How to Write a Policy Memo - Revision

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From the course by Duke University

Understanding 9/11: Why 9/11 Happened & How Terrorism Affects Our World Today

13 оценки

Duke University

Understanding 9/11: Why 9/11 Happened & How Terrorism Affects Our World Today

13 оценки

This course will explore the forces that led to the 9/11 attacks and the policies the United States adopted in response. We will examine the phenomenon of modern terrorism, the development of the al Qai'da ideology, and the process by which individuals radicalize towards violence.

From the lesson

Week 2: What is Terrorism?

Our topic for this week is, what is terrorism. We will try to define terrorism and understand the actions that we're going to be studying in this course, 9/11 and its aftermath. We will examine one of the key debates in this area; can terrorism be executed by a state, or is it only the use of political violence by a non-state actor. You will also learn how to write a policy memo.

Online Resource Search - Catherine Shreve4:29

How to Write a Policy Memo - Overview10:17

How to Write a Policy Memo - Heading and Background7:15

How to Write a Policy Memo - Analysis and Summary5:14

How to Write a Policy Memo - Revision2:29

How to Write a Policy Memo - Proofread2:05

Meet the Instructors

David Schanzer
Associate Professor of the Practice
Sanford School of Public Policy

Okay, your whole memo is drafted.

Now it's time to revise.

A couple of other things about the revision process.

Write long and then consolidate.

You're going to think the 750 word limit is your enemy.

It's not.

It's your friend, because when you write, initially there's so much information, so

many arguments you want to make.

You're going to do a word count.

It's going to say 1,000 words,

2,000 words, and you'll go, my God, how am I going to get this down to 750 words?

I want to make each of you a promise.

I promise you that that 750 word memo, after you hone it,

after you consolidate, after you get rid of all the extraneous arguments,

arguments that don't make any sense, the sentences you don't need.

The words you don't need.

That 750-word memo's going to be tighter.

It's going to be more persuasive and easier to read for

the decision maker than a 2,000-word memo that you started with.

[COUGH] I'm sorry, you're going to go through a lot of pain and

agony Getting the 2000 word memo down to 750 can be a very valuable process and

it's going to make it a better product.

I've said this three or four times, it bears repeating,

keep your sentences short and uncomplicated.

I can't tell how many papers I have graded in my life

where I will do a word count on one sentence 40 words,

50 words, 70 words with three or more embedded clauses.

Keep in simple.

Keep it short.

Short sentences are great because they give the reader a little rest.

The reader doesn't want to have to plow through clause upon clause.

Dozens of words upon dozens of words in one sentence.

Work on your transitions.

How do the sentence before relate to the next sentence.

Is it a however?

Is it a therefore?

So do they contrast?

Or does one support the other?

Is it just an additional point?

Is it a moreover?

So those linking words, does it temporally, currently?

As we said previously, sometimes these linking

words can provide some sort of temporal linkage between one or the other.

There's always relationships with the sentences, between sentences and

you need to use those linking words to smooth those transitions.

And I said before, focus on the first sentences of your paragraphs.

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