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Course Assignments

Letters

Business letters are often used to communicate with a group outside an organization, such as clients, customers, or other companies.

Business letters include:

  • Your return address
  • The recipient's address
  • A greeting
  • The Body (the content of the letter)
  • A closing (such as "sincerely")
  • Both your handwritten signature and your name are typed

You can find several examples in our ebook collection for advice on writing a professional letter. Once in an eBook database, in the search box, try typing in "professional letter" or "business letter."

*Don't forget - If you use research in your business plan, use APA to cite your resources.

Memos

A memo (or memorandum) is a short communication typically used within an organization.  Memos are often used as a tool to share new information.

APA does not guide formatting and writing memos, so font, font size, spacing and so forth are up to you or your instructor.

In terms of content, Cengage Learning's Online Study Center offers the following information on writing a memo: 

  • A memo consists of two parts: the identifying information at the top, and the message itself. At the top, identify for whom the memo has been written, who is sending it, the subject, and the date. The subject line serves as the memo's title.
  • Your audience will determine the style and tone you use in a memo: You can use a casual tone to a coworker you know well, but you should use a more formal tone in a memo to your boss.
  • It's essential to organize your memos well. Most longer memos contain an introductiona discussion, and a conclusion. In the introduction, tell readers what prompted you to write (such as a problem or question about a specific procedure or policy), and provide any necessary background information. In the discussion section or body, indicate the changes required to address that problem or question. In the conclusion, state specifically how you want the reader to respond.

Microsoft has additional information on creating a memo.

Business Plans

A business plan can be described as "an essential roadmap for business success. This living document generally projects 3-5 years ahead and outlines the route a company intends to take to grow revenues." This description came from the U.S. Small Business Administration website, where you can find examples of various business plans. 

Watch this short video to get you started with writing a business plan.

For additional information on writing a business plan, visit the following webpage.