# Assessed Assignment: Policy brief (30%)
A policy brief is a tool to advocate specific policy recommendations in a concise and accessible manner by bringing research and evidence to the attention of policy makers.
A policy brief is opinionated and a direct application of your critical thinking as it provides timely, engaging and feasible, evidence-based recommendation(s) for policy action. It is aimed at decision makers and should be written with the specific audience in mind. Will the topic be relevant to that decision maker, does it further his or her political agenda?
The objectives of this assignment are to assess your ability to:
• Apply concepts and theories to analyse selected global health challenges;
• Explain the perspectives of relevant institutional actors influencing policy development and implementation; and
• Critically analyse, using specific examples, some challenges of implementing health policy in a global context.
## Task
Write a **1,500-word** policy brief addressed to an institution or senior policymaker involved in decision-making in health advocating at least TWO policy recommendations that would impact the health of citizens positively. Write this as if you were the relevant programme director.
You should write your policy brief on a specific issue/disease concerning one of the following topic areas:
1. non-communicable diseases
2. reducing the health risks of migration
3. emerging infectious disease preparedness
Briefs should draw on material from the relevant sessions as a starting point for identifying the key issues in your selected country.
## What should my policy paper look like?
Your policy brief should include the following sections:
• **Title** that should capture attention and state main problem to be addressed.
• **Executive summary** in which you outline the entire brief in one to two paragraphs.
• An **introduction** in which define the problem and why it is relevant.
• **Methods and results** where you explain the methodology used to collect the data and present the research findings, including a discussion of policy options and their likely impact.
• **Recommendations** where you briefly state two to three original recommendations to address the issue in the country of interest.
• **Conclusions** in which you reinforce the key messages.
• **References and suggested sources**. You are expected to include at least 10 key sources (preferably journal articles) that are relevant to the topic.
Be sure to state clearly which institution you are aiming this policy brief to. You can refer to the following source for further guidance on how to write a policy brief (or the Wong et al., 2016 source located in the reading list):
French-Constant, R (2014) [How to plan, write and communicate an effective policy brief](https://www.researchtoaction.org/2014/10/plan-write-communicate-effective-policy-brief-three-steps-success/).
## How are the marks weighted?
Your policy brief should be framed in a way that is convincing and relevant to the political mandate of the target audience chosen. The policy brief should be compelling, arguing for at least two policy recommendations that would impact the health of citizens (and voters) positively.
**Title and executive summary** (10%): The title should be concise and capture attention. The executive summary should effectively explain in one to two paragraphs the main findings of the policy brief.
**Introduction** (15%): The introduction should concisely set the scene for a reader unfamiliar with the topic by summarising the current status of the issue in your chosen country (including information on the affected population and the country’s health system).
**Methods and results** (35%): The methods and results section should outline how the results were obtained (i.e. databases searched, key terms used, number of papers found and how you evaluated them, etc.) and summarise the existing evidence on how the issue is being addressed by referring to main themes in the literature. This section should also present policy options based on the literature review that are relevant to the setting. In addition, this section should make appropriate use of examples and critically analyse the main challenges related to the issue.
**Recommendations** (20%): The recommendations section should provide a convincing argument for the implementation of at least two original and specific interventions, programmes or policies to address the challenge within the country context. This includes explaining why they were selected, justifying their relative merits and limitations. The recommendations should be clear and concise and _directly relate with the results in the previous section._
**Conclusion** (10%): The conclusion should reinforce the key messages, highlighting the need for the chosen institution or policymaker to take action on the issue by applying the policy recommendations outlined in the brief.
**References and suggested sources** (5%): The list of references should be complete (at least 10 references most of these consisting of journal articles), making use of Harvard or Vancouver referencing style. The list of suggested sources (at least 3 sources) is separate from the list of references and should outline key references that the senior official can refer to for further information.
**Appropriate presentation, use of jargon-free language appropriate for the audience and use of citations** (5%): The policy brief should be well written and clear. It should be structured appropriately and include linking sentences or paragraphs to guide the reader. In addition, the language should be appropriate for a non-specialist audience and in-text citations should be included.
**Please note the following instructions and table of grade descriptors on the next page:**
• If you are unfamiliar with writing in this format please refer to LSHTM’s ‘**Writing Skills and Referencing Resources**’ section found on the [](https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/new-students/starting-your-course-distance-learning/study-skills-links)[Study Skills](https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/new-students/starting-your-course-distance-learning/study-skills-links) [](https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/new-students/starting-your-course-distance-learning/study-skills-links) page and to LSHTM’s [Academic Writing Handbook](https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/sites/default/files/academicwritinghandbook.pdf) [](https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/sites/default/files/academicwritinghandbook.pdf) which can be found in the GHM Student Zone.
