Memos
Please email your (unsigned) memos to your advisor,the communications TA, Tina Dyer, and your class TA. For non-signed memos you do not need to turn in a hard copy. For all memos which require your advisors signature, a hardcopy must be turned in as indicated in specified memo instructions.
Each team is responsible for providing their class TA, written communications TA, and their faculty advisor with memos on topics specified by the course syllabus. These memos should be 1–3 pages in length, depending on the content. Some weeks this memo will consist of progress made in the last several weeks, however, during some weeks memos will be focused on specific topics (e.g., a memo defending your schedule). The memos are due by 5PM on the days specified on the syllabus.
Each team member must write at least one memo (or memo equivalent, e.g., a draft section of the final report). Grades for memos will be assigned by the written communications TA, so teams are encouraged to meet with him to review their memos before turning them in for credit. See the wiki and in-class presentation by the communications TA for recommended memo content and style.
General memo content (general update memo)
- Main accomplishments
- A short paragraph on each or several accomplishments that have some logical connection between them can be combined into a paragraph.
- Schedule (status, current and upcoming milestones, ahead/behind, and recovery plans if appropriate)
- a bulletted description will be good.
- Budget (status, currrent and projected spending, fundraising, and recovery plans if appropriate).
Other Memo Examples & Details
- See example memo attached (yours should be addressed to your advisor, the Comm. TA, and your class TA). This memo is an edited version of a memo from 2005. Marlin (last years comm. TA) has edited to conform with the format and structure he would like to see in your memos. Again, I’ll remind you that a comm. TA is grading your memos, so when in doubt, send her an email or attend her office hours.
Also see the communications TAs’ presentation concerning presentations, memos and executive summary from Monday 8/28/2006.
Memo technical references
- (from Tina Dyer)
- Beer & McMurrey, \”A Guide to Writing as an Engineer,\” John Wiley & Sons, 1997.
- Finkelstein, \”Pocket Book of Technical Writing for Engineers and Scientists,\” McGraw? Hill 2008.
The 2nd book is the technical writing text used in M E1000?, so there may be copies in the bookstore if you want to have a look. Neither of them spend a lot of time on what they consider “business communications,” i.e. memos and emails; the Finkelstein is pretty good in matters of audience and purpose. -Tina