Assessment Specification
You will produce a policy briefing paper of 3,000 words (excluding front matter, references and appendices, but including tables and figures). Briefing papers are documents that quickly and effectively inform decision-makers about an issue, distilling often complex information into a brief, clear, well-structured document, and including conclusions and recommendations.
My chosen topic for the briefing paper is Euthanasia, &it should:
•be concerned with a specific, actual health policy (or set of related policies addressing a common policy area) of national, regional or global relevance;
•be retrospective, i.e. focus on the analysis of a policy which has already been implemented (or is being implemented);
•be aimed at a specified audience, e.g. politicians, policymakers, or decision-makers within an organization.
Many organisations produce policy briefing papers, and you should explore those produced by organisations working in your particular areas of knowledge/interest.
•Explain the issue(s) you will be discussing, their context and significance, and how you intend to approach them.
•The structure of the assignment should: follow the principles set out in the assignment guidelines, be clear, coherent and logical, and include appropriate headings and sub-headings.
•Identify relevant material, including up-to-date data and evidence, from a range of sources;
•demonstrate wide reading of the literature and select appropriate evidence, theories and tools.
•Critically apply the health policy triangle and other theories/tools/frameworks appropriate to your chosen topic;
•demonstrate critical understanding of the main issues relating to your topic, and their wider political, cultural and socio-economic context;
•identify the main actors/stakeholders and critically analyse their key characteristics;
•critically assess the key stages of the health policy process in relation to the topic;
•demonstrate critical understanding of the political and power dimensions of the topic;
•present policy options, recommendations and a conclusion.
