Writing Resources

Hume Center for Writing and Speaking

Stanford's Hume Center for Writing and Speaking is your go-to resource for all your writing and speaking needs. You can make an appointment or drop in to the center. (Building 250).  

General Academic Writing Support

Below are academic areas where you may want to seek assistance. 

• Understanding "policy writing" as a field, learning to apply what you learned in PWR to Public Policy writing
• Memos, essays, WIM papers, written exam strategies, class presentations, honors theses, and more
• Designing effective PowerPoint (PPT) presentations, speaking with scripts, creating presentation handouts, speeches
• Resumes, job or cover letters, interview techniques
• Public speaking, overcoming speech anxiety, interpreting assignments, handling criticism and feedback
• Collaboration practices, writing and revising, group presentations and reports
• Reports, articles, emails, op eds, policy briefs, executive summaries, press releases, political websites, and more
• Adapting to American academic conventions, understanding and mastering "policy writing" as a discipline, communication etiquette, changes in grammar and expression

Undergraduate Public Policy Writing Courses and Resources

Below is a list of the Public Policy major's writing-centric courses and corresponding resources.

• Writing in the Major (WIM) Courses: PUBLPOL 154 Politics and Policy in California, PUBLPOL 156 Health Care Policy and Reform, PUBLPOL 106 Law and Economics
  • Policy Memo Writing Criteria
  • Policy Memo Peer Review
• PUBLPOL 200A, 200B, and 200C Senior Practicum
  • Crafting Team Voice in Practicum Reports
• PUBLPOL 200H Senior Honors Seminar
  • Honors Thesis Style Guide
  • Thesis Structure Exercise
• Law and Policy Resource