Proposal Writing

At the time of writing a proposal...

Step 1: Find the topic points & topic

The first question you should ask yourself is what topic do I have to write about in my proposal? Knowing the topic always gives you a general idea as well as some inspiration for possible vocabulary that youmight want to include in your text.

The second question should be what exactly do I have to include in my text?  Here we try to filter out the specific topic points which we need to address in our writing.

There are plans to demolish an old and unused building in the town where you are student. You feel that the building should be saved. (topic: old building that the city wants to demolish and you want to save it ) You decide to write a proposal for the town council (target reader) explaining why you think the building should be preserved,(topic point) suggesting what could be done to modernise it(topic point) and saying how the building could benefit the local people.  (topic point)

Topic: old building that the city wants to demolish and you want to save it

Main key points:

1. why you think the building should be preserved,

2. what could be done to modernise

3. how the building could benefit the local people.

Finally, you should always check who’s going to read your text knowing the reader helps you choose the most appropriate style and register in our example we are writing to the city council as these people are city officials we should use a formal style for our proposal.

Target reader: town council

As soon as we’ve analyzed the task and extracted all the information that we need we can start building our structure and writing a proposal.

Step 2: Title + Introduction

The title doesn’t have to be anything special but it is important that you include one as this is a typical feature of a proposal and it could be something like:

• Proposal to …….  and then you write the topic of what you’re reporting.

• or you can write the topic and end it with phrase  : a proposal

in this way, the title will have an appropriately formal connotation. See both examples below:

Title: Proposal to modernise the old brewery.
Title: Old brewery mdernisation: a proposal

​Title:

The introduction must contain three main things that you should include:

1. purpose of your proposal in which you should explain your purpose for writing
   The proposal is intended to…..

2.  you should restate the topic of the task (see step 1) 

3. The three main key points that you discovered (see step 1)

Introduction:

Title: Old brewery modernisation: a proposal

This proposal is intended to (appropriate beginning)  outline why the old brewery on ABC Street should not be demolished (topic) and is worth protecting, (point 1) how it could be turned into a valuable asset (point 2) for the town and in what ways it could be of use (point 3) for the residents of the town.

Keep in mind...
Proposals are written in the future tense or with reference to the future in that it differs from a report.

Introduction: Example

Step 3: the body paragraphs with the main content

Group your ideas under headings for each section of your proposal. Remember to answer all the questions that you were asked (see step 1)  You’re going to use some formal or semi-formal language and also some passive structures such as “it is advisable that..” or  “it is recommended that….”

Main key points  (see step 1):

1. why you think the building should be preserved,

2. what could be done to modernise

3. how the building could benefit the local people.

The body paragraphs

The body
paragraphs

References for the colours:
-Statistics, details, relevant detailed information, sources of information
-Persuasive language
-Transitional words, expressions and conjunctions, which link the sentences and make the text more fluid

Step 4: Final recommendations

Step 4: Final recommendations

In the last section/paragraph of your proposal, we need to conclude it and make our final suggestions (after all that’s the main reason for writing the proposal). Make sure that you include your final suggestions in this last paragraph as well as some persuasive language.

Final recommendations

Final recommendations

References for the colours:
-Persuasive language

Read the full proposal in the paper about reports, example 2.

1
Your time to do step 1:
- Find the topic and topic points
- Identify the target reader

Use your notebook to write the 3 items: Topic, topic points, target reader and recommendation

​You study at an international college in your country. Your history teacher is planning a one-day study trip for your class and has asked the students for suggestions. Write a proposal considering two or three different places for history students to visit in the area and recommend which one of these places would be preferable for a one-day study visit. 
Write your proposal (220 - 260 words)

Use your notebook to write the 4 items: Topic, topic points, target reader and recommendation

​You study at an international college in your country. Your history teacher is planning a one-day study trip (a trip) for your class and has asked the students for suggestions. Write a proposal considering two or three different places (provide places) for history students to visit in the area and recommend which one of these (add recommendation) places would be preferable for a one-day study visit. 
Write your proposal (220 - 260 words)

2
Your time to do step 1:
- Find the topic and topic points
- Identify the target reader

Use your notebook to write the 3 items: Topic, topic points, target reader and recommendation

​There is a 200 m X 200 m piece of land in the centre of our town that can be redeveloped. What do you think this piece of land should be used for? How will it benefit the people of our town and what other advantages will it bring? Send in your proposals to us and we will present the best ones to the town council for consideration. 

Use your notebook to write the 4 items: Topic, topic points, target reader and recommendation

There is a 200 m X 200 m piece of land in the centre of our town that can be redeveloped. What do you think this piece of land should be used for? (give development ideas) How will it benefit the people of our town and what other advantages will it bring? (provide benefits and advantages) Send in your proposals to us and we will present the best ones to the town council for consideration.