24 Chapter 17: Proposals
A proposal is essentially a solution to a problem. During the process of writing a proposal, the textbook Rhetoric and Composition explains that it is important to keep your attitude open to change. Like most writing, a proposal evolves and changes because it is a process. If you are too rigid in your thinking processes and goals, you will likely get stuck. Openness to change and a willingness to communicate are key, especially when you are working with an individual or organization you’re directing your proposal.
Preliminary Research
Defining the Problem
Proposals often stem from an individual’s heartfelt wish to address this problem. Although personal conviction and passion can give meaning and drive towards the completion of the proposal, these are not enough. In order to come up with a viable solution, you need to build a solid foundation of research on the problem. You can use online, print, and empirical sources to research the problem (e.g., interviews, field observation, etc.). Gathering this research helps you identify possible solutions and eliminate solutions that will not work. You can also include your research in your proposal to show that you have a working knowledge of the issue, strengthening your credibility.
Writing with the Reader in Mind
As you write your proposal, it is helpful to imagine your real audience. Doing this acts as an anchor because it reminds you that your goal is to explain your ideas to a real person. Once you have your audience in mind, you can begin analyzing what they want by asking a series of questions. The following table demonstrates the importance of moving from vague, general questions to specific questions.
| From | To |
|---|---|
| Is my idea any good, anyway? | Who will want to buy this idea? |
| What do I want to say? | What does the buyer want to her? |
| Can I actually write this? | How can I target my idea to this specific buyer? |
| What’s the best way for me to say it? | How will that buyer understand it best? |
| How can I convince anyone to buy this idea? | What logic of persuasion or entertainment will attract that buyer? |
| What do I want to say first? | What will this buyer want to know first? |
| How do I want to organize this proposal? | What will the buyer want to know next? |
| What do I mean to say here? | What does this buyer need to hear at this point to be convinced? |
By shifting to questions about a real audience, the proposal writer simultaneously reduces their anxiety about their proposal through depersonalization while producing specific answers that will guide the writing process. Although the above chart targets a specific buyer, this kind of analysis can extend to proposals that are not asking for money (although in a sense, anyone who reads your proposal is a “buyer” of your ideas).
Outlining a Solution
In the process of building and organizing ideas, it’s helpful to use a variety of techniques to help you visualize and play with the structure.