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LIS 382L.5: GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

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Suggestions for Writing Policy Analysis

This section of the syllabus offers two general, interrelated models for doing policy analysis and then writing policy reports. You can use these to guide your own writing as your study of policy analysis progresses beyond this semester's work, but they are also useful for evaluating the work of others. Such evaluations are very common in policy studies, whether one is doing so for the purposes of critique, literature review, or peer review. Policy analysts constantly review each others' work in a collegial but demanding way.

The first model is based on one offered by Charles R. McClure, with my own modifications added.Particular analysts and topics may demand different approaches:

Abstract
Introduction
- Importance of specific topic

Definition of key terms
Key stakeholders
Key policy areas needing analysis and resolution

Overview of current knowledge

Evaluative review of the literature about the topic, including print and electronic sources

Existing policy related to the topic
- The most important legislative, judicial, and regulatory policy instruments
- Ambiguities, conflicts, problems, and contradictions related to the instruments
Key issues
- Underlying assumptions
- Effects on and roles of key stakeholders
- Conflicts among key values
- Implications of issues
Conclusions and recommendations
- Recommendations
- Rationale for recommendations
- Implications and possible outcomes of specific courses of action
References
- APA style
- All sources cited in the paper.

The second model is based primarily on the work of William Dunn, with contributions from the work of Ray Rist on qualitative policy research methods, Emery Roe on narrative policy analysis, and Donald Schön on generative metaphor. I avoid the rhetoric of problems and problem solving deliberately.

Elements of the policy issue paper (adapted from Dunn, 1994, with material from Rist, 1994; Roe, 1994; and Schšn, 1993)

Element	Examples of Evaluative Criteria
Executive summary Background of the issue or dilemma Description of the social dilemma Outcomes of earlier efforts to address the dilemma	Are recommendations highlighted? Are all the important terms clearly defined? Are all appropriate dimensions described? Are prior efforts clearly assessed?
Scope and severity of the problem Assessment of past policy efforts Significance of the conflict Need for analysis	Why is the social conflict important? What are the major assumptions and questions to be considered?
Issue statement Definition of the issue Major stakeholders Goals and objectives Measures of effectiveness Potential solutions or new understandings	Is the issue clearly stated? Are all major stakeholders identified and prioritized? Is the approach to analysis clearly specified? Are goals and objectives clearly specified? Are major value conflicts identified and described?
Policy alternatives Description of alternatives Comparison of future outcomes Externalities Constraints and political feasibility	Are alternatives compared in terms of costs and effectiveness? Are alternatives systematically compared in terms of political feasibility?
Policy recommendations Criteria for recommending alternatives Descriptions of preferred alternative(s) Outline of implementation strategy Limitations and possible unanticipated outcomes	Are all relevant criteria clearly specified? Is a strategy for implementation clearly specified? Are there adequate provisions for monitoring and evaluating policies, particularly unintended consequences?
References
Appendices