Author Guidelines
Author Guidelines
Format and Layout
All submissions must be in MS Word format (.doc or .docx). Use Times New Roman 12pt. Images, tables, charts, and graphs embedded in the brief must also be submitted separately as individual files (.jpg, .png, .bmp, .gif, or .psd). This requirement ensures high-resolution layout by the press.
Required Structure of a Policy Brief
Executive Summary. 1–2 paragraphs covering: (1) a description of the problem addressed; (2) why the current approach or policy option must change; (3) your recommendations for action. Decision-makers must grasp the brief's core argument from this section alone.
Keypoints. All policy brief submissions must include a Key Points section containing at most 5 bullet points. This section serves as a rapid-reference summary for time-constrained decision-makers and is placed immediately after the executive summary, before the main body of the brief.
Context and Importance of the Problem. A clear statement of the problem; a short overview of its root causes; and a statement of policy implications that establishes current urgency. This is both the introduction and the first building block of the argument.
Critique of Current Policy Option. A short overview of the policy approach currently in place or being considered, followed by an argument illustrating why and how it is failing or insufficient. Recognize all relevant perspectives — credibility depends on acknowledging the full debate.
Policy Recommendations. A breakdown of specific, practical steps or measures that need to be implemented. Recommendations must be realistic, targeted to the named audience, and grounded in the evidence presented. A closing paragraph re-emphasizing urgency is encouraged.
References. A short reference list in APA 7th Edition format. The brief should provide enough source information that interested readers can locate original materials. References do not count toward the word limit.
Appendices (If necessary). Include only when essential to the argument and not available elsewhere. Appendices should be concise. They do not substitute for clear argumentation in the body of the brief.
Audience Identification
Every brief must identify its primary target audience explicitly — whether an individual (e.g., a Secretary of a Department), an institution (e.g., the Sangguniang Panlalawigan), or a broader but defined group (e.g., municipal health officers in BARMM). The argument, evidence, and language must be tailored to that audience's values, knowledge, and decision-making context.
Language and Tone
Briefs must be written in clear, direct, non-technical language. Avoid academic jargon, legalistic phrasing, and discipline-specific terminology. The target reader is an informed non-specialist under time pressure. Facilitate readability through catch-phrases, descriptive subheadings, and the presentation of data as graphs or charts where appropriate (Kopenski, 2010).
Format and Layout
All submissions must be in MS Word format (.doc or .docx). Use Times New Roman 12pt. Images, tables, charts, and graphs embedded in the brief must also be submitted separately as individual files (.jpg, .png, .bmp, .gif, or .psd). This requirement ensures high-resolution layout by the press.
Required Structure of a Policy Brief
Executive Summary. 1–2 paragraphs covering: (1) a description of the problem addressed; (2) why the current approach or policy option must change; (3) your recommendations for action. Decision-makers must grasp the brief's core argument from this section alone.
Keypoints. All policy brief submissions must include a Key Points section containing at most 5 bullet points. This section serves as a rapid-reference summary for time-constrained decision-makers and is placed immediately after the executive summary, before the main body of the brief.
Context and Importance of the Problem. A clear statement of the problem; a short overview of its root causes; and a statement of policy implications that establishes current urgency. This is both the introduction and the first building block of the argument.
Critique of Current Policy Option. A short overview of the policy approach currently in place or being considered, followed by an argument illustrating why and how it is failing or insufficient. Recognize all relevant perspectives — credibility depends on acknowledging the full debate.
Policy Recommendations. A breakdown of specific, practical steps or measures that need to be implemented. Recommendations must be realistic, targeted to the named audience, and grounded in the evidence presented. A closing paragraph re-emphasizing urgency is encouraged.
References. A short reference list in APA 7th Edition format. The brief should provide enough source information that interested readers can locate original materials. References do not count toward the word limit.
Appendices (If necessary). Include only when essential to the argument and not available elsewhere. Appendices should be concise. They do not substitute for clear argumentation in the body of the brief.
Audience Identification
Every brief must identify its primary target audience explicitly — whether an individual (e.g., a Secretary of a Department), an institution (e.g., the Sangguniang Panlalawigan), or a broader but defined group (e.g., municipal health officers in BARMM). The argument, evidence, and language must be tailored to that audience's values, knowledge, and decision-making context.
Language and Tone
Briefs must be written in clear, direct, non-technical language. Avoid academic jargon, legalistic phrasing, and discipline-specific terminology. The target reader is an informed non-specialist under time pressure. Facilitate readability through catch-phrases, descriptive subheadings, and the presentation of data as graphs or charts where appropriate (Kopenski, 2010).