for

INTERNATIONAL

(ICC 601)

Group 3

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 Features of a Project
Proposal
Objectives:

• Identify the unique features of a project proposal paper.

• Write a project proposal.

Writing project proposals is expected of a senior high school student, like you.
Project Proposal is a written presentation of a project, program, or innovation you
plan to implement. Project proposals are submitted to an appropriate agency or
association for implementation or funding. For example, you plan to implement
literacy project for out-of-school youth in your barangay. If you want this project to
be approved for implementation or even funded by the appropriate agency, you have
to submit a project proposal.

You cannot design an effective project proposal without careful planning and
research. In the planning stage the following questions are helpful: Why are you
proposing this project? How will you be doing it? When and where will it be done?
How much will it cost?

After answering those questions, you need to research for relevant information
from books or journals in the library or in the internet related to your project.

Characteristics of Proposals

• Proposals are persuasive documents as these try to convince the reader of the
suitability of a particular course of action.
• Proposals are generally written for an external audience though in some cases
they may be made for internal purposes, by one department for another or
from an individual to the management.
• These may be solicited or unsolicited.
• They vary in length from a couple of pages to several pages.
• Proposals may be made by individuals or organizations for both individuals
and organizations.

Tips in Writing a Proposal

Scot Ober has compiled some of the points to be kept in mind while writing a
proposal. These are as follows:

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 • Give ample, credible evidence for all statements.
• Do not exaggerate
• Provide examples, expert testimony and specific facts and figures to support
your statements.
• Use simple, straightforward and direct language preferring simple sentences
and active voice.
• Stress the benefits. Remember that you are asking for something, usually a
commitment of money; let the reader know what he or she will get in return.

Guidelines in Writing the Proposal

The following section provides some guidelines in writing the proposal:

1. Gathering data. One of the characteristics of an effective proposal is being well-

researched. A proposal needs concrete data to back up its claims so it can become
more credible. You can gather data from primary and secondary sources, and
apply the strategies that you learned in writing a research paper in the previous
lessons.

2. Organizing data. A proposal becomes more effective if the information on it is

clearly organized. You can use the parts of the proposal to guide you in your
organization, or use an outline to structure your discussion more effectively.

3. Writing the proposal. Once you have gathered and organized the data, draft your
proposal by filling out the parts of the proposal with the relevant data.

4. Revising the proposal. Make sure to review your proposal for accuracy and
organization before you send it out. A good proposal will be comprehensive and
will put your organization in the best light.

Defining the Project Proposal

Project proposals are documents that are written for problem solving, service
provision, event planning, or equipment selling. Generally, proposals are used to
convince the reader to do what the proposal suggests, such as buying goods or
services, funding a project, or implementing a program.

Proposals in the professional world are used for internal (within an

organization) and external (from one organization to another) purposes. They are a
way of generating income for companies seeking funds for projects.

Proposals are usually written in response to Requests for Proposal (RFP),

which funding agencies send out. Interested organizations send proposals following
the requirements stipulated in the RFP. Requesting parties are thus able to compare
different responses to a problem. Thus, it is clear that a proposal provides a plan to
satisfy a need.

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 A proposal stands out depending on its ability to clearly answer questions
about what is being proposed, and how the plan will be carried out, when it will be
implemented, and how much money will be needed or spent. In other words,
proposals are persuasive documents that need to do the following: highlight reader
benefits, prove your credibility in carrying out the project, and allow the reader to
respond easily.
Even in your lives as students, you have been adapted with writing proposals,
may be without even knowing it. Whenever you envision, plan and complete a project
for your class or clubs, you are thinking about fulfilling a need for something. This
process may include writing a paper or doing a performance in front of an audience
to get their approval. While proposal writing may seem like a daunting task, they can
be made easier by following the guidelines in writing and familiarizing yourself with
the parts of a project proposal.

Organizing the Project Proposal

Proposals are mainly characterized according to their length. An informal

proposal is about 2-4 pages long. A formal proposal, meanwhile, has 5 or more pages.
Irrespective of their purpose and audience, they have typical parts. Let me show you
two types of project proposal presentation such as the following:

1. Introduction. This portion provides the background necessary for

understanding the project, which is done by discussing the following:

• Rationale - This recognizes the problem to be addressed and shows the

need to solve it.

• Objectives - These reveal what the project intends to achieve in terms

of results. It also gives the reader an idea of the intended solution. Good
objectives are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, results oriented
and time-bound)

• Benefits - These show what the reader or target audience can gain from
the proposal, which may be improvements in processes or systems, an
increase in revenue, or a change in behavior of the beneficiaries of the
proposal.

2. Project description. This section gives definite information about the project
itself. It indicates how the project will address the identified problem through
the following parts:

• Methodology - This details the different activities the project will take
on, including the manpower (i.e. the people involved and their duties)
and resources to be utilized, and the expected output.

• Schedule - This discusses the task duration and expected start and end
dates of each activity in the project.

• Budget - This presents an analysis of all the costs projected in the

project, which can be itemized or shown as a whole, depending on the
needs of the project.

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Below are samples of project proposal templates:

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Let Us Practice!
Below is a sample project proposal for the Department of Education’s
“Gulayan sa Paaralan” project. Study the proposal below and answer the questions
that follow:

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 Based on the information in the Project Proposal, answer the following
questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What is the title of the project?

2. Give one objective of the project?
3. Who is/are the proponent/s of the proposal?

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 4. For whom is the proposal?
5. How much is the needed budget?
6. Where will the funds be taken?
7. What is/are the expected output/s of the project?

Let Us Assess!
Put a ✓ check mark if the statement is correct; X if otherwise. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

________ 1. Project proposals are submitted to an appropriate agency or

association for appreciation.
________ 2. Proposals are entertainment documents as these try to convince the
reader of the suitability of a particular course of action.
________ 3. Project proposals should not be more than 1 page.
________ 4. Individuals are not allowed to submit a project proposal for project
implementation.
________ 5. Project proposals should use figurative and colorful language rather
than direct language to persuade the funding agency.
________ 6. A brief history of the project is written in the project background or
rationale.
________ 7. The Project Objectives state the purpose of the project.
________ 8. Project cost is very important in a project proposal.
________ 9. A project proposal should address an existing concern or potential
problem.
________ 10. A project proposal should be SMART.

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