The document
Length: the Brief should be no longer than 50 pages, single spaced; exclusive of appendices.

Page numbers: number all pages in the Brief. In numbering the pages of the appendices, identify the appendix (for example, A1 would be the first page of Appendix A).

Margins: use at least 1" margins to allow for binding/hole punch on the final printed copy.

Citation format: use American Psychological Association format for in-text citations and the reference list (Section 6 of the Brief).

Charts, tables, figures and other visuals : number and label all visuals, and explain each visual in the text.

Checklist: Send an updated checklist with each draft of the Brief; and include a signed and dated hard copy of the checklist with the final Brief.

Documentation
All data and other evidence you use in the Brief should be available to the auditors. As you build your Brief, assemble and clearly label all evidence, including hard copy documentation or instructions for accessing electronically stored data and the like.

Hard copies
Do not send paper copies of the Brief during formative evaluation. Once the Brief is declared auditable, TEAC staff will advise the program on how many hard copies to send. This final Brief should be printed on both sides of the paper.

Return to Recommended format for the Inquiry Brief