A Simple Guide on How to Write a Briefing Paper

Generally, decision-makers will only have less time to research all the issues they experience. So, in such a case, a briefing paper will be more helpful. A briefing paper is a concise document that highlights a particular problem, summarizes the important details, and also proposes solutions for that problem. Majorly, the briefing note is used by politicians, board members, stakeholders, government officials, managers, and policymakers to grasp a certain situation. In case, you would like to know how to write a briefing paper, then take a look at this blog post.

Here, we have shared an overview of a briefing paper, the information to be included in a briefing document, and the standard format of a briefing paper. In addition to that, we have also shared the steps and tips for writing a briefing paper.

Continue reading this blog to learn about briefing document preparation.

What is a Briefing Paper?

A Briefing Paper also known as a briefing document or a briefing note is a type of document that informs decision makers such as politicians, board of directors, etc about issues that they don’t have time to look for. It is a short and easy-to-read document that outlines an issue and highlights the important facts, figures, and other information related to the presented issue or a scenario that must be addressed.

Usually, a briefing document will give notice to the readers about one major issue at a time. Especially, by reading a briefing paper, one can get to know the essential details about a particular case. Moreover, the document will also provide relevant recommendations and valuable solutions for that issue.

What is the Purpose of a Briefing Paper?

Mostly, the briefing documents play a key role in a variety of professional situations to address certain issues formally. Lawyers refer to them as legal briefs, whereas government officials refer to them as briefing notes. However, the ultimate aim of a briefing paper is to describe a problem and convince others to be involved in providing a solution for that issue.

Know What to Include in a Briefing Paper

Till now, we have seen the definition of a briefing paper and its purpose. Next, let us see what to include in a briefing document.

Although briefing papers come in a variety of formats, the most common is an outline format. Its length will usually be no more than two pages.

Before you begin writing a briefing paper, find answers to the following questions. It will give you a clear idea of How to Write a 300-Word Essay a well-structured manner.

• Who is the primary target audience?
• What is its purpose?
• What details should you include?
• For what reason are you writing this?
• What information must be conveyed to the readers?
• How should it be formatted?

Also read: Different Types of Tone in Writing

Standard Format of the Briefing Paper

If you want to prepare a well-formatted briefing paper, then make sure to present the following essential details in it.

• Name: Determine who the target audience for the paper is
• Preparation date: Add the date on which the briefing paper is written
• Contact details for the briefing paper: Include your contact information such as phone number and email address.
• Subject/issue: Use a short sentence and describe the importance of the briefing note
• Background: Give context and information about previous events. You can also include actions that you have taken previously
• Current Status: Explain the current scenario, the parties involved, the decision taken, and so on
• Important information: Present an unbiased summary of the essential facts, advancements, and points to remember
• Options/recommendations: Share the advantages and disadvantages of the options and provide any concise, direct, and evidence-based suggestions.
• Conclusion: Reiterate the major point of the briefing document.

Steps for Writing a Briefing Paper

By including the vital information listed above, you can compose a comprehensive briefing paper. In case, you are doubtful about how to write a briefing paper simply follow the steps suggested below.

Identify the Scope

First, think and determine the scope of your briefing paper. In specific, your scope should cover the breadth and depth of your briefing paper. Also, it should specify the extent of detail you will go into. Furthermore, you should mention the details of how many topics and what are the topics you will be including in the document. Typically, it will be determined based on two factors. The first is the information you were able to get. The other is how much you believe that the information is adequate. This step is essential because it will help you decide what information to include and what to ignore.

Know your Target Audience

Before you start writing a briefing paper, make sure to know your target audience. If you have an idea about who would read your brief paper, then you can easily compose your briefing paper.

Before you sit down to write, answer the following questions. It will help you in understanding your target readers.

• Who will be on the other end of your briefing paper- Business Executives, Journalists, Government Officials, or a combination of these professionals?
• How well-informed is this part of your target audience?
• Do the readers have prior knowledge or are they completely unaware of it?
• What level of authority does the reader have on this subject or issue?

Choose the Topic

After you have a good understanding of your target audience, determine what topic, case, or problem you wish to discuss. Particularly, when identifying a scenario for your briefing paper, focus on the current situation or any major issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Your briefing paper topic can also be about a case that your readers or the decision-makers will not have much time to view.

Gather Essential Details

Once you have found out the issue to be addressed in your briefing paper, start gathering the details relevant to it. Presenting accurate information in support of your briefing paper will be helpful for you to convince your readers. Furthermore, when you describe an issue with valid statistics or data, then it will be easy for your readers to get a better comprehension of your topic of discussion. But always keep in mind that the details that you collect should be factual and reliable.

Propose Solutions

For the briefing paper topic or the issue that you have chosen, identify valid solutions. Persuasively mentioning the recommendations relevant to your problem or case in your briefing paper will assist the decision-makers in improving the situation.

Prepare an Outline

Next, create an outline of the key points you are about to include in your briefing paper. Especially, when preparing a briefing paper outline, mention the topic or an issue you are about to discuss in your paper. Also, concisely, note down the important points, facts, and figures relevant to your topic. This will help you reduce the possibility of getting away from the topic. Moreover, when you sketch the outline of your briefing paper, never use irrelevant points and lengthy explanations.

Compose a Briefing Paper

Following the creation of the outline, begin writing your briefing paper on the topic you have chosen. But when you compose a briefing paper, make sure to stick to any specific template so that you can effortlessly organize your thoughts and craft a brilliant briefing paper. If you are not using a briefing paper template, then start your document with details such as your name, date, and subject line. Next, include a summary section and summarize the key details related to your topic using 3 or 4 bullet points.

Always remember that the briefing paper that you write should describe the issue that you have chosen, present the key facts or background details of that issue, and propose valid solutions or recommendations for that issue with supporting information. Most importantly, the document should be accurate and well-organized.

Edit

After you complete your briefing paper, edit the entire document several times before submission. Verify whether all the facts and details you have included in the paper are correct or not. Also, correct if there is any grammar or logical errors in your document and improve its overall quality. Keep in mind that the final draft of the briefing paper that you submit should be reliable, concise, accurate, and flawless.

Also read: What are the Different Types of Writing Styles?

Briefing Paper Writing Tips

The following are a few essential tips for writing a briefing paper. Try to adhere to them all when preparing your briefing document.

1. Keep the paper short so that your readers can quickly grasp the main information and make decisions. The document should be no longer than 2 pages.
2. Compose the paper in an easy-to-read format. Present the essential details using concise sentences and bullet points.
3. Avoid speculations. The briefing document should be factual.
4. Explain the issue using clear and concise sentences. Don’t use figurative language, irrelevant words, and lengthy explanations to state the issue and its resolutions.
5. The briefing paper should maintain objectivity and motivate readers to consider your suggestions.
6. Use simple language. Avoid jargon or technical language.
7. Never share your opinions or feelings about the issue or topic of discussion
8. To make your paper more persuasive, try to connect the topic directly to the reader’s self-interest.
9. In your briefing paper, propose an ideal solution for the issue and back it up with valid facts.
10. Never submit the document without proofreading.

Conclusion

Typically, it is not easy to create an effective briefing paper. But following the steps and tips suggested in this simple guide on how to write a briefing paper will make the entire preparation process easier for you. In case, you are still doubtful about briefing paper creation assignments, feel free to contact us.