WRTG 495 Advanced Writing - Research Proposal Letter

Assignment 3: Request to Conduct Research DUE February 8, 2014 by midnight EST.

Typically before a writer would expend energy on a research proposal, s/he would ask for permission from a decision-maker to undertake the project. In this assignment, you will identify the decision-maker(s) who will read your researched proposal and you will write a business letter to them requesting that you be given permission to move forward with your research, and explaining why they should grant you this permission. Remember that your decision-maker will likely judge the merit of your proposal based entirely on this letter.  It is critical that the letter provide your decision-maker(s) with justification for the research project. Also make sure to offer a summary of the benefits you believe the proposed idea will bring to the organization. You should open with a clear and polite request for permission to move forward with the project. As you progress writing the letter, be as concrete as possible. Vague requests are discounted by an audience. Concrete requests, with compelling details, are given serious consideration by the audience.

Your topic will be one of immediate importance to your local community or workplace.  What problem in your community or workplace needs to be addressed? Sample topics would include creating a youth center in your neighborhood; launching an urban greening initiative in your city; starting a food kitchen in a certain neighborhood in your city; implementing new training at your workplace; implementing community policing in a distressed neighborhood; or organizing a community build of a playground or garden.

Tip: You are writing a letter (not a memo).

(Sections of the assignment should include: Problem, Overview, Audience, Topics to Investigate, Methods and Resources, Qualifications, Work Schedule, and Call to Action.)

In the Methods and Resources section, list at least ten (10) references. Also, this is NOT the same thing as a bibliography. Here, you should explain to the decision maker why you are using the specific sources you chose. For instance, in many research projects, a primary source (interview of a content expert) is considered superior to a secondary source (information/research published elsewhere and written by someone else). If you choose a secondary source, that's fine, but be ready to explain why this source was the best choice. Again, this is NOT simply a list of sources. Tell your decision maker why you chose these information sources and how they best benefit your company's informational needs in this project.

*You can use document design techniques, diagrams, photos, and other visuals as needed.

You need to include a fully annotated list of references on a separate page, formatted correctly with current and highly credible sources.

Intermediary Assignment: Rough Draft of Researched Proposal DUE February 20, 2014 by midnight EST.

You will submit a rough draft solely to have the opportunity to obtain feedback before you submit the final draft worth 200 points. The rough draft must be at least 75% of the final draft length. The final draft of the proposal must be 2,500 words (give or take 100 words), so the rough draft must have approximately 2,000 words.

The word count includes all components, and the rough draft must have all components so that I can provide feedback on your performance for all components:

· cover page

· table of contents

· executive summary (one page overview that can be read separately from the proposal)

· compelling introduction

· body of the proposal, with subheadings to guide readers

· conclusion stated as a recommendation for implementation of the solution

· well integrated source material (with extensive use of signal phrases and in-text citations)

· visual aids

· APA-  or  MLA-style References page (with a minimum of 7 sources)

· any other appendix material suitable for this report

Note: The purpose of establishing a word count is to ensure the topic chosen is neither too big nor too small. Also, writing within parameters is a common requirement in business communications.

Assignment 5: Final Report: Formal Research-Based Persuasive Report DUE March 30, 2014 by midnight EST.

You will present a full, well-reasoned, and professional-quality argument for a concrete, practical solution to an immediate and local problem. Reference sources will be included that explain the problem or issue and support the solution. The proposal will include a discussion of resources necessary to implement the solution, the timeline, and the benefits of doing so. The proposal will include the following components:

· cover page

· table of contents

· introduction in the form of an executive summary

· body of the proposal, with subheadings to guide readers

· conclusion stated as a recommendation for implementation of the solution

· well integrated source material (with extensive use of signal phrases and in-text citations)

· visual aids

· MLA- Works Cited  or  APA-style References page (with a minimum of 10 sources)

· Visual aids that enhance the argument

· any other appendix material suitable for this report

The final draft of the proposal should be approximately 2,500 words. The word count includes all components. The purpose of establishing a word count is to ensure the topic chosen is neither too big nor too small. Also, writing within parameters is a common requirement in business communications: to meet those requirements show respect to the supervisor who delivered them.