Writing policy briefs
Policy briefs are a distinct genre of writing; they differ from academic research papers in tone, audience, and format. Typically, policy briefs include an executive summary with an overview of the key issue and its significance, research findings, possible options to address the issue, recommendations, appendices, and references. These components are combined in a short document intended for decision makers.
Understanding how to write effective policy briefs is helpful for professional roles in government, non-profit organizations, and corporations. More generally, policy briefs are useful for learning how to write concisely for public audiences.
By the end of the workshop participants will:
- Examine policy briefs from governments, think tanks, and non-profit organizations
- Synthesize research to produce a list of recommendations on an issue of interest
- Devise an outline for a policy brief on an issue of interest
- Demonstrate an understanding of the tone, audience, style, and format of policy briefs
Date and Time: Friday September 22, 2023, from 2pm – 4:30pm
Location: Zoom
Instructor: Kaushar Mahetaji, PhD Student, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
