technical communication

ENC 2210: Technical Communications

PROPOSAL ASSIGNMENT

This assignment requires you to combine technical writing skills gained this semester with well-researched information to create a workable, real-life proposal. This proposal should be one that you could use in your career: a proposal, a plan to start a new business, or a grant proposal to fund a community project, or to improve something at SFC (or another educational institution). We will brainstorm ideas in class, but I know you will come up with creative and feasible plans. You can start by surfing the net for the abundant sites on starting a new business or on writing a grant. Talk to other professionals in your field or locate a non-profit agency that has a particular need you are interested in addressing. Use the outline( 574) and model for proposals, Lannen, 553-562 to guide your research and organization, but you must include research, the sections that I require, and at least 3 kinds of headings or two kinds and some bullets. The formula for the recommendation memo is an easy model now that you know it, but striking out on your own with formatting that you find more appealing and effective is encouraged.

The proposal is due on Tuesday, December 8

RESEARCH

Once you've located your topic, you need to perform in-depth research. Since this is not a traditional research paper, the assignment requires a diverse range of sources, so you will have to be resourceful in gathering your supportive evidence. Below are the basic research requirements:

· You must use at least 7 respectable sources (which cannot include commercial websites though you may use them for additional sources).

· Your sources must be recent (at least the majority of them), authoritative (credible), and objective (unbiased).

· At least 3 sources must be from the library’s databases.

· You may include personal interviews but must submit a written script of the questions you used.

· Among your sources, you may include public polices, laws, demographic studies, environmental impact statements, etc.

FORMAT

Your report must include the following components:

Front Matter

In this formal report, the front matter consists of a title page, letter of transmittal, table of contents, and an informative abstract.

Cover/ Title Page. Cover pages give documents a professional appearance. They do not have to be fancy, just neat and sturdy, with the title of the proposal and author's name.

Titles must be comprehensible and concise (not “my proposal assignment”). Your cover page must also include the title, name of recipient and/or organization addressed, and date. (See Lannon example on 561).

Letter of transmittal . The letter of transmittal (by the author or sponsor) personalizes the report, creating a connection with the reader, and perhaps providing some emphasis or persuasion. Research to find a real person who might fund this project to whom you can address this letter. (A good example is the letter is on 560).

Table of contents. Use your headings as "chapters and subchapters." (see Lannon 562).

You do not have to use dots… to separate headings from page numbers if they look sloppy.

List of tables and figures. This list is formatted like the Table of Contents and is needed only if you include visuals.

Informative abstract. According to Lannon, the informative abstract covers what the whole document contains as a framework for understanding what follows. In addition to previewing the proposal’s main ideas, this kind of abstract must also identify the issue or need that led to the report and includes conclusions and recommendations. (See page 563)

Body (the Report Itself)

The central part of the report includes an introduction, discussion or plan section, and a conclusion. The body of the proposal itself must be at least 5 pages (The whole document should be at least 10 pages). Use the same heading format as the recommendation memo assignment. Any other formats such as a grant proposal format specified by the funders must be cleared with me.

Introduction. The purpose of the introduction is to help the reader understand the context, scope, and organization of the proposal. The introduction must present your case persuasively because in most cases proposals are asking for money. The introduction must contain (or similar variations of) the following secondary headings and sections (third level headings and/or bullets may be used to break down some of these sections):

Statement of Problem (or Overview)

Objective

Need (Feasibility Study, Market Analysis)

Review of literature (and possibly data sources)

Scope

Discussion or Plan Section. This section will include most of your research to prove to your potential funders that you are knowledgeable and reliable and that your project merits funding. See the list of possible sections on 586 to use as second headings in the plan section. You will need to decide which ones will work best given your project and may need to add others. The plan section must include at least the following sections (to be divided by appropriate third level headings and bullets):

Benefits

Methods

Timetable

Cost

Expected Results

Visuals. Charts, graphs and other visuals help to organize data in the plan section(and sometimes the introduction). While visuals are not required, they are particularly helpful with sections that require number crunching like a budge, include demographics to establish need (the data that shows why this project is needed and viable). Review Chapter 12 for inclusion of visuals.

Conclusion. The conclusion must include a) Summary of Key Points B) Request for action.

Back Matter

Works Cited. This list of at least 8 credible sources must be formatted according to MLA. (See page 649-650) for an example: We will discuss changes in MLA format).

Appendix. An appendix may not be necessary, but you can include any of the following that are pertinent to your project: references, resume, brochures about the agencies involved, applicable public regulations/codes, environmental impact statements, feasibility studies, demographics, other charts and graphs.

CITATION

Academic honesty requires two elements of citation. Please use MLA format for this assignments.

In-text parenthetical citations. These citations indicate the source of every fact (other than common knowledge), opinion, or quotation

Works Cited. The Works Cited must be included in the back matter of the proposal.

Failure to include correct and accurate citations and references results in an automatic F on the proposal. Plagiarism is extremely serious and will result in failure. Be sure you understand the definition of plagiarism and how to format correctly before doing your work.

Checklist for Proposal

I have each of the following in the front matter:

___ Title page

___ Letter of Transmittal

___ Table of Contents

____Table of Charts and Figures (visuals) If needed.

____Informative Abstract

I have used consistent headings

___1st level: INTRODUCTION , DISCUSSION OR PLAN, CONCLUSION

___2nd level:

___ 3rd level or bullets

I have each of the following sections in the INTRODUCTION (the name can be different, but the information must be the same:

__Statement of the Problem or Overview

__Objective

__Need(or another name)

__ Review of Literature

__Scope

I have each of the following in the DISCUSSION:

__Benefits

__Methods

__Timetable

__Cost

__Expected Results

__I have a CONCLUSION section with a Summary of Key Points and a Request for Action.

I am clear about my MLA Citations, so I don’t receive a failing grade for plagiarism:

___ 7 sources, at least 3 from the Library Databases, well integrated into the proposal

___ The correct format for the Works Cited is triple checked

___ Correct in-text citations for everything summarized, paraphrased, or directly quoted

in quotation marks

I have carefully proofread my proposal

____For grammar errors that I have always had problems with in my past work

____ For silly mistakes such typing errors, uncapitalized letters, misused words.

____ For all of the elements of FORCES.