Graduate Computer Science
What Is a White Paper?
A white paper is a persuasive document written by an individual or company to draw attention to a trend, project, or innovation. White papers are focused on a specific topic—an issue, product, or development—and offer insight into the practical implications of that topic in a business environment. In many cases, white papers play a role in attracting investors to new projects. Thus, white papers serve a very practical function in business communications.
A good white paper is:
- A narrative document of at least 5 to 6 pages in length (2,500+ words)
- Written with a specific structure and format (see below)
- Educational, practical, useful information (not a sales pitch)
- Used before, not after, a sale (Information provided after a sale is called documentation.)
- Based in fact, not opinion
- Concluded with a call to action (CTA)
- From Gordon Graham This link opens in a new window an expert on white paper writing and formatting.
White Paper Style Guide
White papers don’t go through a rigorous editorial process before their publication, and this gives authors a lot of freedom and flexibility in the writing process and style. While there are no official guidelines for writing a white paper, there are many writing and formatting best practices that can help yours be more effective.
White Paper Structure
White papers usually follow a standard structure consisting of the following elements:
-From Purdue OWL Writing Lab This link opens in a new window
Choosing a Title for the White Paper
The two main goals of a white paper title are to command attention and to convey a purpose. It is best to use the active voice and be specific when titling a white paper.
Instead of:
Food Delivery at Notre Dame
Consider:
Increasing Food Delivery Access Options at Notre Dame: Analyzing the Performance of Starship Delivery Robots
In this case, we reoriented a bland and passive title with an unclear purpose to an active one with more specifics about a new technology being investigated.
Audience Considerations
Consider whose attention you are trying to attract. You may be trying to persuade investors, inform members of the general public, or even share knowledge with other companies within a certain field. An understanding of your target audience should drive the language you choose throughout the paper. Industry jargon and complex language could intimidate some readers, causing them to lose interest in your point. Since white papers often cover specific technologies, there is a balance to strike between complex industry terms and language that is more appealing to a broader audience. In all cases, however, the tone should always be professional.
Advertising a Service
If you wish to include the advertising of a service in a white paper, it is best to include it at the end, after the informational material. Including advertisements within the body of a white paper can turn off readers and raise questions of bias or conflicts of interest, potentially damaging your paper’s credibility.
Additional White Paper Resources
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Purdue OWL White Paper Writing Lab This link opens in a new windowThis website provides a broad overview of best practices in white paper writing. It also provides a White Papers PowerPoint presentation, which provides an effective summary of general information along with practical recommendations on all sections of a white paper.
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That White Paper Guy This link opens in a new windowThis is the official website of Gordon Graham, an expert on writing white papers. There are many recommendations and examples of good white papers provided on this site.
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Foleon - How to Write a White Paper This link opens in a new windowThis website provides an overview of, and advice on, writing white papers. It references several good white paper examples to demonstrate practical applications for a paper.
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Writing White Papers for Fun and Profit by Robert Bly This link opens in a new windowA brief article from the magazine Writer documents the process of writing a white paper and provides some tips to get started.
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University of Arizona Writing a White Paper This link opens in a new windowHere are more general white paper writing recommendations from another perspective, provided by the University of Arizona's Writing Center.
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White Papers for Dummies
by
Call Number: Available OnlineISBN: 9781118497043Publication Date: 2013White Papers For Dummies gives you a wealth of practical, hands-on advice from one of the world's leading experts in the field.
Acknowledgement:
The content on this page is based on Writing a White Paper by Michael Deike and Pete Pietraszewski at the University of Notre Dame Mahaffey Business Library, used with permission.