The Proposal

Gather Information

1. "You'll be referencing primary and secondary research in your proposal." 2. Secondary research is actually most useful to do first. It's the kind of research we do before we write big papers, pulling together as much pre-existing information as you can find off the web, off of online journals and databases. 3. Some great websites for secondary research are JSTOR and Google Scholar. 4. You're trying to build a base of knowledge before you conduct your own research, and that's primary research. 5. Ramble about purpose of research (crosswalks).

Proposal Definition

1. A proposal is an offer to carry out research or provide a product or service. 2. Whether the project's big or small, within your own company or outside it, it's likely to call for a proposal. 3. For example, our military buys almost everything it uses, and their suppliers have to compete for the contracts by submitting proposals. 4. So, there's certainly an element of competition involved. At least, you're trying to win someone over by convincing them you are their best option, and you're going to do that through the written word.

Analyze Audience

1. In particular, make sure to consider your readers' knowledge about what you're proposing 2. "So it's appropriate to write to the level of technical knowledge your readers will have."

Analyze Purpose

1. Make clear what you're asking your readers to do (hopefully it's clear within the first few sentences). 2. Usually, you're asking for resources and authorization to carry out a research project or to perform a task.

Choose Right Type

1. There are two types: internal and external. An internal proposal is submitted within your organization, like if you're asking your boss if you can do something, and external is directed to another organization, like asking someone else's boss." INTERNAL "If you want to recommend your organization conduct research, or you're in the lab on day and you realize if you had a new measuring system, you could do the job a whole lot faster, or you see a turbo laser 5000 in a popular science magazine and you realize your lab ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE A LASER. You'd be surprised what arbitrary things you can justify...just kidding. Don't abuse the system." EXTERNAL "No organization produces all the products or provides all the services it needs. Websites need to be designed, databases created, facilities constructed. Basically your proposal will argue that you deserve that business."

Revise, Revise, Revise...Submit

External portfolios usually have firm deadlines

Draft

Include: Introduction that shows specifically that you understand your readers' problem or the opportunity they're offering you Proposed Program "your plan of attack" what you will do if accepted "Note, it's useful to remember that you're presenting your plan before you even mention your credentials, so even if you are the absolute biggest newbie, if you present a profound idea, this is their leading impression of you, and you can really overcome a lack of experience with this section. Qualifications and Experience If you've had any other successful projects, indicate that. Experience is largely important because of what's next, which is budget." Budget THEY ARE TRUSTING YOU WITH MONEY. Their money. "In my Professional Communication class, our budget was 10 million dollars. Hypothetical dollars, but still. This models very real life situation and can even be small beans compared to what's out there." Sometimes you will know the budget beforehand, in which case do your best to save them money or use it as efficiently as possible. If it's on you to come up with a budget, this is another element they're going to use to compare you to all the other proposals. Keep it as low as possibly without jeopardizing quality. "Show them you are savvy and definitely highlight places you've figured out how to cut costs."

Closing

So, hopefully you can see now how useful these proposals are, how powerful at inciting change, and how representative they are of you. Aaand one last disclaimer not to abuse the system, because I was absolutely joking about that earlier, thank you.

Format

Study other proposals submitted prior to your organization. "So you can match their level of quality, or, since it's you guys, exceed it."