Assignment Sheet for Career-Issue Memo Project
For this project, you will be writing a memo to Howard Wagner, your supervisor at Keystone Holdings, Inc., regarding an article you have selected and reviewed. (Keystone Holdings, Inc., can be any type of company you would like it to be—as it relates to your career and interests.)
After locating three top journals in your major field of study, select and photocopy or download an article from one of them. The article should treat a topic in detail (2,000-3,000 words or so). Because you will be using this article for two assignments—a written memo and a brief oral presentation—you will want to select an article that truly interests you and relates to issues of the workplace.
For your written article summary, please do the following:
- Critically read and then summarize the article: Determine the article’s main points and briefly summarize these in the memo, showing how these points are important for your company.
- Enhance readability: Present information clearly in both content and form. In other words, in addition to looking at language issues, consider how you can visually present the information to make it easy to read by using sound principles of memorandum layout.[unique_solution]
- Role play: Begin and conclude with role-playing moves to make this memo sound more natural. For instance, you should start by setting the context for the memo by reminding Mr. Wagner why you are writing it and how you think the information you have researched relates to Keystone. Here is the scenario:Howard Wagner, your supervisor at work, has recognized you as a motivated individual with special knowledge and interest in [article topic of your choice]. Mr. Wagner believes that this topic will be critical for Keystone Holdings, Inc., in the 21st century. He has asked you to uncover the latest information on your topic with hopes that the information can be used to the company’s benefit. He may ask you eventually to research the topic further, but currently he has asked you simply to consult one of the leading journals. (This implies that you might want to offer to research the topic further as you conclude your memo.)
Here is how you might structure the content of your memo:
- First, as stated above, set the context—that you are responding to the CEO’s request. This may include that you are addressing a problem or concern or need at the business.
- Then, state that in your research you came across a helpful article that can help meet that problem, concern or need; provide the title of the article, the author’s name, and a brief (1-2 sentence) summary of the article.
- Next, point out the highlights of the article and how the information, again, more specifically can benefit the company or meet some business need.
- In closing the memo, you may make a formal recommendation or propose a change in procedure and/or some new way of doing business. Also, tell the boss that you are available to do more research and would be glad to discuss the matter with him further.