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The thought of writing a proposal overwhelms many people, but the task does not have to be
daunting. Proposals are written when people need to ask permission to make a purchase, do a
project, or write a paper; the proposal is a formal way of putting forth an idea and asking for action to
be taken on that idea. When writing a proposal, consider who will read the proposal and what that
person may or may not already know about what you are proposing.

Writing an Informal Proposal

Follow these steps when writing a proposal:
1. State your purpose. Do this clearly and concisely so that the reader knows immediately why you are
writing.
2. Give some background information about why you are proposing your suggestion so that the reader
has a better understanding of the problem.
3. State a solution to the problem; this is where you give specifics about your suggestion.
4. Continue with any costs that will be involved.
5. Conclude by restating the problem and proposed solution.

A Sample Informal Proposal

Below you will find a sample proposal asking for new pencil sharpeners for a small private grade
school. After each section, we'll provide a commentary to explain how what has been written works
as part of a proposal.

The Header
To: Rev. Mark Smith
From: Nicole Johnson
Date: March 10, 2011
 Subject: A proposal to purchase new pencil sharpeners for the classrooms of St. Marys School

Purpose
I write this letter to propose a solution to a recurring problem at St. Marys School. The problem is
that the pencil sharpeners in the classrooms are very old and do not work effectively
anymore. Students and teachers continually become frustrated because it is difficult to sharpen a
pencil with the current sharpeners, and pencils that are sharp are crucial for effective learning.
I suggest that we order new pencil sharpeners for each classroom so that the students will have
pencils that work well and will therefore be able to write without the frustration of worn down pencil
points.
Commentary On the Purpose: Because the audience is the pastor of a church that has a grade
school, and because the pastor is not using the classrooms in the school every day, he may not know
how bad the pencil sharpeners are. Thus, the problem is stated clearly at the beginning in the
purpose section of the proposal
Problem of Ineffective Pencil Sharpeners
There are 217 students enrolled in kindergarten through eighth grade at St. Marys School. These
students occupy 12 classrooms each day. None of these classrooms has a pencil sharpener that works
well; it takes several minutes to sharpen just one pencil.
This means that if all of the students need to sharpen their pencils once a day (depending on how
much writing is being done, a pencil may need sharpened more than once a day), it could take an
average of thirty minutes to sharpen them all before the students can sit down to their desks and start
learning the days lessons. Thirty minutes of time spent sharpening pencils takes away a great deal
from instructional time.
However, not all the students need to sharpen their pencils at the same time. This need arises at
various times throughout the day, often at the beginning of a test or a new lesson.
Because of the length of time it takes to sharpen a pencil, the teachers have continuous interruptions
in their lessons throughout the day. Almost everything done in a classroom requires a pencil,
especially as students get older, and it is difficult to get anything done without this basic tool.
The current pencil sharpeners have been in the classrooms as long as Mrs. Morris has taught here,
and that is over thirty years. They do not work well because they have been in use for so long. Even
after sharpening for several minutes, the pencil points still are not as sharp as they should be, and the
points break off easily, causing them to need to be sharpened yet again.
Commentary on the description of the problem: In this section, the proposal gives more details
and background information about the kinds of problems caused by not having effective pencil
sharpeners in hopes that the pastor will realize the degree to which the poor sharpeners detract from
student learning.
Solution to the Problem
I propose that we purchase electric pencil sharpeners for each classroom. These work quickly and
effectively, and take only a few seconds to sharpen a pencil.
Office World carries several pencil sharpeners designed specifically for schools and the high volume
of use the sharpeners get in classrooms.
 I propose we purchase 12 of the Used-All-Day Pro Student Electric Pencil Sharpeners. These
sharpeners have received strong reviews on the Office World web site. In addition, Central
Elementary School purchased these for all their classrooms four years ago, and their principal has
told me how well they still work.
Commentary on the solution: The goal of this section is to convince the pastor that acting on the
proposed solution will reap immediate benefits in the classroom. The proposal is specific in the
solution; it does not suggest purchasing just any pencil sharpeners, but specific ones that have been
researched. It also includes the recommendation of a friend who is a principal at another school to
show that other people say this solution works well for them.
Costs
The Used-All-Day Pro Student Electric Pencil Sharpeners cost $42.29 each. However, Office World
gives a discount if purchasing ten or more, reducing the cost to $35.29 each. Because we are a
member of the Office World Schools frequent shopper program, we will receive 2% of our purchase
back at the end of the school year. This makes the total cost of the purchase $415.01.
Several electric sharpeners exist that cost more and less than this one, but because of the
recommendations of others, I believe that purchasing a middle-priced sharpener will be a wise choice
for St. Marys School. Because Office World offers free shipping for purchases over $50, we will not
have any shipping costs.
Commentary on costs: In this section, the proposal shows exactly how much the purchase will
cost. It also shows how the writer has not chosen the most or least expensive sharpener, but one that
is priced in the middle. The writer also spells out any additional financial benefits the school will
receive by making this purchase.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think purchasing new electric pencil sharpeners for each classroom would be of
tremendous benefit to St. Marys School. It would put an end to the constant frustration of students
never being able to find sharp pencils, and of losing instructional time because of the length of time it
takes to use our current sharpeners.
Thank you for considering making this purchase for our teachers and students!
Commentary on Conclusion: The conclusion restates the problem and the proposed solution, and
ends on a positive note encouraging the reader to act on the proposal.
As you can see, writing a proposal does not have to be an overwhelming task. With a bit of thought
and research, you will be able to write an effective proposal that has a good chance of being
approved.

