Assessment Item 4 ENV 513 Environmental Planning and Policy
Assessment Item 4 ENV 513 Environmental Planning and Policy
Description/Focus: Policy brief
Value: 30 %
Due date: Monday of week 13 (5 June 2023)
Length: 1000 word report
Task:
This task will require you to write a ministerial brief (template provided in Learnline online resources). The purpose of a brief is to justify recommendations.
We recommend that your brief be based on the policy topic chosen for Assignment 3.
You will need to describe the purpose of the policy, a description and justification for your recommendations for improvement. You should also describe the successes and limitations of the policy in achieving its goals, and what might undermine the success of the policy in question. Also consider the types of resources required for your recommendations (required resources such as budget, staff, timing).
The audience is a senior public servant advising a minister OR a manager of a large environmental consulting firm who has requested a brief on an existing policy. The audience may influence the perspective you take on these matters.
Preparation:
The briefing should be considered and worked on during semester by undertaking the following:
Identifying the audience for your document (not the lecturers)
Completing the readings and activities outlined for each week, especially case study weeks
Discussing ideas and findings with student peers, the unit coordinator and your workplace colleagues.
Reviewing sample templates for writing policy briefs, provided in the policy tools folder.Use this to manage the writing style you use in this document.
Presentation:
References are not needed in body text of the brief. You can however, include a list of references at the end on the document. Include appropriate tables and figures that are easy to read for the targeted audience (if appropriate) in annexes. Write with a specific reader or audience in mind such senior public servants, or CEO of major corporations.
Assessment criteria:
Presentation (20%)
Is the document formatted neatly according to the briefing requirements, including appropriate length? (10 marks)
Is the text concisely written and free of spelling and grammatical errors? (10 marks)
Development of ideas, arguments and organisation of text (20%)
Is there logical and clear presentation of ideas in a well-structured paragraph format? (10 marks)
Have appropriate headings been used to clearly outline the document structure for the reader, and to guide the reader through the ideas, arguments or rationale of the document? (10 marks)
Context and analysis 60%)
Does the brief contain all relevant information on which the recipient can make decisions? (20 marks)
Are policy impacts adequately explored and substantiated intended, and unintended? (20 marks)
Are recommendations clear and substantiated? (20 marks)
