Crafting good policy can be difficult, but learning to write a memo that is clear, concise, and compelling shouldn’t be. Learn how to translate your hard work into a memo that matter in this Writing Workshop module.
One of the primary reasons why many policy analysts struggle to write clearly and concisely is that they don’t have clarity about whom they’re writing for. Before you analyze your data, you’ve got to get a clear understanding of who your reader is, what they want to achieve, and how you can help them achieve it. To figure out what your reader needs, you can ask yourself six questions—the answers to which will help you know what research questions to ask, what kinds of data to collect and analyze, and how to communicate the results of your analysis in an interesting and persuasive way.
Simplicity is key to achieving clarity in your writing and effectively engaging with your audience. However, considering the complexity of most policy problems, providing clear and compelling answers is anything but simple. So, where do you start?
To make a persuasive case for policy reform, it’s not enough to point out and contextualize the issues, problems, or challenges you’ve uncovered during your research. You must also show your readers what is supposed to be happening, why the issue you uncovered exists in the first place, and what the future might be like if the reader followed your guidance (or, what might happen if they don’t).
Emergency food aid is a critical component of the United States’ foreign aid efforts, and it is essential to ensure that it is reaching the intended beneficiaries effectively and efficiently. By using GAGAS, we will evaluate the program’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations, determine if the program is achieving its objectives, and assess its overall impact.