Writing a Letter or Memo Report Writing a Memo Report

Overview What is a Memo Report? What is it about? What is it like? Contents: Introduction, Body, Conclusion, End Sample Introduction Writing a Memo Report

What is the difference? Letter Report Memo Report An informal report mailed to a colleague or client outside your office Printed on letterhead and physically signed Memo Report An informal report printed, duplicated or emailed for a colleague or supervisor within your company Often duplicated or sent electronically Writing a Memo Report

What is a Memo Report about? Progress on a project, especially as regards a specific portion Results of one portion of a project Results that may affect the remainder of a project Results that require a response before a project can move forward Results of a small project Writing a Memo Report

Characteristics Contains 3-5 pages Contains 0-3 tables or figures Contains no separate sections Does not provide a written background or theoretical basis Contains no nomenclature section Defines symbols as they are introduced Provides only the most pertinent equations Does not contain a “Literature Cited” list at the end Writing a Memo Report

Characteristics - II Concise Writing! choose words carefully avoid repetition Writing a Memo Report

Contents—Address Memorandum Title Recipients (To: CC: ) Make sure you include everyone! Sender (From: ) Date: RE: Title CHEN4903(1)F07 Memo Rpt 1 Tm 1 Cc: No Salutation (Dear: ) Writing a Memo Report

Contents—Introduction Introductory paragraph/s Contains a brief explanation of the experiment and its objective, but does not delve into details already known by the recipient (like where the lab is, who gave the assignment, etc.) Provides a summary of the results Writing a Memo Report

Contents: Body Body paragraph/s Describes pertinent equipment Narrates important points of procedure Explains problems encountered Provides an analysis and discussion of results Writing a Memo Report

Contents: Conclusion Closing paragraph/s Makes recommendations based on the discussion Clear reasoning must explain why you are making the recommendations and conclusions you make Contains references as footnotes (provide publication information in footnote) Writing a Memo Report

Contents: End Matter After the endnotes (appendix) Background tables or figures Raw data Calculations Error analysis Writing a Memo Report

Sample Introduction During the period from January 6 to January 27, 1992, the members of Group F calibrated and evaluated the performance of an Omega Model HX93V relative-humidity and temperature transmitter (Omega Engineer, Stamford Connecticut). The transmitter was calibrated with an Omega HX92-CAL relative-humidity calibration kit, and its accuracy was tested with various solutions of ethylene glycol and water ranging from 10% to 100% relative humidity (RH). The transmitter was accurate to within 5% RH at higher relative humidities (>50%) but was not accurate to within 5% RH at humidities lower than 50%. The transmitter's performance in a moving airstream at temperatures greater than room temperature was also investigated. A cardboard tube and an air blower containing a heating element supplied a suitable stream of heated air. A brief summary of the calibration and the results of our performance evaluation follow. … . Writing a Memo Report