How to write a memo the people will actually read.

Now that you are familiar with what a memo should contain and how it should be written, take a look at this memo (attached from https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/dangerroom/2012/05/KSCN0007a.jpg) from the Department of the Army. Post a critique of this memo. The following questions should guide your critique, but you would do well to supplement them with your own.

Does it convey the information effectively?

Is it written in a format that clearly conveys the message in a simple, brief manner?

To conclude, assume you are to write a shorter “Memo to the File” on this particular memo from the point of view of the original drafter.

How would you document the action taken and the important information if someone needed to retrieve this in the future? Include this short memo in your post.

Other good sources referencing policy memos can be found at http://www.cornellcollege.edu/cornell-fellows/resources-fellows/policy-memo-guidelines.shtml and http://www.armywriter.com/memorandum.htm Use required, supplementary and your own resources.

Reading Resources

Lesson Week 3: Emails, Memos, Letters and Briefs

The Women’s and Children’s Health Policy Center (n.d.) The Art and Craft of Policy Briefs: Translating

Science and Engaging Stakeholders. Video (18 mins). Retrieved from https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/womens-and-childrens-health-policy-center/de/policy_brief/video

Lewis, Melinda K. (2009) What Makes a Good Policy Brief. Retrieved from https://melindaklewis.com/2009/09/30/what-makes-a-good-policy-brief/

Writing Effective Reports. (2011) Lesson 4.1: Preparing Policy Briefs. In Food Security Communications

Toolkit, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved from

http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2195e/i2195e03.pdf

Department of Health and Human Services. (2012) Guide to Document Preparation. See particularly Chapters 6, 7, and 8 on memos, Chapter 5 on letters. Retrieved from https://execsec.od.nih.gov/correspondence/docs/secretarial-correspondence.pdf

Clinton, W. J. (1998) Memo: Plain Language in Government Writing. Federal Register. 63;111, 31885. June 10. Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-1998-06-10/pdf/98-15700.pdf

Laster, John. (2015) Letter to W. Neil Eggleston. National Archives. Presidential Materials Division. Retrieved from

http://www.archives.gov/foia/pra-notifications/pdf/clinton/rn-lpwjc-2015-032.pdf

Springstead, Glen, Whittman, Kevin, and Shoffner, Dave. (2014) Proposed Revisions to the Special Minimum Benefit for Low Lifetime Earners. Policy Brief 2014-01, September. Retrieved from https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/policybriefs/pb2014-01.html

Teten, D. (2013) How to write a memo the people will actually read. Forbes. Retrieved from

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidteten/2013/08/01/how-to-write-a-memo-that-people-will-actually-read/

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2008) Memo: Guidance for NWS Support for Special Events. Retrieved from https://execsec.od.nih.gov/correspondence/docs/secretarial-correspondence.pdf

Young and Quinn. (2004) The Policy Brief. LGI Training Materials. Retrieved from http://www.icpolicyadvocacy.org/sites/icpa/files/downloads/writing_effective_public_policy_papers_young_quinn.pdf