1. WRITING THE
PROPOSAL

2. 1. Defining the Problem

3. State your proposal’s purpose.

4. Narrow you topic and purpose.

5. Narrow your topic and
purpose.
- Is it too big to handle?
- Can you take a local angle?
- Can you talk about it in terms of
recent events?

6. Define the rhetorical situation.

7. Define the rhetorical situation.
- Why is this situation a problem that needs a
solution now?
- Who is talking about this issue? What are
they saying?
-Who is the audience for this proposal? Why?
What values, concerns, and interests of the
audience should you pay attention to?
- What can your audience do about the issue?
- Will your audience automatically agree with
your understanding of the problem?

8. Identify the major and minor
causes of the problem.

9. Research the problem.

10. Research the problem.
- Online sources.
- Library databases (Academic Search
Premier)
- Primary sources (interviews, surveys).

11. Research the problem.
- What do you need to know?
- What evidence do you need to support your
claims about the problem?

12. 2. Planning to Solve the
Problem

13. Think about your solution
rhetorically.

14. Think about your solution
rhetorically.
- Does it actually address the problem?
- Is it workable?
- Does it create more problems than it
solves?

15. Figure out the costs and benefits.

16. Believing:
- What are the benefits of the proposal?
- Which benefit would be most persuasive?
- What evidence/support can you give to
convince readers?
Doubting:
- Why might some oppose this proposal?
- Would it have any negative costs or
consequences?
- What would be the biggest obstacle to
convincing people to agree to the proposal?

17. Researching:
Find similar projects.
Find how others might view the
problem differently.

18. Researching Summary:
- Find background information.
- Find evidence to support claims.
- Find similar projects.
- Find how others might view the problem
differently.

19. 3. Drafting the Proposal

20. Decide whether to emphasize the
problem or the solution.
- How familiar is the audience with the issue?
- Can you expect the audience to agree with
you about the problem?

21. Remember the three parts.
1. Problem
2. Solution
3. Justification

22. Write for the web.
- Use headings.
- Use short paragraphs.
- Avoid long sentences.