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proposal.html#BvcoUQcTApB2UyBM.99
In composition especially in business writing and technical writing a
proposal is a document that offers a solution to a problem or a course of action in
response to a need.

As a form of persuasive writing, proposals attempt to convince the recipient to act

in accordance with the writer's intent and includes such as examples as internal
proposals, external proposals, grant proposals, and sales proposals.

In the book "Knowledge Into Action," a proposal is defined as "a proposal is

a form of persuasive writing; every element of every proposal should be
structured and tailored to maximize its persuasive impact."

On the other hand, in academic writing, a research proposal is a report that

identifies the subject of a forthcoming research project, outlines a research
strategy and provides a bibliography or tentative list of references. This form can
also be called a research or topic proposal.

COMMON TYPES OF PROPOSALS

From Jonathan Swift's satiric "A Modest Proposal" to the foundations of the
United States government and national economy put forth in Benjamin
Franklin's "An Economical Project," there are a wide variety of forms a proposal
can take for business and technical writing, but the most common of which are
teh internal, external, sales and grant proposals.

An internal proposal or justification report is composed for readers within the

writer's department, division, or company and are generally short in the form of a
memo with the intention of solving an immediate problem.

External proposals, on the other hand, are designed to show how one
organization can meet the needs of another and may be either solicited, meaning
in response to a request, or unsolicited, meaning without any assurance that the
proposal will even be considered.
A sales proposal is, as Philip C. Kolin puts it in "Successful Writing at Work," the
most common external proposal whose "purpose is to sell your company's brand,
its products or services for a set fee." He continues that regardless of the length, a
sales proposal must offer a detailed description of the work the writer proposes to
do and can be used as a marketing tool to entice potential buyers.

Finally, a grant proposal is a document composed or application completed in

response to a call for proposals issued by a grant-making agency. The two main
components of a grant proposal are a formal application for funding and a
detailed report on what activities the grant will support if funded.

RESEARCH PROPOSALS

When enrolled in an academic or writer-in-residence program, a student may be

asked to write another unique form of proposal, the research proposal.

This form requires the writer to describe the intended research in full detail,
including the problem the research is addressing, why it's important, what
research has been conducted before in this field, and how the student's project
will accomplish something unique.

Elizabeth A. Wentz describes this process in "How to Design, Write, and Present
a Successful Dissertation Proposal," as "your plan for creating new
knowledge." Wentz also emphasizes the importance of writing these in order to
provide structure and focus to the objectives and methodology of the project
itself.

In "Designing and Managing Your Research Project" David Thomas and Ian D.
Hodges also note that the research proposal is a time to shop the idea and project
out to peers in the same field, who can provide valuable insight into the project's
objectives.

Thomas and Hodges note that "colleagues, supervisors, community

representatives, potential research participants and others can look at the details
of what you are planning to do and provide feedback," which can help solidify
methodology and importance as well as catch any mistakes the writer may have
made in his or her research.

