Sample Policy critique

A critique of policy or a piece of research A.N. Other∗

Affiliation

All papers are required to have an abstract. This short paragraph should explain why this development constitutes a piece of research – note that reports of development work will not be accepted for publication unless they represent a new method, a novel application or some other important principle that is relevant to other academics or support staff. The application should be described briefly, the methods for testing should be explained and any important findings noted.

Sample Policy critique  Introduction

This short section should identify the policy or piece of research that is to be critiqued; it should also explain why it is timely or important to do so. The purpose of the paper should also be identified – what is to be achieved by critiquing this?

Sample Policy critique  Background

The background section must, at the very least, provide a succinct overview of the work or policy to be critiqued. This should be adequately referenced. Other perspectives on this same piece of work should also be acknowledged, where they exist. In addition, it may be useful to provide an account of the developments that led to this particular piece of research or policy in order to set it in its historical context.

Sample Policy critique  The critique

This section will be structured in a series of sub-headings, each addressing a distinct theme. An initial paragraph (or alternatively, a short methodology section) should state what these sections will be and possibly explain why these (rather than anything else) have been chosen.

Sample Policy critique  Discussion

Typically, a critique will include a discussion section which examines how the points made in this paper add to existing critiques or provide a new perspective on the history of the area under consideration.

Sample Policy critique  Conclusions

The conclusion should briefly re-state why it was necessary to carry out the critique, and should summarise the main points made in the paper. (If a discussion section is not included, the conclusions should also show how this paper relates to other critiques or to the history of developments that led to the piece of work.) It should

∗ Email address

also consider what the possible implications might be for policy, research and practice.

References

These should be listed in the standard format:

Author, A. & Author, B. (Date) Title of article, Title of journal, Volume, page start – page end.

Author, A. (Date) Title of book (Place of publication, Publishing company). Author, A. (Date) Title of chapter, in A. Editor A. (Ed) Title of book (Place of

publication, Publishing company).
Author, A. (Date) Title of technical report or other document (Place of publication,

Institution or other producing organisation).

Where references include online elements, cite them in the following format:

Organisation (n.d. – short for No Date) Available online: www.URL, late accessed date.

Author, A. (Date) Title of technical report or other document (Place of publication, Institution or other producing organisation). Available online: www.URL, last accessed date.

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