The Proposal

 

Assignment -- Investigating Proposal Guidelines

Like all technical communication, a proposal must meet the needs of its audience. Whether writers are presenting a research proposal or a goods-and-services proposal, they must demonstrate that they understand the proposal-readers' needs and expectations.

For this project you will study several guides to writing proposals to examine the ways in which they instruct writers in shaping proposals to meet their readers' needs.

To complete this case, perform the following tasks:

1. Study Chapter 17 of the text for an introduction to proposals.
2. Study several of the guides to proposal writing on the Internet. Search for "proposals," refer to the links provided in the following section, or study the following sites:
   1. A Proposal Writing Short Course, from the Foundation Center
   2. Writing Effective Applications, Plans and Proposals, from the California Department of Education
   3. Grant Proposal Guide, from the National Science Foundation
3. Focusing on one proposal writing text and two Web sites, identify the proportion of general advice on writing proposals to particular advice for writers addressing this one audience. For instance, urging writers to use clear, simple language is general advice that would apply to anyone writing any proposal, whereas listing a granting agency's deadlines for receiving proposals is particular advice. How effective is the proposal-writing guide in communicating both general and particular advice? Would readers of this proposal-writing guide need to consult additional resources? What changes might be made to improve the effectiveness of the guide?
4. Present your findings in a memo to your instructor. (See Chapter 15 for information about memos.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Links

Online Technical Writing: Proposals  Sample proposals and additional information on writing a proposal.  This a page from an online technical writing textbook.

Practical Writing Guide For Writing Proposals   Briefly outlines proposal format

How to Write a Project Proposal   Details on project proposals, sections to include, etc.

Guide for Writing a Funding Proposal   Helpful writing hints and examples for each section of a proposal

Technical Communication Chapter 17    Links with additional information, examples, and exercises

Links to Various Internet Sites on Proposals and Proposal Writing   Links compiled by the University of Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Proposal Web Sites

 “Basic Elements of Grant Writing.” 2002. Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 27 September 27 2002. <http://www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting.html>.

 “Carnegie Corporation – The Corporation’s Program.” Carnegie Corporation of New York. 27 September 2002. <http://www.carnegie.org/sub/program/grant.html>.

 “EPA Grant-Writing Tutorial.” Ed. Amy Childress. 1997. Purdue Research Foundation. 27 September 2002. <http://www.epa.gov/seahome/grants/src/msieopen.htm>.

 “Grants and Funding for Schools.” 2002. Teachers Planet.com. 27 September 2002. <http://teachersplanet.com/grants.shtml>.

 “Guide to Grant Proposal Writing.” Ed. Elizabeth Breedlove. 1997. New Jersey State Library. 27 September 2002. <http://www2.njstatelib.org/njlib/grhdtoc.htm>.

 “Non-Profit Guides – Grant Writing Tools for Non-Profit Organizations.” 2002. SeaCoast Web Design. 27 September 2002. <http://www.npguides.org/>.

 “Sample Grant Proposal.” 07 July 2002. School Grants.org. 29 September 2002. <http://www.schoolgrants.org/proposal_samples.htm>.

 Stanley Levenson. “Writing Your First Successful Grant Application.” 2002. Teachers Planet.com. 27 September 2002. <http://teachersplanet.com/grantart.shtml>.

 “Web Sites to Help You Write and Win Grants.” Ed. Gwen Solomon. 2002. techLearning.com. 27 September 2002. <http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/grantswt.htm>.