| Definition |
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| Audience |
Scholars |
Can vary, usually political leaders or those with political influence
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General public |
General public |
| Purpose |
Contribute new knowledge and understanding of political issues |
Provides rational for a specific policy action. |
Educate and inform citizens on specific policy issues. |
Inform and influence public opinion on matters of public policy. |
| Access/Distribution |
Academic publishers and societies. Often behind paywall, with growing open access movement. |
Depends on desired range of influence. Can be internal to a political organization to inform decision making or published to inform public debate. |
Generally available to anyone with an internet connection. |
Widely available in print and online. Fees may apply based on publication. |
| Structure/Features |
Some variation, always contains literature reviews, methodology, discussion, and conclusions |
Leads with an executive summary, providing the reader with a clear overview of the memo's contents. |
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| Citations |
Formal citiations. APSA, Chicago, and APA are common in Political Science publications. |
Formality depends on audience and organization. Claims should be supported and readers should be able to locate sources referenced. |
Informal. Digital publishing allows for linking to sources. Be mindful of link rot and be sure your reader can validate claims. |
Informal. Digital editions may allow for linking to sources, but readers of print copies lack access. Be mindful of link rot and be sure your reader can validate claims. |
| Additional Resources |
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USC Libraries - Writing a Policy Memo
Duke University Thompson Writing Program - Policy Memo
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Duke Communicator Toolkit - Writing Effective Op-Eds |
