Post on 30-Oct-2014
description
Proposal Writing
Mebrahtom GebresematiSchool of Biological and Chemical
Engineering (BCEN)Mekelle Institute of Technology (MIT)
Technical/Research WritingPresentation
Outline
• Answer 5WH Qs• Types of Proposal• Purpose and Audience Impact• Writing Process• Elements of Business Proposal• Elements of Research Proposal
What?
• Proposal:• is “Formal description of the creation, modification or
termination of a contract.” …. (WebFinance, 2010)(WebFinance, 2010)
• May serve as: • blueprint for a future agreement
• May be accepted or rejected by the entity or entities that receive it.
(Cont.)• Why?– Targets audience to take specific action
• Where?– Bureaucracy, NGOs, Academic Councils,
Business• When?– Get Business, New Projects, Partnership
• Who?– Entrepreneur, Researcher, Department
Head
Types• Business Proposal– A written offer from a seller to a
prospective buyer, whenever a buyer considers more than price in a purchase
• Research Proposal– A document written by a scientist that
describes in details the program for a proposed scientific investigation.
Business Proposal
• Formally Solicited–Written in response to published
requirements, contained in a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), or an Invitation For Bid (IFB).
• Informally Solicited – Result of conversations held between a
vendor and a prospective customer.
• Unsolicited Proposals–Marketing brochures
Purpose
Reason – why are you writing?
• Strategy Analysis, Cause/Effect Statements, Illustrations, Examples, Comparisons, Description, Narration
Audience Impact
• Receptive Audience– Direct Approach
• Skeptical Audience– Indirect Approach– Buffer/Butter ;)
“All audience have expectations”
Proposal Writing Process
• Pre-write• Write• Rewrite
Prewriting Writing Rewriting
Proposal Writing Process: Prewriting
• Brainstorming• Answers to 5 Ws and 1 H• Mind mapping• Surveys (optional)
Proposal Writing Process: Writing
• Reviewing Pre-write• Organization of Data• Formatting
Proposal Writing Process: Rewriting
• Adding Clarity• Omissions• Simplification• Reformatting• Corrections• Rephrasing
Elements of A Business Proposal
• Title Page• Cover Letter• Table of Contents• List of Illustrations• Executive Summary• Introduction• Discussion• Conclusion/recommendation
Business Proposal: Title Page
Someone said and we quote: “…acts as a dust cover to keep the report neat
and clean.”Includes:– Title of the proposal– Addressed audience– Name of author and company– Completion date
Business Proposal: Cover Letter
– Prefaces the proposal– Provides overview– Tells about:• Writing• Subject• Importance• Planning• Action• Timeline
Business Proposal: Table of Contents
– Flashes complete detail for topic specific readers– Saves time and effort– Provides exact brief of proposal– May includes list of Illustrations
Business Proposal: Executive Summary
– Abstract– Brief overview of proposal’s key points– Get across a low-tech reader– Contains 3 – 10 sentences– Focuses:• Problem• Suggested Solution• Implementation
Business Proposal: Introduction
Purpose– Inform intents– Small and brief
Problem– Highlights proposals’ importance– Reveal knowledge of situation– Lengthy and detailed
Business Proposal: Discussion
– Body of proposal– Contains• Analyses• Technical Descriptions/Instructions• Options• Managerial Chains• Corporate Credentials• Schedules• Cost Charts• Projected Milestone
Business Proposal: Conclusions/RecommendationsConclusions• Provides closure• Specific – Reveals Impact, Percentages etcRecommendations• Suggests next plan of actionShould be well knit for both executives and low-
tech readers
Business Proposal:Supplementary Elements
Glossary– Defines terms for readers, alphabetically
References– Cites work, quotes and paraphrased
Appendix– Additional Information – Surveys, tables, figures,
letters/memos etc
Elements of A Research Proposal
• Introduction• Problem Statement• Purpose of Study• Literature Review• Hypotheses• Methodology• Limitations and Delimitations• Significance
Research Proposal: Introduction
– Provides readers with the background– Establish a framework for the research
(Wilkinson, 1991)(Wilkinson, 1991)
– Create interest in topic– Foundation for problem relating to study
(Creswell, 1994)(Creswell, 1994)
Research Proposal: Problem Statement
– Describes contacts for study– Identifies general analysis approach
(Wiersma, 1995)(Wiersma, 1995)
– Issue that exists in literature, theory or practice(Creswell, 1994)(Creswell, 1994)
Research Proposal: Purpose of Study
– Accurate synopsis if overall purpose of study(Locke, 1987)(Locke, 1987)
– Incorporates rationale for study(Pajares, 2007)(Pajares, 2007)
Research Proposal: Literature Review
– Context for the research problem– Establish needs for research
(Wiersma, 1995)(Wiersma, 1995)
– Shares results of prior studies(Fraenkel, 1990)(Fraenkel, 1990)
– Relates topics to a larger horizon(Marshall, 1989)(Marshall, 1989)
Research Proposal: Hypothesis
– Research question– Declarative statement of relation between two or
more variables(Kerlinger, 1979) (Krathwohl, 1988)(Kerlinger, 1979) (Krathwohl, 1988)
Types1. Literary null2. Operational null3. Literary alternative4. Operational alternative
Research Proposal: Methodology
– Heart of research proposal– Maximum detailed description of activity
(Wiersma, 1995) (Wiersma, 1995)
Includes i. Samplingii. Instrumentationiii.Data Collectioniv.Data Analysis
Research Proposal:Limitations and Delimitations
Limitation– Identifies• Potential weakness of study• Threats to internal validity
Delimitation– Addresses• How a study narrows in scope• How is it bound• Undo’s
(Pajares, 2007)(Pajares, 2007)
Research Proposal: Significance
– Indicates how research refines, revises, and extends existing knowledge in investigation area
– Think pragmatically - $– Focus both practitioners and peers
(Pajares, 2007)(Pajares, 2007)