Getting the Memo

Part of the reason why I haven't been posting much lately is my Political Analysis class, which is requiring me to produce two policy memos in two weeks, with the second due Thursday. To get an idea of what I'm doing, check out academic blogger Mark Kleiman's description:

These exercises are intended to be simulacra of real-world work assignments: in particular, memos from staff analysts to decision-makers who are generally above them in the organizational pecking order. That makes them very different from exams.

Your goal in an exam is to show that you know the material, and can use the relevant technical vocabulary properly to give precise answers. Your goal in a memo is to help the recipient figure out what to do.

Kleiman, incidentally, is a visiting professor at Maryland this year. Sadly, I didn't know he was teaching here until long after the semester had begun.

Tags: public policy memos writing