BRIEFING PAPER: FINAL ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
The ability to conduct research on an issue, write a detailed memorandum, and provide a briefing to your superior or a group of leaders about the issue is vitally important if you work in the field of law or public policy. This term you will be conducting research and preparing an outline to assist you as you prepare your presentation and final policy briefing paper to convey information you learned through your research over the past seven weeks. We have reached the end of the course where you will apply the concepts, principles, and themes you have learned over the past seven weeks to your analysis of the issue you have selected. This week you are to finally prepare and submit your formal analysis and recommendations to address one of the issues presented at the start of the term.
INSTRUCTIONS
This paper will be the culmination of your work. For this assignment you will write a policy briefing paper that is based on your research over the past 7 modules: weeks. The goal is to prepare a final report for a “client” or “principle.”
Your paper must include an introduction with a thesis that clearly states the main issue and provides any/all background information needed to explain to the reader the extent of the issue. Your paper will then consist of the following 3 subsections: you will provide a detailed summary and analysis of past, current, and future policy addressing the issue. You will then also provide a conclusion where you will give your recommendation as to what course of action will best address the issue.
Items to include are outlined as follows:
• Length of assignment: 10-15 double-spaced pages
o The following is required but is excluded from this length requirement: abstract, reference section, and appendices.
• Format of assignment: Current Turabian Format
• Number of citations: 10
• Acceptable sources: scholarly sources, course assigned readings, empirical journals, published within the last 20 years.
This assignment includes a template to follow. See the “Briefing Paper: Final Template” This template does not include the required abstract, references section or appendices needed for this assignment (as they conform to the Turabian Style as linked in the course) this template just addresses the specific layout for the body of the paper that the instructor is looking for.
Note: your paper is not a traditional research paper but a policy brief which is distinct in several ways. Policy briefs are indented to be decisive and focused and convey the practical implications of research to the audience. There are often several headings and they are very pointed. The purpose of a policy brief is to synthesize research findings information to help your reader decide what they should do.
As described in the Instructions portion above, your headings will include the Introduction with your thesis statement and background information. Your brief will then include 3 subheadings: past policy, current policy, and future policy. Your brief will conclude with a Conclusion heading where you deliver your final recommendation to the audience.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
