Purpose. What is the purpose of the memo I am writing? What kind of information do I need to provide? Will the information be used to inform a decision or action? Do I want to persuade my reader to take action? Am I collaborating with others? If so, do we all have a similar purpose in writing the memo?

Audience. Who will use the information in my memo, and how will he or she use the information? Is there anyone else who needs to be “in the loop”? How would the organization or company I represent look if the memo were leaked or blind CCed to unintended readers?

Rhetorical appeals. How will I establish my credibility as a writer? How can I organize my information and use lists to appeal to readers’ sense of logos? If appropriate to the context of the memo, how will I appeal to my readers based on pathos? Will an emotional appeal give me a rapport with my readers?

Modes & media. Will my text-based memo benefit from images to convey my point(s) quickly and clearly? Will my memo be more effective in print or digital form? What is the best way to reach my readers? Are they working in the office with me or are they working remotely?

Elements of the genre. How will I convey information about who, what, when, where, why, and how? How will my subject line indicate as precisely as possible my purpose in writing the memo? How will my first paragraph neatly summarize my most important points? How can I convey information precisely, accurately, and clearly, while still being brief?

Style. How much detail will I need to include to allow readers to fully understand and contextualize the information in the memo? How can I come across as friendly yet professional?

Design. How will I use lists to make my information clear and easy to understand? Would numbered lists, which indicate order, make more sense, or would bulleted lists work better?

Sources. Will I need to cite sources to back up the information in my memo? Are there attachments I might include to assist readers in understanding the memo better?