Information on Strategic Communication at McCourt
Research
For research assistance, contact our dedicated Public Policy librarian, Megan Hunt, at megan.hunt@georgetown.edu.
Information about GU’s Honor Code is available on the Honor Council’s website.
Readings on Effective Writing
Anne Lamott – Shitty First Drafts , from Bird by Bird (First Anchor Books, 1995) is an engaging read on why it’s essential to have a writing process.
Purdue University, The Purdue On-line Writing Lab (OWL) . Purdue OWL is the go-to free online resource for students and faculty on writing matters, including structure, argumentation, editing, and formatting. It includes exhaustive resources such as detailed style guides and example papers.
Strunk Jr., William and E.B. White, The Elements of Style (3rd edition, Allyn and Bacon, 1979) is the classic collegiate guide to English prose composition.
Truss, Lynn, Eats, Shoots & Leaves (Gotham Books, 2003) is a witty and readable book that makes grammar funny and emphasizes its importance for clear communication.
Readings on Policy Writing
Chrisinger, D. (2022). Public Policy Writing that Matters. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Kingdon, J. W. (2011). Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. Longman.
Miller, J. E. (2013). The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis. The University of Chicago Press.
Pennock, A. (2019). The CQ Press Writing Guide for Public Policy. CQ Press.
Stone, D. (2012). Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making. W. W. Norton & Company.
Wildavsky, A. (2017). Speaking Truth to Power: The Art and Craft of Policy Analysis. Routledge.
Example McCourt Writing Assignment Prompts
Feder Debate Memo Instructions
Feder Strategy Memo Instructions
Headley Case Study Memo Instructions
Headley Semester Project Instructions
Headley Social Equity Impact Assessment & Stakeholder Analysis Instructions