Policy Analysis Paper Template
To: [Identify entity with vested interest here. Be specific, use a person’s name if it is available. Be sure to include the person’s title, and the organization they represent]
From: Your name and title
Date:
Re: Compelling subject statement
Problem Statement (Approximately 1.5 -2 pages)
In this section, define the problem WITHOUT defining the solution (example: “there are too many homeless families”, NOT “there is too little shelter for homeless families”).
Start with a short statement that concisely states the problem.
Follow with some evidence that the problem exists. Think about the impacts of the problem. Who or what is affected by it? Is it widely distributed or concentrated?
Use data from reliable sources to support your claims. Some examples of data include:
Government reports
Needs assessments
Program evaluations
Forecasts/Projections
Community surveys
Remember, you are setting boundaries on the problem in this section- be as narrow as necessary for the audience you have selected. You also want to clearly convey to the audience that this is a problem that they are responsible for addressing.
Stakeholders (Approximately 1 page)
In this section, list and describe the parties with interest in the issue you have identified. How do different stakeholders perceive the problem? What are their objectives in resolving the problem?
References (on a separate page- does not count toward page limit)
Use APA format for in-text citations and references.
