| Memos are for internal correspondence only. Memo Format: DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Focus + Topic Introduction: A lead-in, warm-up, overview stating why you're writing and what you're writing about. Discussion: Detailed development, made accessible through highlighting techniques, explaining exactly what you want to say. Conclusion: A summation stating what's next, when this will occur, and why the date is important. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rewrite the following memo using the above format: Subject: Memo Writting Following are ways to write better memos. Include a Subject line, which provides a topic and a focus. Then have an introduction to tell your readers what he needs to know. This Introduction could be about one of two sentences. Next develope your ideas in a Discussion. Finally, sum it up in a conclusion. These suggestions should help you write better memos. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EFFECTIVE MEMO CHECKLIST Have you used the correct memo format, including date, to, from, and subject lines? Is your subject line correct? * Is it typed in all caps? * Does it contain a topic and a focus? Does your introduction tell why you are writing and what you are writing about? Does the body explain exactly what you want to say? Does the conclusion tell what's next, providing either a complimentary or a directive close? Is your page layout reader-friendly? * Do you use highlighting techniques for accessibility such as bullets, boldface, underlining, and white space? Is your writing style concise? * Do you limit the number of words per sentence, the number of syllables per word, and the number of lines per paragraph? Is your writing clear? * Do you answer reporter's questions? (Five w's and one h.) * Do you avoid vague words such as some, several, many, or few, specifying instead. |