Legislative Wrap-Up

Each fall the Legislative Research Department will wrap up each state’s legislative session with a 1-2 page summary that is posted to our website. Unlike our bill summaries, these wrap-ups are more creative in nature and you may utilize more of your own personal writing style. Each wrap up will discuss 3-4 major issues in detail that were addressed during the legislative session. We will also need to provide background information because we do not want to assume that every reader will know the basic information about his or her state legislature.

Before you begin, it will be helpful to get an idea of what the finished product looks like. Review the examples we have within our Google Drive folder “Legislative Wrap Ups” -> Resources Folder -> Previous Wrap Ups

Now that you have a general idea of what a legislative wrap up looks like, lets cover what is needed in each wrap-up. You have the flexibility to insert your own writing style and format into your wrap-up, but they must meet the following “Objectives and Guidelines”.

Objectives and Guidelines

Provide enough information so the reader knows "Why did Vote Smart select **this** bill?"
Avoid bias language (or language that could be perceived as bias)
Promote content from the Vote Smart website
Be sure to cite the other sources you use in your Wrap Up

Be sure to keep these Objectives and Guidelines in mind as you begin to write your Wrap Up. The next steps will help you research, outline, and write your wrap up.

Familiarize yourself and research the activity in your state
Form an outline, we have created a template to help get you started
Write your wrap-up! Make sure to fulfill the “Objectives and Guidelines” listed above and we also have compiled a few writing tips and suggestions
Edit your wrap-up for grammar and content. Fill out a “Edit Guide” within the resources folder the Google Drive
Print out your finished wrap-up and submit it to a staff member for initial feedback

PVSWiki : LegislativeWrapUps

Legislative Wrap-Up