Types of Proposals

A proposal is a request for support of sponsored research, training or other creative activity submitted in
accordance with the funding sponsor's instructions. Common proposal types include:

Pre-Proposal, Preliminary Proposal or White Paper:

This type of proposal is requested when a sponsor wishes to minimize an applicants effort in preparing a
full proposal. They are usually in the form of a letter of intent or a brief abstract of what the PI plans to do,
how the PI will conduct the project and why this project has merit. A pre-proposal establishes a
foundation for discussion; it does not commit the PI or the University to anything. However, since these
proposals often do become the basis for negotiation for funding, if a budget is included in the submission,
Proposal Services will route it for the appropriate University signatures. When requested by the sponsor,
the pre-proposal may be used to determine how well the project fits the agencys priorities. Also, the
preliminary proposal may determine selection for the next stage of the application, help in the selection of
possible reviewers and possibly offer a chance for feedback to the PI. After the preproposal is reviewed,
the sponsor notifies the investigator if a full proposal is warranted.

Formal Proposal:

Although the prescribed format of any of these proposals will vary, all should be prepared in the same
general manner. A formal proposal normally fits into one of the following categories:

Unsolicited Proposal. This type of proposal is submitted to a sponsor that generally has not issued a
specific solicitation but is believed by the investigator to have an interest in the subject. The unsolicited
proposal is developed around general agency guidelines, within a specific subject field, where the scope
of the project is not limited by specific solicitation guidelines. Unsolicited proposal may be submitted
anytime, although there may be target submission dates set to meet particular review panel meetings.

Solicited Proposal. (Response to a specific program.) This category can includeBroad Agency
Announcements (BAA), Requests for Proposal (RFP) and Requests for Quotation (RFQ). A
proposal submitted to a specific program should conform to the solicitation guidelines issued by the
agency. Proposals submitted in response to a BAA are usually accepted at any time during a specified
time frame, which may be as long as 2 or 3 years. To respond to an RFP or RFQ, the proposed project
would have to fit the needs described in the specific work statement developed by the funding agency. A
RFP or RFQ is usually specific in its requirements regarding format and technical content and may
stipulate certain award terms and conditions. They usually have a hard deadline; if the proposal arrives
late, it normally will not be considered. Also, most are one-time solicitations to fit a specific need that is
not expected to recur.

Continuation or Non-Competing Proposals. This is a request for financial assistance for a second or
subsequent budget period within a previously approved project period. This type of proposal confirms the
original proposal and funding requirements of the multi-year project. Continued support is usually
contingent on satisfactory work progress, as verified in a required report, and the availability of funds.

Renewal or Competing Proposals. These types of proposals are requests for continued support for an
existing project that is about to terminate, and, from the sponsors viewpoint, generally have the same
status as an unsolicited proposal. Competing continuation proposals compete with other competing
continuation, competing supplemental, and new proposals for funds.
Supplemental Proposal. A supplemental proposal is a request for an increase in support during a
current budget period for expansion of the project's scope or research protocol or to meet increased
administrative costs unforeseen at the time of the new, non-competing continuation, or competing
continuation application.

The Top 5 Proposal Types that people seek help with online are:

1. Grant Proposals - For funding proposals to all levels of government.

Grant Writing Proposal Kit

2. Business Proposals - For all types of business proposals.

Business Proposal Kit

3. Technical Proposals - Research, academic, business and government.

Professional Proposal Kit

4. Project Proposals - For all types of projects - all sectors.

Project Proposal Kit

5. Sales Proposals - For all types of products and services.

Sales Proposal Kit

In addition to the above list of most popular proposal types, the following is a list
of other proposal types that many people also need help writing:

Construction proposals
Training proposals
Thesis proposals
Book proposals
Technical proposals
Show proposals
Building proposals
Development proposals
Network proposals
Event proposals
Idea proposals
 Exhibition proposals
Design proposals
Sponsorship proposals
Museum proposals
Show proposals
and more...

How to write a proposal

Writing a good proposal is a critical skill in many occupations, from school to business
management to geology. The goal of a proposal is to gain support for your plan by informing the
appropriate people. Your ideas or suggestions are more likely to be approved if you can
communicate them in a clear, concise, engaging manner. Knowing how to write a persuasive,
captivating proposal is essential for success in many fields. There are several types of
proposals, such as science proposals and book proposals, but the same basic guidelines apply
for all of them.

