Assignment 3.1 – Peer Review of “You” Attitude Memo

Reviewer’s Name: Jonathan Ho
Author’s Name: Mila Tung
Date: November 22, 2020
Link to Mila’s “You-Attitude” Memo

Hi Mila,

Thank you for writing a memo to Evan Crisp regarding best practices for sending emails to professors. Please find my review for the memo below:

First Impressions:
This is an excellent list of best practices for emailing professors. The memo is neatly organized and easy to read in its 3 sections: introduction, list of best practices, and conclusion.

List of Best Practices:
All relevant points are present, from using a clear subject line, to eliminating imperatives, and using a formal writing tone. The point of emphasizing recipient benefits is particularly appreciated. Well done!

Writing Style:
The writing is both concise and avoids imperative verbs; one quick suggestion:

• Using “the” instead of “your” in “Clearly and concisely stating your request” to avoid using the “your” pronoun in the memo body.

Grammar:
There are no major grammatical errors and the writing flows well. One small suggestion:

• Shifting the word “only” to another location in “Limiting the use of the pronoun “you” to the introduction and conclusion only creates a positive impression” may offer a clearer interpretation of the writing.

Conclusion:
Overall, excellent work on the best practices memo. Summarized below are the two changes that may improve your memo:

• Replacing the “your” pronoun in the memo body.
• Moving the word “only” to a location that removes ambiguity from the writing.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at any time.

Best,

Jonathan Ho