Written Proposal Assignment
Learning objectives:
- Target a results-oriented business audience
- Write and edit so that your messages are clear, concise, and precise
- Prepare and deliver engaging oral presentations
- Apply critical thinking skills and increase your ability to interpret, analyze, evaluate, conclude, and explain
- Identify, assess, and apply credible information sources to develop and support arguments
Your Written Proposal will include:
A Cover page that includes your name, the title of the proposal, the date, and the audience to whom you are sending the proposal
Executive Summary
- The executive summary is where you present your case and give the reader the main takeaway of your proposal. Don’t focus on covering every detail. Instead, give an overview of the main details—your idea, the problem/need it addresses, cost, and timing—focusing on the conclusions you want the reader to come to.
- Your summary should be less than a page (preferably a paragraph – See sample) and should be on its own page. Be direct by leading with your “purpose statement” (e.g., “The Fox School of Business should expand its … “).
- Incorporate your research/i.e., use the credibility of your sources to help persuade your audience about
The Problem or Need
Use the credibility of your source(s) to give background information to help your audience understand the need for the idea(s) you’re proposing
Market Analysis/CompetitionGive market analysis here or information from your credible sources to support your idea (or show what competitors are doing, how your proposal will compare, etc.)
Proposed Project Details
- Give in-depth, actionable details and specifics related to your proposed concept (e.g., if you’re proposing a one-credit course, here’s where you would suggest specific learning objectives, assignments, and maybe even a textbook)
- Your goal in this section is to give enough detail so that your reader can visualize the final product of what you’re proposing
Implementation Plan/Timeline
- Summarize what steps need to occur, and when, to execute your ideas
- Reference an appendix item for a visual graphic
Budget
- Summarize initial costs and, if applicable, forecast revenues
Benefits
- This section highlights the benefits the audience will derive from your proposed solution to the problem or need
- You can also include here benefits to other stakeholders (but first make sure to be thorough and specific regarding benefits to the proposal’s audience
Conclusion (not the same as “Executive Summary”)
- Briefly and persuasively reiterate your main points – tie them together and ask for a “Reply By date”
List of APA-style “References” used in your document
Appendices
- Include any larger graphics here (e.g., visual timeline, budget table) or …
- If you’ve done a survey/questionnaire, please include your questions here
- If you want to show results of any primary research you’ve done, this is the place
Format Requirements:
- Three pages max single spaced or six pages double spaced
- Use 1-inch margins and 11 or 12-point font
- Use brevity tools such as section headers, lists, timetables, budget charts, etc. (note, however, that your ideas must be complete thoughts, comprehensible to your audience)
- Use in-text APA citations in the body of your proposal; these must explicitly connect to your references list at the end.
At a minimum, you should include a visual timeline (there’s templates for this in Microsoft Word), a table or chart outlining the budget/costs, and at least one other relevant visual
Attached are proposal examples (the word documents), as well as my proposal idea which is an internship opportunity offered through Paragon One. I also have some sources that I’d like to cite (the PDF’s attached).
