Writing a Proposal

Writing a Proposal EH 1301 Spring 2007 Writing a Proposal Clear Purpose A call to action Must anticipate readers’ needs and concerns more when writing a proposal than in any other kind of writing.  not just convincing readers persuading readers to support or implement the proposed solution Writing a Proposal AUDIENCE What readers know about the problem What they are capable of doing to solve it Determine how you address them Readers are often unaware of the problem. Present them with evidence that will convince them of its existence. Writing a Proposal Finding a Problem to Write About Make a list of problems you could write about. Include as many communities as possible. Writing a Proposal  Communities College State Ethnic or cultural group  Problems  Groups/Organizations Sports Religious Political Hobby Work Writing a Proposal  Communities College  Problems Poor advising Shortage of practice rooms in music building No financial aid for parttime students Lack of facilities for disabled students Class scheduling that does not accommodate working students or students with children Writing a Proposal  Group Workplace  Problems Unfair workload Changing requirements Inflexible work schedules Lack of information about procedures Difficulty scheduling vacations Outdated technology Writing a Proposal Choose one problem from you list: that is especially important to you that concerns others in the group or community that seems solvable Writing a Proposal Advantages of choosing topic from your community: Write as an insider Know history of problem Felt urgency to solve problem May have already thought about possible solutions Easily interview others to get their views on problem Writing a Proposal Analyzing and Defining a Problem Does the problem really exist? How can I tell? What caused this problem? Can I identify any immediate causes? Any deeper causes? Is the problem caused by a flaw in the system, a lack of resources, individual misconduct or incompetence? How can I tell? Writing a Proposal Analyzing and Defining a Problem What is the history of the problem? What are the bad effects of the problem? How does it harm members of the community or group? What goals of the group are endangered by the existence of this problem? Does it raise any moral or ethical questions? Writing a Proposal Analyzing and Defining a Problem Who in the community or group is affected by the problem? (Be as specific as possible) Seriously affected? Minimally affected? Unaffected? Does anyone benefit from its existence? What similar problems exist in the same community or group? How can I distinguish my problem from these? Writing a Proposal Analyzing and Defining a Problem Write a definition of the problem, being as specific as possible. Identify who or what seems responsible for it, and give one recent, telling example. Writing a Proposal Identify Your Readers In a few sentences, describe your readers, stating your reason for directing your proposal to them. Whom do you need to address? – everyone in the community or group? a committee? an individual? an outsider? You want to address your proposal to the person or group who can help implement it. Writing a Proposal  Questions that will help you develop a profile of your readers How informed are my readers likely to be about the problem? Have they shown any awareness of it? Why would this problem be important to my readers? Why would they care about solving it? Have my readers supported any other proposals to solve this problem?  If so, what do those proposals have in common with mine? Writing a Proposal  Questions that will help you develop a profile of your readers Do my readers ally themselves with any group, and would that alliance cause them to favor or reject my proposal? Do we share any values or attitudes that could bring us together to solve the problem? How have my readers responded to other problems? Do their past reactions suggest anything about how they might respond to my proposal? Writing a Proposal Finding a Tentative Solution Solving problems takes time. Apparent solutions often turn out to be impossible. A solution has to be both workable and acceptable to the community or group involved. Try to come up with several possible solutions whose advantages and disadvantages you can weigh. Writing a Proposal Finding a Tentative Solution List as many possible solutions to the problem as you can think of. Writing a Proposal Finding a Tentative Solution: Questions What solutions to this problem have already been tried? What solutions have been proposed for related problems? Might they solve this problem as well? Is a solution required that would disband or change the community or group in some way? Writing a Proposal Finding a Tentative Solution: Questions What solution might eliminate some of the causes of the problem? What solution would eliminate any of the bad effects of the problem? Is the problem too big to be solved all at once? Can I divide it into several related problems? What solutions might solve one or more of these problems? Writing a Proposal Finding a Tentative Solution: Questions If a series of solutions is required, which should come first? Second? What solution would ultimately solve the problem? What might be a daring solution, arousing the most resistance but perhaps holding out the most promise? What would be the most conservative solution, acceptable to nearly everyone in the community or group? Writing a Proposal Finding a Tentative Solution Allow enough time before making a decision to continue adding to list of possible solutions consider the advantages or disadvantages of each one in light of your prospective readers Writing a Proposal Finding a Tentative Solution Choose the most promising solution. In a sentence or two, state what you consider the best possible way of solving the problem. Writing a Proposal Determining Specific Steps Write down the major stages or steps necessary to carry out your solution. This list of steps will provide an early test of whether your solution can be implemented. Writing a Proposal Defending Your Solution Proposals have to be feasible Must be both reasonable and practical. Image that one of your readers strongly opposes the proposed solution and confronts you with the following statements. Write a few sentences refuting each one. Writing a Proposal  Possible Oppositions It would not really solve the problem I am comfortable with things as they are. We cannot afford it. It would take too long. People would not do it. Too few people would benefit. I do not even see how to get started on your solution. We already tried that, with unsatisfactory results. You support this proposal merely because it would benefit you personally.