Writing a Memo Report 1

Writing a Letter or Memo Report

Writing a Memo Report 2

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 3

What is the difference? Letter 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 4

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 5

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 6

Characteristics - II

Concise Writing! choose words carefully avoid repetition

Writing a Memo Report 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

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 11

Contents: End Matter

After the endnotes (appendix) Background tables or figures Raw data Calculations Error analysis

Writing a Memo Report 12

Sample IntroductionDuring 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. … .