values. Thus, avoid language that assumes your readers share your worldview.
How should a policy brief be organized? In professional practice, policy brief formats vary. For this class, your policy brief should be organized as follows:
A title that clearly communicates your topic or your position
- A brief introductory paragraph that introduces and summarizes your argument
- A brief description of the problem that the policy should be addressing, including its scope and magnitude
- A brief description of the policy, overviewing key elements of how it works and any aspect(s) of the policy's history relevant to your analysis
- Presentation and analysis of at least two of the policy's strengths and two of the policy's weaknesses, highlighting relevance to human rights, and social, economic, and environmental justice
- 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 and advance social wellbeing
• A clear and succinct conclusion
How long should a policy brief be? For this class, your brief should be approximately 2-3 single-spaced pages. Make sure to address and discuss all points necessary to educate and persuade your policymaker readers, but also be mindful to avoid any extraneous language or information not directly relevant to your analysis. How should a policy brief be formatted? Everything about a policy brief should be designed with the reader (a policy decision-maker) in mind. The format should be professional, and it should look and be easy to read. Consider using bold or italicized fonts, bullets to identify a list, single or multiple column formats, etc. No APA cover page, nor running heads, are needed.
What kind of title should a policy brief have? The title is important and should clearly communicate what your brief is about. It can be descriptive ("Kinship Care in Texas") or it can sum up your overall argument ("Expanding SCHIP Doesn't Fix Real Problems in U.S. How long should a policy brief be? For this class, your brief should be approximately 2-3 single-spaced pages. Make sure to address and discuss all points necessary to educate and persuade your policymaker readers, but also be mindful to avoid any extraneous language or information not directly relevant to your analysis.
How should a policy brief be formatted? Everything about a policy brief should be designed with the reader (a policy decision-maker) in mind. The format should be professional, and it should look and be easy to read. Consider using bold or italicized fonts, bullets to identify a list, single or multiple column formats, etc. No APA cover page, nor running heads, are needed. What kind of title should a policy brief have? The title is important and should clearly communicate what your brief is about. It can be descriptive ("Kinship Care in Texas") or it can sum up your overall argument ("Expanding SCHIP Doesn't Fix Real Problems in U.S.
What kind of writing is used in a policy brief? Your writing should be concise. Avoid jargon, as your reader may not be familiar with the terminology used in practice. Write a document that a busy person, who isn't as familiar with your policy as you are, will understand. Clearly organize your writing. Make sure that 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 entice your audience to read further.
How much evidence is necessary and how should it be cited? All arguments and recommendations should be evidence-based. Relevant evidence (statistics, research findings about the impact of your policy, etc.) and citations must be used to justify your policy analyses and your recommendations. 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. All citations must include the author's name(s) and year, and you must include a complete reference list consistent with APA requirements at the end of your brief (This is not included in the page limits).