How to Create an APA Style Memo
- 1). Open a word processing program on your computer.
- 2). Choose single spacing formatting.
- 3). Set the page formatting so that text is aligned to the left.
- 4). Create the header of the memo. This should be approximately an eighth of the entire memo. Include "to," "from," "date," and "subject" entry lines, all in capital letters, followed by a colon.
Each section should have a space between it. Be sure to turn off your caps lock key after making these headers, since the information following each should be in ordinary text. - 5). Write the opening paragraph of the memo, which will include the meat of the information you are trying to convey. You should not preface the introduction with a header. Simply start writing. Be clear and concise in this opening paragraph, as this is the section intended to immediately grab the attention of the reader. The introduction should be approximately a fourth of the entire memo.
- 6). Write the summary and discussion segments of the memo. Indicate each with a header, separated from the text by a line and typed in left-justified boldface font, that describes the coming information. Rather than writing "summary" or "discussion," however, choose words or phrases that are relevant to the plan of action you are trying to get across. The text you enter under each should include a summary of policies in place, the plan of action for change, and all relevant reasoning and evidence for the necessity of your proposed change. The summary and discussion segments of the memo should be approximately half of the entire memo.
- 7). Create a closing segment to end the memo. Indicate your conclusion with a boldface title. Here, "conclusion" is an appropriate header, but a more specific word or phrase can also be used. Reiterate any initial and main points of the memo in this section, but do not add any new information. This, along with any necessary attachments, should be the last eighth of the memo.
- 8). If there are any necessary attachments, type "Attachments" with a colon below the closing segment. Then specify what each attachment is by noting the title of the attachment, as well as the month and year of the attachment's creation, if relevant. Once again, there should be a space between the closing segment and the attachments section.
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