Writing Public Policy

Writing Public Policy is a practical, concise guide to writing and communicating in the public policy processes. Intended to help students understand and perform common types of communication used in solving public problems, this text explains the standards and functions of communicating in the public sector and teaches the use of selected public policy communication genres. A useful tool for any student preparing for a career in politics, government, public relations, law, public policy, journalism, social work, public health, or in any role concerned with public affairs, this text teaches skills and techniques needed to effectively communicate in the democratic process of making public policy. Presenting a general method for planning, producing, and assessing communications in a variety of real-life contexts and situations, this text includes: scenarios to illustrate the complexity in policy processes, including their diversity of contexts, the variety of actors involved, and the range of communication types produced; sample documents illustrating examples of public policy communication within different realms including state legislatures, non-profit organizations, government committees, special interest groups, and professional associations; commentary relating the scenarios and examples to the general method; and specific instructions for producing particular written or spoken communication types that are utilized in public policy processes.

Table of Contents:
PREFACE; HOW TO USE THIS BOOK; 1. Public Policy Making; 2. Communicating the Public Policy Processes Standards; PARTICIPANTS, ROLES AND PRACTICES; A GENERAL METHOD OF COMMUNICATING A PUBLIC PROCESS; 3. Definition: Frame the Problem; HOW TO DEFINE A POLICY PROBLEM; 4. Legislative History: Know the Record; HOW TO CONDUCT LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH AND WRITE A LEGISLATIVE HISTORY; 5. Position Paper: Know the Arguments; HOW TO ARGUE IN A POSITION PAPER; 6. Petitions and Proposals: Request Action or Propose Policy; HOW TO ASK FOR ACTION OR PROPOSE POLICY ON BEHALF OF A GROUP; 7. Briefing Memo or Opinion Statement: Inform Policy Members; HOW TO INFORM POLICY MAKERS IN A BRIEFING MEMO OR OPINION STATEMENT; 8. Testimony: Witness in a Public Hearing; HOW TO DELIVER ORAL TESTIMONY BASED ON A WRITTEN STATEMENT; 9. Written Public Comment: Influence Administration; HOW TO WRITE A PUBLIC COMMENT; AFTERWORD: PROVIDING FOR CHANGE IN PUBLIC POLICY COMMUNICATION

Review :
"We (as faculty) need to improve the ways students write about and communicate in public policy. It is a practical skill we most neglect in our teaching--and the very one that prepares students for the real world of public affairs. In sum, we've needed a book like this for a long time--it will aid us in teaching skills as well as knowledge to our students."--Daniel Gitterman, University of North Carolina