Flex Schedule proposal

The Assignment in Brief:

A 2 – 3 page letter or brief report with a cover letter using a minimum of 2 sources.

Purpose

This assignment is designed to help you think critically about the information your primary reader (your employer) and secondary readers (managers or supervisors) need to make an important decision. You will learn to anticipate the questions your readers will have about the solution you propose. You will also learn to provide the evidence (in the form of specific detail) your readers will need to make a decision.

Skills

· understanding basic format of a formal letter

· applying basic knowledge of audience, organization, and argument

· analyzing and documenting relevant evidence

· writing with clarity and focus

Standard Learning Outcomes 2, 3, 5, and 6

Knowledge/Transfer Skills

· Analyze audience, purpose, and genre

· Understand how a main idea (the thesis or statement of purpose) provides focus and how a blueprint (forecasting statement) controls the content and establishes the expectations of the reader

· Develop and organize paragraphs through the use of thoughtful logic, explanation, examples, and transitions

· Integrate source information to support and develop the controlling idea.

What is a Proposal? Quite simply, a proposal is a persuasive document that sells the idea or service you are proposing. Proposals may be unsolicited or requested (i.e., a RfP – Request for Proposal), internal or external.

A good writer knows the characteristics of a persuasive proposal:

1. Introduction (Purpose and Problem)

1. Purpose – in one to three sentences, tell your readers the reason for your proposal (explain why you are writing and what you hope to achieve);

2. Problem/Benefits

1. Highlight the importance of your proposal.

2. Clearly state the problem or benefits (and reveal your knowledge of the situation)

3. Note: Spend more time explaining the problem or benefits than on stating the proposal’s purpose.

2. Discussion (the body of the proposal)

· Sell your suggested solution.

· Provide any or all of the following components:

1. Analyses

A. Descriptions or definitions of types of flex schedules

B. Importance of the proposal

C. Options

D. Schedules

E. Employee Performance Evaluation

3. Conclusion/recommendation

· Sum up your proposal and provide a sense of closure

· If appropriate restate the problem, your solution, and the probable benefits

Task:

· Write a formal letter proposing a flex schedule and stating the benefits of a flex schedule for your company. Your primary audience will be the company president, Ms. Courtney Blair, who does not see the need for a flex schedule. Other members of your audience will probably include the Board of Directors, and other administrators and managers within the company. Although your cover letter and proposal will be directed solely to Ms. Blair, keep the attitudes and interests of your entire audience in mind.

· Just what type of company you’re working for and what type of flex schedule you’re proposing will be your choice. I’d like you to have some freedom in your proposal.

· The letter/proposal will be due on July 31st (and we will be working on the proposals at least part of the time during class during the prior week).

· Write a 2 – 3 page formal letter or brief report with a cover letter proposing a flex schedule, and be as persuasive, believable, complete, and professional as possible. Your ability to demonstrate that you can write an effective letter/proposal can only enhance your employment options.

· Document your research to establish ethos.

Your cover letter and proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Persuasiveness/Argument

2. Content

3. Layout

4. Completeness

5. Clarity (grammar and mechanics)

6. Organization (overall document and paragraph)

7. Documentation (in-text and works cited)