do all 1.A proposal that identifies the problem, provides a potential solution, and categorizes the resources needed to implement the solution. 2.A presentation (PowerPoint, Prezi, Google Slides) th

How to Write the Proposal

ENGL 2311

This document will walk you through the process of writing your proposal. Below you’ll find explanation and instructions for each component of the proposal. The final document should be 3-5 single-spaced pages and reference 3-5 outside sources.

General Information about Proposals

• Remember that you are selling your project idea and, possibly, your ability to create/implement it, so be persuasive throughout your document.

• Use active, specific verbs.

• Create a persona of a competent writer, organizer, and layout artist—the appearance, correctness, and tone of your proposal are important for establishing your credibility.

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of your audience and their goals and values. Ask yourself: who is reading the proposal? Who will either accept or reject the proposal? How can you best persuade this person/group? What does this person/group want for the company/organization/community?

• Make use of accessibility cues such as headings, bold print, and white space. Your readers will be scanning your document to find specific sections, so facilitate that process for them. Use what you learned in the design and infographic assignments to incorporate well-considered visual appeal and data visuals into your document.

Audience & Format

Use a standard memo heading. This heading format is useful because it states from the start who this document is for, who it is from, the date, and the subject. The heading of the proposal should look like this:

To: TCC NW Campus President

From: Jane Doe

Date: March 10, 2020

Subject: Proposal to Increase Campus Food Options

Summary of the proposal

Briefly summarize your project first and then include a summary of the proposal document (not your project but the actual contents of the document). This helps your reader learn early on how they can navigate the document and what they can expect to find in the following sections. Longer proposals might contain a separate table of contents before the summary.

Definition of the Problem/Definition of the Situation

In this section, explain the problem or need you are addressing in your project. The problem should be specific and distinct. If your project is addressing multiple problems, start with an introduction paragraph and then list the problems in a bulleted list. Remember to use parallel grammatical structure (each item in the list begins with the same part of speech--all "-ing" verbs, all nouns, all adjectives, etc.). After the bulleted list, you will need to include a paragraph describing each bullet point in more detail.

This section is paramount to persuading your reader that your project is needed. You need to include clear, specific, detailed examples to prove your assertions. Make sure your audience understands the problem, what causes it, and who is affected by it.

Make sure the paragraphs in this section elaborate on only the negative aspects of the issue. Do not discuss the positive effects of your project yet because that information is for the objectives section. Always identify the problem or need and make it significant to your reader. Appeal to that person’s priorities: does the proposal reader want to save money? Reduce turnover? Serve the customers better? Improve safety? Convince them that the current situation, without the implementation of your project, is a problem. Consider the campus food options example. The writer of that proposal needed to convince the proposal audience that food options on campus are lacking and that there is a negative effect on students, faculty, and staff.

Data visualizations can also be powerful here, if appropriate. Consider using charts, graphs, maps, diagrams, or relevant pictures to help your audience visualize the issue. Label all visuals using a consistent method (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.).

Objectives

This section begins with a brief overview paragraph of the benefits that come from this project. Explain how your project will solve the problems listed in the previous section. Show the audience that you understand the problems but also that you understand how to eliminate them. This is the section where you make a persuasive case for what your project will do to address the issue in question.

This is the section where you motivate your audience to action. Show them how they can be part of the solution to the problem. What do they stand to gain from approving, supporting, or funding your idea?

If you included a bulleted list of problems in the preceding section, include a bulleted list here that shows the positive effects of the project. For example, if a lack of food options at TCC causes students to spend less time on campus, then the objectives section would need to show that increasing food options would encourage students to spend more time on campus.

Data visualizations can also be useful in this section depending on the nature of your topic. There may be relevant research and statistics to support the anticipated outcomes of your project. You may also need to rely on logical reasoning and similar examples if you are proposing something new or innovative.

Threats and Weaknesses

This section should address potential threats to the success of this project or weaknesses in the plan. These should be factors outside your control. Explain what these factors are and then briefly explain how they can be mitigated if the project is approved. If they cannot be mitigated, explain why the benefits of the project still outweigh the drawbacks.

Needs Assessment

The remainder of your proposal should document the requirements for executing this project. Depending on your topic, you may need to break this into several sections. Potential needs of a project include:

• The budget – if you are able to assess this, include a table that breaks down how much this project costs to implement.

• The timeline – if you are able to assess this, include a calendar, list, or table that identifies key checkpoints or dates for completing the project.

• The personnel – if you are able to assess this, explain who will complete the various tasks associated with implementing this project.

Please note the statement “if you are able to assess this.” I am not expecting you to be experts in business, budgeting, or product design. When I evaluate your project, I consider whether you chose an appropriate audience for your proposal, and whether you thought through and answered the questions your audience might have before approving your proposal. I am also concerned with the layout and appearance of your document—does it take into consideration CRAP principles? For example, I am not concerned that your budget section contains realistic numbers, but I expect that you will use your knowledge of information organization to create a table that would make a simple budget readable and clean.

Conclusion

A proposal conclusion corresponds to the closing of a letter. This section is your closing argument and restates why you believe the audience should approve the project. Use a courteous, enthusiastic, and persuasive tone. Ask for approval to continue this project and feedback on your ideas. Suggest next steps if necessary and provide contact information should the audience need to reach you.

References

Document all sources used. There is a not a prescribed format for this; however, reader should easily find the source if they choose. However you document your sources, be consistent with the formatting (MLA, APA, etc.).