How do you write an executive summary for a policy brief?

Table of Contents

Executive Summary: This section is often one to two paragraphs long; it includes an overview of the problem and the proposed policy action. Context or Scope of Problem: This section communicates the importance of the problem and aims to convince the reader of the necessity of policy action.

Does an executive summary have its own page?

Place the executive summary on its own page(s). The first paragraph should immediately capture the reader’s attention, whether it’s a story, surprising fact, or insightful quote. Experts recommend using bullet-points (when possible) to present your ideas and keep it concise.

Can you include quotes in a summary?

5. A good summary may use key words from the original text but should not contain whole phrases or sentences from the original unless quotation marks are used. You must express the sense of the original using your own words and structures.

What are the 3 main requirements for a good summary?

A good summary has three basic characteristics: conciseness, accuracy, and objectivity. Conciseness: unlike paraphrase, summary condenses information. The degree of density can vary: while you can summarize a two-hundred page book in fifty words, you can also summarize a twenty-five-page article in five hundred words.

Can a paraphrase be shorter than a summary?

Since a paraphrase normally deals with a very specific portion of a text, the paraphrase should include all the elements of that portion. A summary is much shorter than the original passage. A paraphrase is roughly the same length, and even sometimes a bit longer, than the original passage.