MEMO
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Document Title
- Include “Memo” or “Memorandum” as the document title.
- Do not include any other title.
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To: |
Traci Gardner |
From: |
Your Full Name |
Date: |
January 21, 2025 |
Subject: |
Revision of the 4Help Documentation on “Resetting Your Forgotten VT Username (PID) or Guest Password from 4Help Portal” |
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Memo Headers
- Every memo begins with a memo headers: To, From, Date, and Subject.
- Follow each header with the pertinent information.
- Align the memo headers align vertically.
- Use the same size and style for all the Memo Headers.
- Double space (leave 1 blank line) between headers.
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Follow these instructions for the Introduction:
- Briefly introduce the user documentation you have revised and redesigned: its title, its intended audience, etc.
- Connect to the original, unrevised version of the user documentation using one of these methods:
- Link to the original version (the unrevised version) of the user documentation online.
- Upload a copy of the original version with your submission, and refer to the attached original in your Introduction.
- End with a purpose statement that indicates
- your overall evaluation of the original document’s usability.
- a summary of the changes you have made to the document, which works as an Advance Organizer.
- what effect you believe these changes have had on its rhetorical success and overall usability.
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Memo Body
- Do not indent paragraphs
- Use hierarchical headings, in bold. Your title should be the largest and then work down from there.
Memo Introduction
- This is the intro paragraph. There is no need to give an introduction a heading, as it’s obvious it’s the intro.
- Follow the instructions in the memo to write the intro.
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Plain Language Revision
Follow these instructions for the Plain Language Revision section:
- Begin with an evaluation of the original document’s usability in terms of its writing style.
- Discuss the document’s language, addressing these questions and connecting to the course readings:
- Is the language plain, overly formal and jargon-filled, or a mixture of both?
- How easy is the original content to understand?
- What rules of plain language does the content break?
- How does your revision alleviate these problems and improve usability?
- Incorporate examples of original content and your revisions to demonstrate the impact of your work. Explain how your revisions address the original document’s shortcomings.
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Plain Language Revision Section
- Begin all main sections with a First-level Heading (using the same size and style).
- Include your section content in a paragraph under the heading.
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Redesign
Follow these instructions for the Redesign section:
- Begin with an evaluation of the original document’s usability in terms of design.
- Discuss the document’s original design, addressing these questions and connecting to the course readings:
- What rules of design does the user documentation break (contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity, white space, typography)?
- What changes have you made and how do your changes improve usability?
- Incorporate examples of the original design and your redesign. Explain how your redesign addresses the original document’s shortcomings.
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Redesign Section
- Add another main section with a First-level Heading (using the same size and style).
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Ethical, Legal, and Cultural Considerations
Follow these instructions for the Ethical, Legal, and Cultural Considerations section:
- Begin with an evaluation of the original document’s ethical, legal, and cultural considerations.
- Discuss the document’s consideration of these aspects, addressing these questions and connecting to the course readings:
- What ethical, legal, and cultural considerations does it exclude?
- What changes have you made, and how do your changes improve how the document addresses ethical, legal, and cultural considerations?
- Incorporate examples of the original document and your revisions. Explain how your revisions address the original document’s shortcomings.
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Ethical, Legal, and Cultural Considerations Section
- Add another main section with a First-level Heading (using the same size and style).
- If desired, add subsections with Second-level Subheadings (using the same size and style for all subheadings) for each of the three considerations (i.e., Ethical Considerations, Legal Considerations, Cultural Considerations).
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Rhetorical Analysis
Follow these instructions for the Rhetorical Analysis section:
- Begin with an evaluation of the original document’s appropriateness for its rhetorical situation.
- Discuss the document’s rhetorical elements, addressing these questions and connecting to the course readings:
- How does the document adapt the information to its purpose?
- What does the document do to adapt the content to its audience(s)? How effectively does it address the audience(s)?
- What changes have you made, and how do your changes
increase the document’s rhetorical power—its ability to accomplish its goal and connect with its audience?
- Incorporate examples of the original document and your revisions. Explain how your revisions address the original document’s shortcomings.
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Rhetorical Analysis Section
- Add another main section with a First-level Heading (using the same size and style).
- If desired, add subsections with Second-level Subheadings (using the same size and style for all subheadings) for rhetorical elements (i.e., Audience, Purpose).
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Conclusion
Follow these instructions for the Conclusion:
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Conclusion
- Add another main section with a First-level Heading (using the same size and style).
- Keep it simple.
- Do not add your name or a signature block.
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