Policy & Executive Writing: Turning Complex Research into Clear Recommendations
Policy & Executive Writing: Turning Complex Research into Clear Recommendations
The challenge in policy and executive writing is rarely having enough information. It is deciding what matters, what the evidence actually supports, and how to communicate complex analysis clearly enough for someone to make a decision.
This advanced class is designed for graduate students, researchers, policy professionals, consultants, nonprofit and government staff, and other experienced writers who need to turn research and analysis into concise, credible, actionable communication.
We can work with policy memos, briefing papers, executive summaries, research reports, recommendations, proposals, presentations, decision documents, or a real project you are currently developing.
Depending on your goals, we can work on:
* Defining the problem before proposing the solution
* Distinguishing evidence, assumptions, findings, and recommendations
* Synthesizing large amounts of research
* Identifying what decision-makers actually need to know
* Structuring policy and executive memos
* Writing concise executive summaries
* Developing and comparing policy alternatives
* Using evidence to support recommendations
* Communicating uncertainty and limitations honestly
* Writing for government, nonprofit, academic, and executive audiences
* Anticipating stakeholder concerns and counterarguments
* Moving from analysis to practical, defensible recommendations
* Editing complex material for clarity, precision, and brevity
* Using AI responsibly for research, synthesis, drafting, and review
A central principle of this class is that strong policy writing is not simply shortened academic writing. Decision-makers operate with limited time, incomplete information, competing priorities, and real-world constraints. Effective writing helps them quickly understand the problem, the evidence, the available choices, the tradeoffs, and what you recommend doing next.
My approach is highly practical and collaborative. Whenever possible, we can work directly with a document or problem you are facing professionally or academically. We can examine not only the writing itself, but also the reasoning underneath it: Is the evidence strong enough? Does the recommendation follow from the analysis? What assumptions are being made? What would a skeptical reader challenge?
I have taught policy analysis, research, and professional writing at the university level and have worked as a policy researcher, author, and consultant on projects involving government agencies, universities, nonprofits, and other public-sector organizations. Much of my professional work has involved translating complicated research, interviews, data, and competing stakeholder perspectives into findings and recommendations that policymakers can use.
The goal is not simply to produce a better document. It is to develop the discipline of thinking and writing clearly when the subject itself is complicated.