1. You've been asked to write a memo giving your opinion about something. Quickly review all the information you have about the subject to get your first impression. 2. Think! What is your immediate reaction to the subject? What is your feeling about it? What do you think should be said? 3. Go back through the information carefully. Look for points that either support or count against your first reaction. Make a list of the points you come up with on your scratch paper. You will often change your mind and/or add detail to your thinking after doing this. 4. Think about what would be helpful or persuasive to the intended reader of your memo. Take notes on your scratch paper. 5. Write the first sentence of your memorandum. This sentence should directly and briefly state what you decide to say about the situation. 6. Then, drawing on the notes on your scratch paper, state your supporting reasoning and comments. Keep the memo to no more than 250 words. Don't put any "conclusion" at the end of the memo - your conclusion should be your first sentence. 7. If there is additional comment, detail, or other material that you think should be made available along with your memo, include it in an appendix to your memo. 8. When you're done, read over your memo and consider what someone reading the memo would experience. Edit it at least once to make it clearer, more concise, more accurate, and/or more nersuasive. 1. You've been asked to write a memo giving your opinion about something. Quickly review all the information you have about the subject to get your first impression. 2. Think! What is your immediate reaction to the subject? What is your feeling about it? What do you think should be said? 3. Go back through the information carefully. Look for points that either support or count against your first reaction. Make a list of the points you come up with on your scratch paper. You will often change your mind and/or add detail to your thinking after doing this. 4. Think about what would be helpful or persuasive to the intended reader of your memo. Take notes on your scratch paper. 5. Write the first sentence of your memorandum. This sentence should directly and briefly state what you decide to say about the situation. 6. Then, drawing on the notes on your scratch paper, state your supporting reasoning and comments. Keep the memo to no more than 250 words. Don't put any "conclusion" at the end of the memo - your conclusion should be your first sentence. 7. If there is additional comment, detail, or other material that you think should be made available along with your memo, include it in an appendix to your memo. 8. When you're done, read over your memo and consider what someone reading the memo would experience. Edit it at least once to make it clearer, more concise, more accurate, and/or more nersuasive
