Audit of higher education in Scottish universities

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Policy Brief

Students will draw on class discussions and readings to analyse a substantive policy issue of their choosing after the agreement of Professor Mitchell, the Course Organiser. The goal will be to investigate and develop a workable solution to the policy problem, using the theories, analytical skills and techniques they have learned in this course. Students will then submit this analysis in the form of a 'policy brief' (maximum 1,000) that is written in a professional manner, concluding with specific policy recommendations. See 'How to write a policy brief' at the end of this outline.

How to Write a Policy Brief

What is a policy brief?

A policy brief is NOT an essay and should not be written in essay format. It is a brief document that presents and highlights findings, including recommendations, to a non-specialist audience.

What is the aim of a policy brief?

It aims to provide policy advice that is based on evidence that is sourced. Sources should be provided.

What style should be adopted?

The style should be highly readable using boxes, timelines, bullet points (though do not use too too often or have too many and ensure each makes a discrete point), graphs, sidebars, highlights (in bold, italics etc), charts and diagrams where appropriate (and this means used to distil information that would otherwise require many more words and space).

What should be covered in the brief?

The issues involved in the particular policy under consideration should be explored, options considered and relevant research/experience relevant to the policy identified and discussed.]

What format should be adopted?

A short - preferably in bullet point format - executive summary should be provided including key conclusions/recommendations at the start of the document. An introduction offering background where relevant should be included following the executive summary. This should be on the first page (and should not spill over onto a second page) and should be enough for a reader to understand the broad outline of contents (but it is more than a contents page). The executive summary appears on the first page but is written last.

It should be focused and avoid extraneous or tangential material (though pointers to further information may be provided especially relevant webpages).

How long?

It should consist of no more than 1,000 words.

How to begin?

Start with a PLAN and a clear PURPOSE.

What else to keep in mind?

• Keep your audience in mind (and indeed state which audience you are addressing at the outset) - make it user-friendly

• Ensure you remain relevant and consider whether any words/passages will help the reader in making up her mid on the policy issue

under discussion (if not then remove the words) - advantages and disadvantages of policy options should be stressed.

• Use sub-titles where appropriate and make the paper attractive by using colour and pictures as background without undermining the serious nature of the subject.

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