Writing Assignment #1: Introductory Memo

Assignment:

Write a one to one-and-a-half-page memo (single spaced, as with all memos and letters) introducing yourself to your instructor and the other students in your group. We are specifically interested in the following information:

1) Your Fifty Year , Five Year, and  One Year Professional Plans.  In very specific terms, your short and long-term career goals and why those goals are valuable to you (why are you going to go off into the big wide world and do whatever it is you are going to do?).  Break this down by what you would like to have accomplished by the time you retire; what you will need to have accomplished in five years to be on track; and what you must do in the next year in terms of developing certain communication skills and habits (see #2) to ensure you can achieve those longer range goals.  Specifics count for a lot here.

2) A brief summary of your experiences, strengths and weaknesses as a communicator, followed by a descriptions of specific public or professional communication-goals for this semester (The content of this section is a representational sample of your answers to the survey:  Evaluate Your Communication Strengths and Weaknesses); what, specifically, about your communication habits and abilities do you need to concentrate on this semester. Is there anything you’d like me to cover in class or help you with? For this section, consider both written and verbal skills, both at a wide, public level (delivering presentations, reports, speeches, working in groups etc) and at a more individual level (productively communicating anger, frustration, communicating with peers, superiors or people working for you, delivering bad news, writing clearly...these are just examples; don’t regurgitate this list in your memo but instead think of what sorts of communication strengths and weaknesses you actually have).  Again, specifics count here: don't tell us vague generalities that we either already assume or know.

The primary purpose of the memo is to inform; it should describe who you are, what experiences led you to choose your career or major, what goals you hope to achieve in that career, and how success in this class will help you achieve those goals. However, like most all other business documents, your secondary purpose is to build goodwill and a positive image of yourself and to persuade. Persuade me to help you achieve your goals. Make me and your group members want to help you.

The document must be correctly formatted as a memo and fit all appropriate memo guidelines. The memo should be no more than one and a half pages long. The "To:" section should address your instructor by name and "313 Section ___ Students" please include your section number. The "Subject:" heading should alert the readers to the specific content of the memo.

Please use a 12pt font, subject headings, staple the second page to the first, and place the memo, along with related drafts and pre-writing, such as the completed survey referred to above,  in a two-pocket folder. Also include the Intro Memo Evaluation Sheet.  Finally, for this assignment HAND IN TWO FINISHED DRAFTS, along with the customary two rough drafts, and I’ll grade one finish draft and keep the other for my records.

Format:  Use this basic, generic Memo Format 

Due Dates:  See Schedule page.