Memorandum Reports

You are asked to several short memorandum reports in ECH 4224L, ECH 4404L and ECH 4713L, describing the equipment and results you obtained in your study of a particular experiment.

Memorandum reports are considerably shorter than most formal reports. They typically include no more than 5 typed pages. The objective of these reports is to put your results in a brief form so that as many people as possible can become aware of them and possibly put them to use..

Memorandum reports are often written without subdividing the report into sections and with the main emphasis on results and conclusions. The experimental methods and theory can be kept to a bare minimum. Adequate figures and tables should be included in the report.

The first part of the memorandum should state explicitly and concisely the objective or purpose of the memorandum. The middle portion should contain the methods used to accomplish the objective. The end of the memorandum should present the results and conclusions and the activities that you plan consequently. In some cases, the planned activities would be replaced with guidance on how the reader can use the results. These sections should be detailed enough for a knowledgeable reader to follow your analysis.

Body of Text

The first couple pages of text should contain the following sections:

Title and Names

Include experiment title and all of the author’s names with a percentage contribution of each author. For example in a 4-person group, if everyone contributed equally to the report, (25%) would appear next to each person’s name; if one person contributed significantly more to the report, that person may receive (50%) or more while the remaining points are given to the other team members.

Summary

Very similar to planning or final report, or possibly a little shorter.

Background

A short section (no more than a paragraph or two) describing the physical/chemical processes that occur in a system and any pertinent references to the experiment, motivation , history for study, etc.

Experimental Methods

State briefly what you did and the apparatus you used. Normally, no equipment diagram is required unless some apparatus detail cannot be explained adequately in words. A detailed step-by-step procedure is never included in a memorandum report.

Discussion of Results

This section should be the bulk of the text (2+ pages). Here you have limited space to present your results concisely and accurately. Stick to presenting and discussing the facts; wild speculations have no place here. Refer to and discuss in detail each figure and table you present.

Conclusions/Recommendations

Figures and Tables

For a short report, space is at a premium; therefore, the size and quality of figures and tables becomes extremely important.  Figures should only include the most important data that help you illustrate the points you are trying to make. Do not include calibrations or other experimental details that are well known (except in the case where that is the main point of the experiment). Figures (graphs) are generally preferred over tables. If tables are used, they normally do not include raw data or intermediate calculated values except when the data illustrate an important point. Only final calculated results are normally tabulated. Either figures or tables can be grouped together on page 5 of the memorandum or they can be interspersed with the text throughout the first 5 pages.

Appendix - Sample Calculations

Normally, sample calculations are not included as part of a memo. In this class, however, you need to demonstrate that you understand the calculations so this appendix is required. The format is exactly the same as for the formal report.

Memorandum Report Specifications

The report should usually consist of (a) 3-4 pages of text, (b) one page of graphs and/or tables, and (c) a couple of pages of sample calculations. Parts (a) and (b) may be combined if you want to insert figures into the body of the text.  In no case should the combination of parts (a) and (b) exceed 5 pages. If a report (excluding sample calculations) exceeds 5 pages, points will be deducted, and the student will be asked to rewrite the memo.

From: http://www.eng.auburn.edu/~drmills/courses/SHORT_WRITTEN_LABORATORY_REPORTS.htm