The document provides guidance on how to write an effective proposal. It explains that a proposal aims to convince the reader to approve new ideas or plans. It should outline the objectives, details, and steps or course of action, and persuade the reader that the plans are worth undertaking. The document recommends using a formal tone, clear language, transition words, and future tense to convey positivity about results. It also provides tips on proposal format, including addressing the recipient, introducing and summarizing the plan, elaborating ideas in paragraphs, and concluding with a summary to make one final appeal to the reader.

1. What is a
proposal?
A proposal is a formal report to
convince the reader to approve
new ideas / plans.

2. Purpose
• To give suggestions to meet objectives
• To provide specific details
• To outline steps to be taken or a course of
action
• To convince the reader that the plans are
worth carrying out

3. Language
 Be polite
 Be clear and specific
 Be formal
 Be persuasive
 Use transition words to show development
of plan
 Use the present tense and future aspect
 Use ‘will’ to show positivity about results
and benefits
 Use sentence starters like ‘I feel’, ‘I hope’,
‘I think’ in giving suggestions

4. Format(Date)
To: (Recipient)
 “Proposal for…”
 A proposal usually has an intended recipient to accord respect &
politeness, though it can be optional at times.
(The Introductory Paragraph)
 A SUMMARY of your plan and ideas (state your purpose!)
Remember the 5‘Wh’ & 1‘Hw’ questions
(The Body - Paragraphs)
 Elaborate ideas sufficiently and relevantly with PEEL structure  start
with the most important to the least important
 Develop each new bullet in a new paragraph
proposal

5. Format
(The Concluding Paragraph)
 SUM UP and make one last bid to convince your reader!
Thank you.
Proposed by
_(Signature)_
(full name)
(other relevant information e.g. position)

6. Format
(Date)
To: (Recipient)
Re: Underlined title – “Proposal for…”
(The Introductory Paragraph)
(The Body - paragraphs)
(The Concluding Paragraph)
Thank you.
Proposed by
_(Signature)_
(full name)
(other relevant information e.g. position)
proposal

7. Remembering FLAP
 Format – as above
 Audience:
- The intended audience
(either an individual or
group, e.g. members of a
board)
- Remember the wider
audience if the proposal
may be printed in a
magazine, etc.
 Purpose:
- To convince the reader, not
to tell or dictate!
 Language features:
- Predominantly present &
future aspect of tense
- Use of modals to reflect
courtesy & politeness (may,
might, could, should)
- Avoid wrong modals and
direct auxiliary verbs like
‘must’, ‘I am selecting’, ‘this
is what we will be doing’.
- Remember your tone! You
are recommending, not
dictating

8. Remembering FLAP
 Language features:
- Write in a factual manner,
using appropriate register.
Avoid using unnecessary
adjectives and adverbs that
will make your proposal
sound ‘cheesy’, e.g. ‘I am
sure that if you, Sir, agree
with my most humble
proposal, the whole school
will be blessed and we will
excel forever more! Viva la
Nan Hua’