Major Writing Assignment (MWA) 2: The Proposal

Due: 11/5/16 at 11:59pm

Value: 100 points
The second project of the semester asks you to compose a proposal that addresses a local, UNM
or Albuquerque, problem. The audience for this proposal is entirely up to you and the
context/rhetorical situation you decide you are writing for. The audience and purpose of this
proposal relies on the problem you hope to solve and how you plan to solve it. As always, your
proposal should be clean, professional, and follow genre/medium expectations.
Task
You will research, address, and offer a solution for a local, UNM or Albuquerque, problem. This
problem can be as large or small as you would like, but in the end should propose a clear
solution. Your proposal should be 5-7 pages (not including graphics) in length and clearly follow
the genre expectations set forth in Chapter 8 of Technical Communication Today. Proposals are
used in all sorts of fields from academics and science, government and business, to the non-profit
sector. As a persuasive document, a proposal needs to:
Describe the current situation that details the problem (including the causes and effects)
Offer your project plan that shows step by step how your team plans to solve the problem
Explains your qualifications and illustrates who will be involved with the project (i.e. are
you representing an organizationreal or of your own creation? What classes have you
taken to help prepare you for the solution? Does/will your degree help in anyway? What
other previous experience might make you qualified? Who else would be a part of the
project?)
Summarizes the cost of the solution and its benefits
Like other genres you will work with in your professional lives, the proposal also includes an
introduction that engages your targeted audience and identifies the problem at hand and your
solution. Your introduction should also include a clear purpose for the proposal (i.e. to persuade,
convince, suggest, recommend, etc.). Proposals also include a conclusion that wraps up your
document and looks toward the future. Often times, the conclusion is part of the cost/benefits of
the project and follows the five steps indicated on page 218 of the textbook.
Your proposal should also include at least TWO graphics, either an infographic, chart or table, all
of your own creation. These graphics should showcase the problem, an estimation of the cost, or
some other element. Some helpful tools for creating graphics include infogr.am, canva, and
Microsoft Word and Excel.
Since you are conducting research for this project, be sure to cite all material that is not your
own. For ease and consistency, I would like us to follow the rules set forth by the MLA style
guide (you can learn more through the Helpful Links page. This includes having in text
citations for your outside material and a works cited page. Your works cited page will not count
in the 5-7page count for the assignment.

Multimodal Component

Along with your proposal, which is already multimodal with your addition of graphics, you will
include supplemental material that is also multimodal. This material should emphasize the
problem at hand and/or your solution.
Here are some examples of where you can take this:

A PSA poster campaign found across campus, the city, or on a billboard

o Carefully balanced with images and text using Word, Publisher, Canva, etc.
o Minimum of one
o If you create more than one poster, they should be a part of the same series (i.e.
they should seem related).
A PSA radio broadcast heard on radio or TV
o Integrates voices and one other auditory element (i.e. music, sound effects, etc.).
o You can create this using audacity or some other recording software
o The broadcast should last at least 60 seconds
An advertisement campaign that would be found in a newspaper, magazine, or online to
raise awareness of the problem, the solution, or your organization
o Minimum of one
o If you create more than one, the ads should be a part of the same series
A brochure or newsletter that would be distributed by your organization
o Combines the written word and visual elements (images, graphics, etc.) using
Microsoft Word or Publisher
If you have a different idea of what you would like to do for this portion of the
assignment be to come to me for approval

Regardless of the multimodal format you choose, you need to provide support for your proposal.
Your material should also be the correct format (following genre expectations) for your chosen
rhetorical situation and audience. Think to yourself as you are planning this portion, what does
my audience need to know and in what way can I best address that?
Reflection
After completing your proposal and the required supplemental material, you will submit a 500
word reflective memo that discusses the audience/rhetorical situation for your proposal, the
choices you made (design, word choice, etc.), and your research process/strategies.
When discussing the creative/design elements, be sure to describe why those choices were made
for not only visual appeal, but for your audience as well. Here's your chance to defend and
further explain why you did what you did with your submission and why.
When describing your research you should provide readers with a clear understanding of your
process from start to finish (how did you go about finding reliable sources, where was the best
place to find information, etc.).
Grading
You will be graded according to the following rubric.

