Describe the issue and summarize the economic/political/scientific background clearly and succinctly (pretend you are writing for an intelligent layperson). Is this a new issue, or an ongoing problem? Why? What are the causes of the problem, environmental/social/political/economic?
Describe why the issue you have selected is important to the well being of the person/agency/government? Why should the recipient of your memo address this issue as soon as possible? Provide hard facts, not vague generalizations or predictions of doom.
What sorts of options does your person/agency/government have in dealing with this issue? (“Do Nothing” may be an option as well.) List the pros and cons of each option, scientific, environmental, economic, and political/social – again, be specific.
Which option do you recommend and why? How would you mitigate that option’s negatives?