· Please also read the [Instructions for Preparing and Submitting GHP Formative and Assessed Assignments 2024/25](https://ble.lshtm.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=367786) located in the GHM Student Zone.
• Do not put your name on the assignment. Use ONLY your student number.
• Type and double-space your assignment using 12-point font.
• Include page numbers in your document.
• Fully and accurately **cite all references and resources** used to complete your assignment, including programme materials and readings when appropriate. Refer to the [Academic Writing Handbook](https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/sites/default/files/academicwritinghandbook.pdf) for instructions on correct referencing and citation.
• Refer to the [LSHTM Academic Manual](https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/organisation/quality-and-academic-standards/academic-regulations) (2024-25) section 7.2 (Academic Integrity) for information on **assessment irregularities** and the penalties that will be imposed if an irregularity is identified.
· Ensure you keep to the **word limit**. Assignments that exceed the set word limit will be penalised. Please remember that the maximum word count will include in-text citations but excludes reference lists (bibliographies) and appendices. Footnotes and endnotes will not be included in the overall word count but are not recommended for use in this type of document and if used, should be utilized only as a referencing method. You may also include one table and/or one figure if needed and these will not count towards the word limit. See from section 8b.6.5.3 of LSHTM’s [Academic Manual](https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/organisation/quality-and-academic-standards/academic-regulations) (2024-25) for the penalties that will be applied if you exceed the word limit.
• An Assignment Cover Sheet (located in the GHM Student Zone) must be completed and attached to your assignment.
• Save your assignment as GHM104AA.doc
• Your assignment should be submitted as a single **Word document** to the Assignment Management System (AMS) **by 23:59 UK time on 31 March 2025.**
• See from section 8b.6.5.8 of LSHTM’s [Academic Manual](https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/organisation/quality-and-academic-standards/academic-regulations) (2024-25) for details of the penalties that will be applied to assignments submitted after the submission deadline.
• Remember to keep a copy of the assignment you submit and ensure that the assignment document’s ‘Last modified’ date is before the submission deadline (i.e. do not re-save or modify your assignment as doing so will update the ‘Last modified’ date). In the unlikely event of a technical issue with the AMS we will only accept an assignment document as a valid submission by email if the ‘Last modified’ date is before the submission deadline.
**Table of Grade Descriptors for assignment**
|**Grade point**|**Descriptor**|**Policy brief should include evidence of…**|
|---|---|---|
|**5**|**Excellent**|Excellent engagement with the chosen topic in the selected country, reflecting a strong level of critical analysis of the available literature. Student demonstrates excellent ability to clearly and convincingly convey sophisticated ideas in a persuasive manner when presenting the facts to consider for decision-making, as well as original thinking in the formulation of evidence-based recommendations. Results and arguments are well structured in a concise way and using jargon-free language appropriate for the target audience. Some minor inaccuracies or omissions may be permissible.|
|**4**|**Very good**|Very good engagement with the chosen topic in the selected country, reflecting very good level of critical analysis of the available literature. Ideas are presented in a persuasive manner and the student demonstrates very good capacity for original thinking when formulating specific evidence-based recommendations. Results and arguments are structured appropriately, and the language used reflects an understanding of the target audience. Some inaccuracies or omissions may be present, but not enough to question the student’s understanding of the subject matter.|
|**3**|**Good**|Good (but not necessarily comprehensive) engagement with the chosen topic in the selected country, reflecting the capacity for critical analysis of much of the available literature. Student demonstrates original thinking in the formulation of balanced arguments and recommendations based on the findings. Results are structured appropriately but some of the language used may be overly technical.|
|**2**|**Satisfactory**|Adequate engagement with the chosen topic in the selected country, reflecting some capacity for critical analysis of the relevant literature. Student demonstrates some level of critical thinking and originality when formulating balanced arguments based on the literature and specific recommendations related to the findings, though this may be limited. Results are structured appropriately but most of the language used may be overly technical.|
|**1**|**Unsatisfactory / poor (fail)**|Inadequate engagement with the chosen topic in the selected country, reflecting limited capacity for critical analysis of the relevant literature. Student demonstrates gaps in understanding, poor argument and presents simple recommendations that are unrelated to the findings. Use of technical language inappropriate for the target audience.|
|**0**|**Very poor (fail)**|Poor engagement with the chosen topic in the selected country, demonstrating little to no capacity for critical analysis of the relevant literature. Student demonstrates limited understanding, very poor argument and recommendations. Null mark may be given where work has not been submitted, or is in serious breach of assessment criteria/regulations.|
# Reference
[[@wongHowWriteHealth2017]]