Key Features of Proposals

Guide to a writing proposal

Finding a Topic

Your everyday experience calls on you to make proposals all the time; for example, to spend the weekend snowboarding or doing some other much-loved sport, to change your academic major for some very important reason, or to add to the family income by starting a small, home-based business.  In addition, your community group work or your job may require you to make proposals—to the boss, a board of directors, the local school board, someone you want to impress—the list could go on and on.  Of course, you also have many opportunities to make proposals to online groups—with email one click away, the whole world could be an audience for your proposal.  In all these cases, you will be aiming to call for action: so why not make an informal list of proposals you’d like to explore in a number of different areas?  Or do some freewriting on a subject of great interest to you and see if it leads to a proposal? Either method of exploration is likely to turn up several possibilities for a good proposal argument.

Researching Your Topic

Proposals often call for some research.  Even a sample one like “Let’s all paint the house this weekend” would raise questions that require some investigation: Who has the time for the job? What sort of paint will be the best? How much will the job cost?  A proposal that your university adopt an open-enrollment system would call for careful research into evidence supporting the use of such a system.    Where has it been effective, and why?  And for proposals about social issues (for example, that information on the Internet be freely accessible to everyone, even youngsters), extensive research would be necessary to provide sufficient support.  For many proposals, you can begin your research by consulting the following types of sources:

• Newspapers, magazines, reviews, an journals
• Online databases
• Government documents and reports
• Websites and listservs
• Books
• Experts in the field, some of whom might be right on campus
• Field research: survey of student opinion; interviews with well-informed people

Formulating a Claim

As you think about and explore your topic, begin formulating a claim about it.  To do so, come up with a clear and complete thesis that makes a proposal and states the reasons why this proposal should be followed.  To get started on formulating a claim, explore and respond to the following questions:

• What do I know about the proposal I am making?
• What reasons can I offer to support my proposal?
• What evidence do I have that implementing my proposal will lead to the results I want?

Preparing a Proposal

State the thesis of your proposal completely.  If you are having trouble doing so, tryk outlining it in terms of the following:

• Claim:
• Reasons:
• Warrants (statement, which could be expressed or implied,  that establishes the logical connection between the claim and its supporting reasons):

Explain why your proposal is important.  What is at stake in taking, or not taking , the action you propose?

Identify and describe those readers you most hope to reach with your proposal.  Why is this group of readers most appropriate for your proposal? What are their main interests in the subject?

Briefly discuss the major difficulties you foresee in preparing your argument.  Demonstrating that the action you propose is necessary?  Demonstrating that it is workable?  Moving the audience beyond agreement to action?  Something else?

List the research you need to do.  What kinds of sources do you expect to consult?

Note that the format of the assignment is a formal business letter.  What tone do you need for this genre?  Any special information?

Think about Organization

Proposals, which can take many forms, generally include the following elements:

• A clear and strong proposal, including the reasons for taking the action proposed and the effects that taking this action will have. Our neighborhood should establish a “Block Watch” program that will help reduce break-ins and vandalism, and involve our kids in building neighborhood pride.
• A clear connection between the proposal and a significant need or problem.  Break-ins and vandalism have been on the rise in our neighborhood for the last three years.
• A demonstration of ways in which the proposal addresses the need.  Block Watch establishes a rotating monitor system for the streets in a neighborhood and a voluntary plan to watch out for others’ homes.
• Evidence that the proposal will achieve the desired outcome.  Block Watch programs in three other local areas have significantly reduced break-ins and vandalism. 
• Consideration of alternative ways to achieve the desired outcome, and a discussion of why these are not preferable.  We could ask for additional police presence, but funding would be hard to get.
• A demonstration that the proposal is workable and practical.  Because Block Watch is voluntary, our own determination and commitment are all we need to make it work.