• This discussion topic is designed to help you get started on your topic for writing assignment WA5, the white paper.

Before responding to this discussion topic, please make sure to watch the video, “The Basic Memo,” which is posted in Content for week 5. The Key Forms of Business Writing: Basic Memo – YouTube For this discussion topic, please post a memo to your instructor indicating your topic for your white paper, the problem or issue you will be addressing, and the “new approaches” you will be suggesting for addressing the problem.  Keep in mind the instructions given in the Purdue OWL lecture on white papers as you consider the problem or issue and new approaches. DO NOT post a file attachment. Copy your memo from a word document into the discussion box. Also be sure to follow the PRECISE FORMAT OUTLINED BELOW FOR YOUR MEMO. No more than FOUR paragraphs and no more than 50 words per paragraph. This is practice for writing concisely and precisely focusing on professional writing that omits vague and wordy language.

In addition, in your memo, in the first paragraph please indicate what the audience would be for your white paper and why this particular audience would be interested in your white paper.  

Use proper memo format. DO NOT number the paragraphs in the memo. Each paragraph needs a topic sentence, 3-5 body sentences, and a concluding/transition sentence.
1. List the topic of your paper in the proper subject line of your memo. Also include the date, person to whom the memo is addressed, and your name as sender. Use proper memo format for this heading.

Then write FOUR paragraphs — Use full paragraphs, complete sentences, and proofread with grammar/style check before copying from your Word document into this posting.

Use proper headings — aligned margins left with same margins for names in the to from subject area.
1. topic and audience and your expertise in the subject. No more than 50 words per paragraph. 

2. problem or issue you will address (one full paragraph).No more than 50 words per paragraph. 

3. two current approaches being used that don’t work (include one paragraph for each current approach.) No more than 50 words per paragraph.

4. A new approach you will recommend using in place of previous/current approaches (one full paragraph). No more than 50 words per paragraph. 

BELOW THE MEMO —

2.  List FOUR research articles  from the library databases related to your topic. Reminder: no internet sources can be used in this paper. No more than six sources for the paper and the instructions require no fewer than five. Include author, date, title of article, journal name, and database for EACH IN APA FORMAT.

NOTE: Research articles for this paper may not be older than 2018. Standard practice for any research using current articles.

Memo format:

To:         [Instructor’s Name]
From:     [Your Name]
Date:      [Today’s Date]
Subject:  Topic (4-5 words) Use proper capitalization

Topic and audience
[paragraph describing why you are writing this memo and to whom.]

The Problem and Why It Needs to Be Investigated
[In one paragraph, describe the problem to which you are going to propose a solution. In addition, explain why you think this problem is significant and should be addressed.]

Two current approaches
[In a one paragraph describe how TWO WAYS this issue is being addressed currently]

Proposed new approach
[In a one paragraph, describe your recommendations for a solution to the problem/situation]