A simple reading framework for understanding what a proposal says and what it does not yet answer.
Confirm the document’s status
Check whether you are reading a draft, a consultation paper or an adopted document. Note the date and any later version referenced.
Find the proposed action
Summarise what the document proposes to do. Keep this separate from the benefits its authors expect or the concerns raised in response.
Identify unanswered questions
Look for areas where a timetable, responsible party or method is not specified. Record the gap without assuming what the answer will be.
Use precise language
When discussing the proposal, distinguish between what it states, what it suggests and what you infer. That distinction makes follow-up questions easier to answer.
Demonstration article for the TBI Journal theme. Review, expand and add appropriate sources before public launch.