Proposal Main Points
Format:
Memo addressed to the instructor, from the student.
Subject Line specific to actual project (but still brief)
These are the sections to include in the document:
Summary
Problem
Audience
Topics To Investigate
Methods
Call To Action
Writing Each Section:
Summary paragraph (no header):
Briefly describe, in one or two sentences (max) each:
1) The problem
2) The purpose and scope of your proposal; what, specifically, you hope to find.
3) The methodology (survey, interview, library etc).
Problem section: This is the heart of your proposal and thus must be well developed and supported with cited sources, quotes, examples, specifics etc etc.
If relevant, describe any contextual or background info necessary to understanding the situation.
Describe the problem your report will attempt to solve.
This is an argument; it must appeal to ethos/pathos/logos to convince us the problem is real and you can find a solution to it, therefore you must make appeals to:
(Ethos/Credibility) Cite authorities/outside sources; refer to surveys or other reports.
(Pathos/Emotion/Common Ground) Must gain common ground with the reader (persuasive letter); prove to us it is a problem for all of us and worth solving.
(Logos/Logic) Support your claims: use statistical or factual evidence to prove the problem exists. Describe in detail direct observations of the problem.
Feasibility: Omit
Audience: At least one, fully, well-developed paragraph per each audience member or group, including initial, watchdog, primary and other concerned audiences; list and describe
ALL the possible people who will or may read your report and how you will tailor
the report to fit their values, concerns, knowledge base etc.
You must have a specific “real” audience to pass the actual report on to. Think of
and describe:
Initial and Gate-Keeping Audiences
Primary Audiences
Secondary and Watchdog Audiences
I am your Initial, Gate-Keeping audience. Describe my concerns in relations to your report (hint, I'm mainly interested in seeing what you've learned this semester, in this
class. You may also need to take into account my feelings and existing knowledge about the topic.)
For each audience, use rhetorical analysis to:
~ Identify the values (hopes, goals, fears) of your different audiences.
~ Identify how you will convince the audience that the problem is real.
~ Identify audience resistance; why will they be reluctant to read your report and/or agree with your findings.
~ Identify what you must do to convince the audience of the validity of your findings. What
types of information and arguments will each audience find most persuasive
(think in terms of you-attitude)
For more on this section, review: Writing to Multiple Audiences and Audience Analysis Assignment
Topics to Investigate:
Note intro “thesis” paragraph: clearly state specifically what the report will discuss.
Begin with “In this report, I will discuss. . . .” and then briefly describe
your intended content.
Use outline-form, bulleted lists to Outline the questions you will answer and the topics you will explain.
Break down major questions into sub-questions etc.
Clearly point out in specific terms the scope or limits of your project; whatever topics you will not address must be clear or you’ll be held accountable for them anyway.
Methods:
Use as a “Works Cited” or bibliography section.
Need to have decided on sources at this point but not necessarily have read them.
Use either MLA or APA format (whichever your field uses) or the format offered in the text example.
For interviews, give specific names and perspective dates.
Work Schedule: Omit
Call to Action:
Ask the reader to approve your proposal and provide a reason for acting promptly. Build goodwill here, as most professional proposals involve a request for funding.
Note: Everything is here but the actual findings and solution.