week 9 assignment 7
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ENG316week9slides.pptxENG 316: Week 9
Agenda
Assignment Review
Questions and Answers
Proposals
Proposal Review
Lab Time
What Is a Proposal
A persuasive document that offers a solution to an identified need or problem
May be solicited or unsolicited
May be a formal response to a request for proposals
May be an informal sales proposal (e.g., a letter proposal)
May be brief or long
May propose a product, service or idea
May be a request for support from someone else
Types of Proposals
Internal – for members of your organization
External – for outside organizations
Formal – highly structured, often lengthy or detailed
Informal – briefer, structured, but may not contain the same parts as formal proposals
Solicited – written in response to a request
Unsolicited – written without a request
Sales – attempts to sell a product, service
Research – seeks approval for a body of study
Grant – seeks funding for a project
Planning – attempts to persuade audience to follow a specific course of action
What Makes a Proposal Successful
A successful proposal convinces the audience to accept the proposed solution and invest in the idea
Is you-focused, not me-focused
Is clear and convincing
Is formatted based on audience needs
Reflects research
Convey proper tone
Typical Parts of an Informal Proposal
Executive Summary
Introduction
Note: Avoid redundancy
Body
Contains the analysis of your solution
Fluid in format, due to nature of the document
Be sure to answer all client questions
Conclusion
Reiterate recommendation
If appropriate, include a call to action
Typical Parts of a Formal Proposal
Letter of transmittal
Title page
Table of contents
List of illustrations
Executive summary (abstract)
Introduction
Body (discussion)
Conclusion (recommendation or summary)
Glossary
Appendices
Works cited
Formal V. Informal
Tone – professional, detached, less familiar
Supplemental material – appendices, glossaries, formal letter of introduction (transmittal)
Complexity of solution
Length – long and detailed
Format – multi-page report
Planning a Proposal
Collect and organize data
Deconstruct a request
Determine objectives and approach
Analyze audience
Determine solution viability
Plan for integration
The Letter of Transmittal
Introduce the purpose (indicate what the proposal topic is and if you are responding to a solicitation if appropriate)
Introduce the solution
Highlight key points of interest to the reader
Thank the audience for consideration
Write after the proposal is finished
Think of it as your proposal’s “cover letter”
Executive Summary
Summarizes in miniature your solution and the key points from each section of your proposal
Keep your audience in mind – busy executives do not want to read a novel – the appendices and full report provide the opportunity for them to review details
Proposal Process: Prewriting
Collect and organize data
Gather graphics if necessary
Determine objectives
Deconstruct RFP
Plan solution
Prepare to persuade
Be accurate
Know your audience
Be realistic
Proposal Review
