How to Write a Briefing Paper

Thứ bảy - 27/04/2024 01:08
A briefing paper outlines a particular issue and its background, usually for a government official or other policy maker. These decision-makers have to make hard choices about many different topics every day, and they do not have time to...

A briefing paper outlines a particular issue and its background, usually for a government official or other policy maker. These decision-makers have to make hard choices about many different topics every day, and they do not have time to research each one in-depth. A briefing paper helps bring a single issue to someone's attention and fills in key details he or she needs to know. It then proposes solutions and recommends improvements. Knowing how to write a briefing paper is a useful skill for students, business professionals, politicians and community activists. A persuasive briefing paper is concise, well-organized and covers the most important and relevant facts and solutions.

Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Mapping Out and Setting Up Your Paper

  1. Step 1 Determine the scope of the paper.
    The scope includes both the depth and breadth of the paper. How much detail will you go into? How many different topics will you cover? This will vary based on how much information you're able to find as well as how much information you'll need to include in order to support your claims.
    • Determining the scope of the briefing paper is important because it will allow the reader to know exactly what information is covered and what is not.
  2. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Describing the Issue

  1. Step 2 Outline the key facts/background.
    The next section, labeled "considerations" or "background" should provide some detailed information about the state of the problem or issue, focusing on the recent development and/or current state of the situation.[5]
    • This section should include the information necessary for the reader to make a decision about this issue. Information not necessary for this purpose, however interesting it may be, should be excluded.
    • If you haven't already, do some research before writing this section. You want the information in section to be as accurate, specific, and up to date as possible.[6]
    • When necessary, translate the information for your audience to make this section clear and simple. Avoid jargon, technical language, or information that isn't of central concern to the audience.
    • Use statistics and data as appropriate, but explain things in terms that your audience will be able to quickly and easily understand.
  2. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Offering Conclusions and Recommendations

  1. Advertisement
Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Editing the Paper

  1. Advertisement


Sample Briefing Papers

Sample Alien Invasion Briefing
Sample Flu Outbreak Briefing
Sample Dress Code Briefing

Total notes of this article: 0 in 0 rating

Click on stars to rate this article