Proposal

Proposal

The general purpose of a proposal is to persuade someone to do something in a professional context. For example, to convince the school board to spend more on extra-curricular activities. Your proposal must explain what you are planning, how you plan to do it, when you plan to do it, how much it is going to cost, and what benefits will be.

  • Use formal language and be very polite.
  • Avoid exaggerated or emotional expressions.
  • Use a style aimed to persuade a specified audience.
  • Take a clear stand in your proposal and set a positive tone.
  • Avoid language such as “might,” “could,” “should,” “hope,” “it appears.”
  • Make sure your sentences are complete and well structured.
  • Use subheadings to break down your proposal into clear sections.
  • Give a concise introduction to your project, identify aims and what problems it will address.
  • Explain your objective, methods, timeline, and budget when needed.
  • Conclude by emphasizing the benefits of your proposed idea.
  • Support your argument with evidence.
  • Depending on the context, you may also need to use facts, technical language, and figures to convince your audience to support your plan.
  • You can divide your paragraphs as follows:
      • Paragraph 1. Situation
      • Paragraph 2. Proposed Solution
      • Paragraph 3. Steps Involved
      • Paragraph 4. Benefits.
      • Paragraph 5. Potential Obstacles
      • Paragraph 6. Conclusion
  • Audience: This refers to the institution or person to whom you are writing the proposal.
  • Context: This will be defined by your topic and the type of proposal.
  • Purpose: To persuade someone to do something in a professional context.
  • Saad AlDin, K. & Morley, K. (2018). English B: Second Edition. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Pages 224 & 225.