Element

Excellent

Good

Needs
Improvement

Poor

Rhetorical
Situation and
Audience (15)

13-15 points

10-12 points

5-9 points

0-4 points

The author has a

clear
understanding of
their audience
and the situation
they are
writing/creating
for. This is
perfectly seen and
understood by the
reader through
both the
composition and
the reflection
submitted
27-30 points
Assignment
responds to all
elements required
in a proposal.
Reader is aware
of the problem
(including its
causes and
effects) and is
presented with a
solution. Proposal
looks to the future
and includes at
least two visual
elements such as
an infographic,
table, and/or chart
to help guide
readers. Author/s
list qualifications
as well as cost
and benefits of
project.

The reader has a

fairly clear
understanding of
the given
rhetorical
situation, but the
composition
could benefit
from some more
clarifying
details.

The reader does

not have a clear
understanding
of the overall
rhetorical
situation or
audience. The
composition
needs more
details/explanati
on to better
situate the
reader.

The
composition
does not
address a
specific
audience or
rhetorical
situation.

20-26 points
Assignment
includes most all
required
elements.
Proposal could
benefit from
additional
information to
help situate
readers
(especially in the
problem,
solution, and/or
other areas).
Proposal is
multimodal in
nature, including
a helpful
infographic of
some kind.

10-19 points
Assignment is
missing key
information and
could greatly
benefit from
more
information to
help situate
readers.
Readers do not
fully understand
problem and/or
solution.

0-9 points
Assignment
does not
follow
requirements.
The proposal
does not fit
the genre and
would greatly
benefit from
additional
revisions/rewr
ite.

18-20 points

12-17 points

8-12 points

A multimodal
component (one
of the ones listed

A multimodal
component is
included, but

A multimodal
component is
included, but

0-7 points
Little to no
component is
included

Content and
Quality of
Proposal (30)

Multimodal
Component (20)

or approved) is
included
alongside the
proposal. This
element helps
guide/inform
readers and fits
the expectations
of its specific
medium. The
component is
visually appealing
and works
effectively
alongside the
proposal.

needs a little
more work to fit
audience needs
and expectations.

does not fit the

needs of the
audience.
Reader is left
somewhat
confused.

along with the

proposal.

Organization/Style
/Clarity (10)

9-10 points

8points

Clear, well
organized
material. The
composition is
free from
distracting
grammatical
errors and all
word choice is
appropriate for
the situation.

Somewhat clear,
well organized
material. The
composition is
mostly free from
distracting
grammatical
errors and word
choice is
somewhat
appropriate for
the situation.

4-7 points
Unclear at parts
and could benefit
from more
organization.
There were many
grammatical
errors and the
piece could have
benefitted from
better word
choice. The
composition
would have
benefitted from a
thorough
proofread

0-3 points
Unclear and
unorganized.
Reader is lost.
The
composition
would greatly
benefit from a
thorough
revision.

Visual
Design/Appeal
(10)

9-10 points
Your choice in font,
color, size, and
photo/s, are eye
catching and
appealing to
readers eyes. You
went above and
beyond to create
something that
would catch
readers attention
and draw them into
your argument.

8points
Your choice in
font, color, size,
and photo/s all
work toward being
appealing and
stimulating to the
eye, but overall
the composition
could benefit from
more creativity.

4-7 points
Some elements of
your composition
are visually
appealing, but the
choices overall
are distracting or
inappropriate for
the genre and/or
medium.

0-3 points
There is little
to no visual
appeal with this
composition.
The submission
lacks creativity,
balance, and
does not fit
within the
genre and/or
medium.

Reflection (15)

Total (100)

13-15 points

The author has

genuinely
reflected on his or
her choices and
has explained
how those
choices were
influenced by
their audience
and rhetorical
situation. Author
explores what it
was like to work
in a team setting
as well as their
own writing
process.

10-12 points
The author has
included a
reflection that
discusses the
choices made and
how they relate to
audience. The
reflection would
benefit from more
detail.

5-9 points
A reflection is
included, but
lacks sufficient
detail to help the
reader understand
their choices and
research process
for this project.
The reader is left
with many
questions and an
unclear
understanding of
the choices made.

0-4 points
Little to no
reflection is
attached with
this
composition.
The reader has
no idea of who
the
audience/rhetor
ical situation is
and what the
author's
research
process was.