Policy memos are different than research papers. The purpose of a policy memo is to help a specific audience understanding the rationale for choosing a specific course of action. Memos are designed for non-academic audiences, geared toward the needs of the audience, and synthesize research in a way that results in you advocating for a specific type of change or action. A good policy memo will usually have the following characteristics:
Short, focused, and to the point without excessive explanations
Specific, clear and professionally written
Avoids academic or disciplinary jargon
Points are clearly supported by evidence that show consequences of each alternative
Visually appealing and clearly organized with clear and descriptive headings and subheadings, use of capitalization, bold text, bulleted items, etc.
Practical and feasible recommendations that are likely to occur and don’t seem unrealistic
Explicit and honest in describing strengths and weaknesses of your recommendations
