Writing the ProposalENGL 3355: Workplace Writing

Spring 2015- Martin

Putting it Together

In what follows is a suggested format for proposals. This should work to give you an idea of what can be included within a proposal. Not all proposals will require all of the following sections. You should always consider your purpose, audience, and the proposal guidelines when composing your proposal.

Seven Major Sections of a Proposal

Table of Contents

Mission Statement

Abstract

Statement of Need

Project Rationale Incorporating Literature Review

Project Narrative

Attachments

1. Table of Contents

Gives your audience an easy way to find the information they are looking for

Should be developed after you have completed the proposal

Should work to incorporate major sections as well as images and graphics found within the proposal

2. Mission Statement

Should answer the question: “What is the mission of your project?”

Helps you clarify the project’s primary goal and allows the reader to have an immediate understanding of what you are proposing

Should be 50 words or less

3. Abstract

Should be written early in the proposal preparation process and modified as needed as the proposal develops

Written in the third-person

Should include objectives, methods to be employed, and the potential impact of the project

4. Statement of Need

This is where you present the problem you are trying to solve

Stick to the main problem

Use logical progression for your ideas

Close with a discussion of what else is being done working towards how your idea is better or different

5. Project Rationale Incorporating Literature Review

Works to ground your ideas within an extensive discussion of the literature

Your project’s rationale should come from what the literature says works, does not work, and what needs to be looked at differently

This is how your proposal will demonstrate that it is incorporating the latest research

6. Project Narrative

A Project Narrative should incorporate six major sections

Goals and Objectives

Proposed Activities

Facilities, Resources, and Project Management

Evaluation

Outreach and Dissemination

Sustainability

Project Narrative - 1. Goals and Objectives

Should work to answer the following questions:

What are the major goals of the project?

What are the major objectives of the project?

What are the expected outcomes of the project?

How will success of the project be measured?

Project Narrative - B. Proposed Activities

Should work to answer the following questions:

What are the activities that are going to happen under the proposal?

What are you proposing to do?

What timeframe are you accomplishing this during the project?

Project Narrative - C. Facilities, Resources, and Project Management

Should work to answer the following questions:

What facilities and resources are available?

How is the project going to be managed?

Who will provide leadership and management for the project, and who are the people involved in implementing the project?

What credentials make this project team unbeatable?

Project Narrative - D. Evaluation

Should work to answer the following questions:

How will you evaluate the effectiveness of your project while it is being completed?

What is your performance evaluation plan and how will you evaluate your goals and objectives?

Information on data collection and analysis should be included

Project Narrative - E. Outreach and Dissemination

An outreach or dissemination plan is often required by program guidelines and will enhance your proposal

Should include a detailed description of activities that disseminate information on the success and content of the project to others

Some suggested mechanisms for dissemination include:

Websites

Publications

Presentations

Public Outreach

Project Narrative - F. Sustainability

It is important to those funding your project that the project continue after their funding has ended

Provide a plan that shows how the project will continue after the funding has ended

Should show that the project will not only continue, but grow

7. Attachments

This section works to include any documents that will provide more detail or background on what has already been built up in your proposal

Can include, but not limited to, the following:

Bibliography: All resources used to compose the proposal

Résumé: Credentials of the project management

Letters of Support/Endorsement: Support from tailored individuals that will lend credibility to your project

What Should Be Included in

Your Final Proposal

This section gives a specific outline and

description of the sections that should be included

within your Final Proposal

Section 1: Front Matter

Your first section should include the following:

A. Cover Letter

B. Title Page

C. Table of Contents

D. Executive Summary

A. Cover Letter

Should work to identify who you are and your affiliation

Should summarize the proposed project

Should be roughly 1-page, single-spaced

End the letter by expressing your appreciation for the opportunity to submit your proposal

See p. 466 in your Writing That Works textbook for an example of an effective cover letter

B. Title Page

Should be the cover page to your proposal

Include the title of the project, your name, date submitted, and recipient name

See p. 467 in your Writing That Works textbook for an example of an effective cover page

C. Table of Contents

Include a Table of Contents that shows specific sections and graphics/images for the project along with their correlating page numbers

D. Executive Summary

Should be roughly a 1/2-page, single-spaced section that includes:

An overview of the proposal

A summary of the size and scope of the project

A projected cost of the proposal

Section 2: Body

Your body section should include the following:

A. Introduction

B. Issue

C. Relevant Information

D. Available Options

A. Introduction

Gives a basic understanding of your proposal at a glance

Briefly describes the problem to be solved

Gives an idea of what the expected outcomes of your project are…What will you achieve?

B. Issue

Describes what the issue that the proposal is working to solve

What has led up to the need for your proposal

What would happen if your proposal is not allowed to come to fruition?

C. Relevant Information

This is your Literature Review section

Use current research to provide a basis for your proposal

Is what you are doing up-to-date with current research? Show this by using current research

You can use a number of sources from journals, magazine articles, websites, or books

All information should be cited correctly in APA both in-text and in the Bibliography section

D. Available Options

This is similar to the Facilities and Resources section of the previous proposal discussion

What options are available for this proposal to be carried out

What is already in place that can be built upon?

Section 3: Conclusion

Your conclusion should include the following:

A. Recommendations

B. Justification

A. Recommendations

Use this section to provide a more personal description of the project and how you see it coming together

Why are you certain that your proposal is an effective way to combat the issue?

B. Justification

Summarize the proposal and offer your reader a final justification for your proposal

Section 4: Back Matter

Your fourth section should include:

A. APA style reference page

B. Schedule

C. Budget

A. APA Style Reference Page

Provide APA style references for all sources used within your proposal

B. Schedule

Should your proposal be accepted, what timeline will your project follow?

Include all major milestones within your project

Should be as detailed as possible

C. Budget

How much will all of this cost?

Keep your current facilities and resources in mind

This can be largely fictionalized for your specific course of action