Peer Recommendation Memo
General
Description
Date: January
29, 2001
To: New Center Interns
From: Instructor
Re: Recommendation to Peers on Project Proposals
You and your colleagues have recently submitted proposal drafts for final projects for the course. As you are aware, the proposals determine the direction and focus of the project, identify expected outcomes, and launch the project process. The proposals, then, should
- provide adequate background on the subject,
- identify sources (articles, people, web resources, technologies, etc.) that will be consulted or utilized to complete the project,
- identify the scope of the project,
- identify what the “product” or outcome of the research project will be,
- indicate who the audience for the final project will be,
- outline the timeline and methodology that will be used to do the project, and
- indicate how the project fits the need or situation (that is, the focus of the course).
As you now have experience in the proposal process as well as in terms of the expectations of the course, you are in a position to evaluate your own proposal as well as to review your colleagues’ drafts according to these criteria.
In order to provide formal feedback for your colleagues, you will be assigned small working groups and required to write a recommendation memo to the members of your group regarding their proposal drafts. Your recommendations should
- address possible revisions;
- point out areas of the proposal drafts that are unclear or need development;
- indicate if the proposal does not accomplish the goals identified above;
- make specific suggestions for development, writing revisions, and additional resources; and
- identify the strengths of the proposal.
Please consider this process an opportunity to support each other and to provide your colleagues valuable, honest feedback. Additionally, as you go through this review process, actively consider how the process helps you in revising your own proposal; consider ways you might collaborate or share resources with your colleagues; and think about the ways the projects connect with each other.
The memos you submit to your colleagues should be in the appropriate memo format and should meet professional standards in both form and content. These memos will be read by your instructor.
Required Documents for this Assignment
- project assessment memo
- formal recommendation memo to your working group members and copied to your instructor (typical length: 2-3 pages, memo format)
Resources
Christensen, G. Jay. "Memoitis." 8 Jan 2001. http://www.csun.edu/~vcecn006/memo.htm.
Business Correspondence Resources (Resource Index)