Planning Your Proposal

1. 1
Define your audience. You need to make sure that you think about your audience and what
they might already know or not know about your topic before you begin writing. This will help
you focus your ideas and present them in the most effective way. It's a good idea to assume
that your readers will be busy, reading (or even skimming) in a rush, and not predisposed to
grant your ideas any special consideration. Efficiency and persuasiveness will be key.[1][2]
Who will be reading your proposal? What level of familiarity with your topic will they have? What
might you need to define or give extra background information about?
What do you want your audience to get from your proposal? What do you need to give your
readers so they can make the decision you want them to make?
Refine your tone to meet your audience's expectations and desires. What do they want to hear?
What would be the most effective way of getting through to them? How can you help them
understand what you're trying to say?

2. 2
 Define your issue. It is clear to you what the issue is, but is that also clear to your reader?
Also, does your reader believe you really know what you are talking about? You can support
your ethos, or writing persona, by using evidence and explanations throughout the proposal to
back up your assertions. By setting your issue properly, you start convincing the reader that you
are the right person to take care of it. Think about the following when you plan this part:
What is the situation this issue applies to?
What are the reasons behind this?
Are we sure that those, and not others, are the real reasons? How are we sure of it?
Has anyone ever tried to deal with this issue before?
If yes: has it worked? Why?
If no: why not?
Don't: write a summary obvious to anyone in the field.
Do: show that you've conducted in-depth research and evaluation to understand the issue.

3. 3
Define your solution. This should be straightforward and easy to understand. Once you set the
issue you're addressing, how would you like to solve it? Get it as narrow (and doable) as
possible.[3]
Don't: forget to comply with all requirements in the RFP (request for proposal) document.
Do: go above and beyond the minimum whenever budget allows.

Your proposal needs to define a problem and offer a solution that will convince uninterested,
skeptical readers to support it.[4] Your audience may not be the easiest crowd to win over. Is the
solution you're offering logical and feasible? What's the timeline for your implementation?
Consider thinking about your solution in terms of objectives. Your primary objective is the goal
that you absolutely must achieve with your project. Secondary objectives are other goals that
you hope your project achieves.
Another helpful way of thinking about your solution is in terms of "outcomes" and "deliverables."
Outcomes are the quantifiable results of your objectives. For example, if your proposal is for a
business project and your objective is "increase profit," an outcome might be "increase profit by
$100,000." Deliverables are products or services that you will deliver with your project. For
example, a proposal for a science project could "deliver" a vaccine or a new drug. Readers of
 proposals look for outcomes and deliverables, because they are easy ways of determining what
the "worth" of the project will be.[5]

4. 4
Keep elements of style in mind. Depending on your proposal and who'll be reading it, you
need to cater your paper to fit a certain style. What do they expect? Are they interested in your
problem?
Don't: overuse jargon, obscure abbreviations, or needlessly complex language ("rectification of
a workplace imbalance").
Do: write in plain, direct language whenever possible ("letting employees go").[6]

How are you going to be persuasive? Convincing proposals can use emotional appeals, but
should always rely on facts as the bedrock of the argument. For example, a proposal to start a
panda conservation program could mention how sad it would be for the children of future
generations to never see a panda again, but it shouldn't stopthere. It would need to base its
argument on facts and solutions for the proposal to be convincing.

5. 5
Make an outline. This will not be part of the final proposal, but it will help you organize your
thoughts. Make sure you know all of the relevant details before you start.[7]
Your outline should consist of your problem, your solution, how you'll solve it, why your solution
is best, and a conclusion. If you're writing an executive proposal, you'll need to include things
like a budget analysis and organizational details.

Writing Your Own Proposal

1. 1
Start with a firm introduction. This should start out with a hook. Ideally, you want your readers
enraptured from point one. Make your proposal as purposeful and useful as possible. Use some
 background information to get your readers in the zone. Then state the purpose of your
proposal.[8]
If you have any stark facts that shed some light on why the issue needs to be addressed and
addressed immediately, it's a safe bet that's something you can start with. Whatever it is, make
sure what you start out with is a fact and not an opinion.

2. 2
State the problem. After the introduction, you'll get into the body, the meat of your work. Here's
where you should state your problem. If your readers don't know much about the circumstance,
fill them in. Think of this as the "state of affairs" section of your proposal. What is the problem?
What is causing the problem? What effects does this problem have?[9]
Emphasize why your problem needs to be solved and needs to be solved now. How will it affect
your audience if left alone? Make sure to answer all questions and cover them with research
and facts. Use credible sources liberally.
Don't: rely solely on generic appeals to emotions or values.
Do: tie the issue to the audience's interest or mission statement as directly as possible.

