How to Write a Proposal

Sample ProposalsPlanning Your ProposalWriting Your Own Proposal

Edited by Ladyblair103, Darrelljon, Writelf, Lillian May and 11 others

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. If it captures their attention, you'll get your project or suggestions approved. Knowing how to write a persuasive, captivating proposal is essential for success in many fields.
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Method 1 of 2: Planning Your Proposal

1. 1
Define your issue and solution. This should be fairly straightforward. What's the problem you're addressing? How would you like to solve it? Get it as narrow (and doable) as possible.

Your proposal needs to define a problem and offer a solution that will convince uninterested, skeptical readers to support it.[1] 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?

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2
Think about your audience. For starters, who are they? 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.

What do you want your audience to get from your proposal? Is there an overall vibe to your proposal? How do you want them to emerge from it?

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?

3
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?

Think about the level of jargon you can employ. If the readers are educated, it can be a lot. How are you going to be persuasive? Do you have a topic that can use ethos, pathos, or logos? You want to touch on their emotions, but remain credible by using only facts.

4
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.

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.

Method 2 of 2: 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.

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
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, giving a panoramic perspective on the issue. If your readers don't know much about the circumstance, fill them in.

Emphasize why your problem needs to be solved and needs to be solved now. How will it affect your audience if left alone? What circumstances have led to its existence? Make sure to answer all questions (begged or otherwise) and cover them with research and facts. Use credible sources liberally.

3
Propose solutions. This is arguably the most important part of your proposal. Actually, it is your proposal. To make sure you've got a persuasive one, think of the following:

Get your project to be considered on a larger scale. Example: "Greater knowledge of tuna behavior can allow us to create a more

comprehensive management strategy and ensure canned tuna for future generations."

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.

Do not assume that your audience will be on your side. The whole purpose of your proposal is to convince them of this. Don't be overconfident that they'll easily believe you. Try to put yourself in the reader's shoes as you write.

Research your proposal extensively. The more examples and facts you can give your audience, the better -- it'll 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.

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.[2]

Include a very precise schedule of the work you're proposing. When do you envision it 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 sponsor confidence in you and grant them solace.[3]

4
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. Leave your audience thinking ahead. And, as always, thank them for their consideration and time.

If you have extra content that doesn't exactly fit into your proposal, you may want to add an appendix or abstract of sorts. 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.[3]

5
Edit your work. Be meticulous in writing, editing, and design of 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.[1]

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.

Make sure to look for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, too! Any mistakes on your end will make you look less educated and less credible, reducing your likelihood of getting approved.

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Tips

Make sure that your ideas are not hidden between unnecessary words.

Use language that everyone can understand. Keep to short sentences that are clear and to the point. Any discussion of financial or other resources should be conducted carefully and should present a realistic picture of the expense required.

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Sources & Citations

1. 1.01.1http://www.dailywritingtips.com/how-to-write-a-proposal/ 2. http://class.georgiasouthern.edu/writling/professional/TechWrite/21/glisson/ 3. 3.03.1http://orsp.umich.edu/proposals/pwg/pwgcomplete.html

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