3. 3
Propose solutions. This is arguably the most important part of your proposal. The solutions
section is where you get into how you will address the problem, why you will do it in this way,
and what the outcomes will be. To make sure you've got a persuasive proposal, think about the
following:[10]
Discuss the larger impact of your ideas. Ideas that seem of limited applicability aren't as likely to
spark enthusiasm in readers as ideas that could have widespread effects. Example: "Greater
knowledge of tuna behavior can allow us to create a more comprehensive management
strategy and ensure canned tuna for future generations."
Addressing why you will do something is as important as stating what you will do. Presume that
your readers are skeptical and will not accept your ideas at face value. If you're proposing to do
a catch-and-release study of 2,000 wild tuna, why? Why is that better than something else? If
it's more expensive than another option, why can't you use the cheaper option? Anticipating and
addressing these questions will show that you've considered your idea from all angles.
 Your readers should leave your paper assured that you can solve the problem effectively.
Literally everything you write should either address the problem or how to solve it.
Research your proposal extensively. The more examples and facts you can give your audience,
the better -- it'll be much more convincing. Avoid your own opinions and rely on the hard
research of others.
If your proposal doesn't prove that your solution works, it's not an adequate solution. If your
solution isn't feasible, nix it. Think about the results of your solution, too. Pre-test it if possible
and revise your solution if need be.

4. 4
Include a schedule and budget. Your proposal represents an investment. In order to convince
your readers that you're a good investment, provide as much detailed, concrete information
about your timeline and budget as possible.[11][12]
Don't: include objectives that are vague, impossible to measure, or don't relate to the stated
problem.
Do: detail responsibilities and time commitments on the level of departments or individual staff.

When do you envision the project starting? At what pace will it progress? How does each step
build on the other? Can certain things be done simultaneously? Being as meticulous as possible
will give your readers confidence that you've done your homework and won't waste their money.
Make sure your proposal makes sense financially. If you're proposing an idea to a company or a
person, consider their budget. If they can't afford your proposal, it's not an adequate one. If it
does fit their budget, be sure to include why it's worth their time and money.

5. 5
Wrap up with a conclusion. This should mirror your introduction, succinctly wrapping up your
general message. If there are consequences to your proposal not being undertaken, address
them. Summarize the benefits of your proposal and drive home that the benefits outweigh the
costs. Leave your audience thinking ahead. And, as always, thank them for their consideration
and time.[13]
 If you have extra content that doesn't exactly fit into your proposal, you may want to add an
appendix. But know that if your paper is too bulky, it may scare people off. If you're in doubt,
leave it out.
If you have two or more appendices attached to your proposal, letter them A, B, etc. This can be
used if you have data sheets, reprints of articles, or letters of endorsement and the like.[11]

6. 6
Edit your work. Be meticulous in writing, editing, and designing the proposal. Revise as
necessary to make it clear and concise, ask others to critique and edit it, and make sure the
presentation is attractive and engaging as well as well organized and helpful.[4]
Have another set of eyes (or two) read over your work. They'll be able to highlight issues your
mind has grown blind to. There may be issues that you haven't completely addressed or
questions you've left open-ended.
Eliminate jargon and cliches! These make you look lazy and can get in the way of
understanding. Don't use a long word when a short word will do just as well.[14]
Avoid the passive voice whenever possible. Passive voice uses forms of "to be" verbs and can
make your meaning unclear. Compare these two sentences: "The window was broken by the
zombie" and "The zombie broke the window." In the first, you don't know who broke the window:
was it the zombie? Or was the window by the zombie and just happened to also be broken? In
the second, you know exactly who did the breaking and why it's important.
Don't: muddle your proposal with I believe that..., this solution may aid... or other qualifiers.
Do: use strong, direct language: The proposed plan will significantly reduce poverty rates.

7. 7
Proofread your work. Editing focuses on getting the content as clear and concise as you can
make it. Proofreading makes sure that your content is free of mistakes. Go over your proposal
carefully to catch any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.

Any mistakes on your end will make you look less educated and less credible, reducing your
likelihood of getting approved.
Make sure that your formatting is in line with whatever the guidelines require.