Proposals are a type of professional writing that you will experience in your academic career, as well as your professional career. Proposals offer solutions to existing problems, as well as propose new ideas, concepts or projects that can/will better an issue/location.

Here are some guidelines to help you prepare an attractive and carefully designed proposal:

• Use plenty of clearly marked headings, logically ordered and consistent, to separate sections of your proposal to help readers follow the work easily, quickly and clearly. See the sections above. If needed, use multiple organization markers such as headers, bullets, bold and italics), etc.

• Do not fail to include and label any supporting documents or materials that will not be a part of your proposal proper, e.g., schedules, surveys, samples, etc. (if applicable).
• Use Times New Roman 12-point font.

Your proposal will demonstrate that there is a problem, and you will provide a solution for it. Your proposal argument will do the following:

• Identify and define the problem
• Propose and demonstrate a feasible solution
• Convince readers that the proposed solution is fair and will work
• Consider multiple perspectives – anticipates and responds to likely objections appropriately by examining the author’s credentials, assumptions, affiliations, and implications.

An exceptional research proposal will contain the following:

• An interesting, focused introduction that captures the reader’s attention, clearly identifies the topic, and concludes with either a hypothesis or a research question (using the first person – “In this proposal, I will …”) that provides a strong guiding principle for the rest of the proposal.

• Clear articulation of topic; a move toward sophistication and complexity of approach to the topic, one which narrows a broad topic to a manageable scope.

• Strong transitions between sentences and ideas, producing prose that is fluid and organic, with clear and logical structure, producing an overall sense of coherence in the proposal.

• Strong sense of audience, including an understanding of the readers’ values, assumptions, expectations, and level of expertise in the topic under discussion.

• Strong control of style, language, word choice, diction, syntax, sentence structure, and consistent and authoritative voice in writing. Think of it this way: if you were writing a proposal for a $10,000 grant, how would you convince your readers that they should fund your project? Would you use bland language, or would you finely craft it?

**Note: Address your proposal as you would to a real company (school, business, etc.), agency or person.  Although you will not be submitting your proposal as part of your project, you should be able to do so. While you want to avoid colloquialisms, use common language -- even when describing extremely technical concepts.  Your proposal should be clear and understandable, as well as written in a language that the audience of your particular proposal would easily comprehend.

• A strategic, powerful, and appropriate use of rhetoric appeals: ethos, logos, pathos.

• Effective use of source material (textual and visual as appropriate), which is integrated into the author’s prose and argument, and is meticulously documented in proper APA parenthetical citation form.

• A conclusion that synthesizes earlier sections of the proposal while thoughtfully addressing broader implications (the "So What?" of the project).

Proposed Topic
What is your proposed topic? Be as specific as possible. 

Audience
Who is your intended primary audience for this paper? How could this audience benefit from your research?
Who is your secondary (academic) audience? How will this audience be able to assist you in your research?

Research
There are two types of sources: primary and secondary.

1.) Primary Sources 
Primary sources consist of original materials that can be found in documents, letters, diaries, journals, speeches, and maps. They can also include art or artifacts from a time period being studied. Oral, photographed, and filmed eyewitness accounts of events are counted as primary sources. Field research (questionnaires, surveys, observations, and interviews) that you conduct are also included in this category. What primary sources will you use?

2.) Secondary Sources 
Secondary sources consist of scholarly materials usually found in libraries: books, journal articles, newspaper articles, government reports, etc. What secondary sources will you use? *You should include at least 6-8 outside sources in your proposal.** 

Depending on the needed resources, there are many available to you:

• Use Baker College Online Library as a helpful resource.

• Large newspapers and news stations, e.g. New York Times, Washington Post, CNN/Fox News, etc.

• Local news stations, e.g. WNEM, ABC 12, etc.

• Local newspapers, e.g. Denver Gazette, Flint Journal, Detroit Free Press, etc.

• Magazines, e.g. Field and Stream, Popular Mechanics, TIME, etc.

• Academic resources, such as academic and scholarly journals - - - use the Baker College Online Library’s database to locate scholarly journal articles.
  • Google Scholar is also helpful for this!
• General Websites (just be sure the URL for these general sites are: .GOV, .EDU, or .ORG).

• You can also use Google Books for help too!

Libraries
Research often occurs in libraries. What libraries (by name and location, including virtual libraries, like Baker College’s Online Library) will you use for your primary and/or secondary research? Will your research extend to other places beyond libraries?

Personal Background 
What personal background will allow you to complete this project successfully? First, refer to relevant undergraduate coursework which will allow you to understand material related to your proposed topic. If personal life experiences contribute to your background for this topic, include a discussion of them.

Sometimes looking at examples of writing can help with calming any apprehensions you may have about creating the final product. For example: you are starting a new position and you are asked to write something in a format that you have never used before, etc. In that case, Googling examples can help with understanding the needed "parts" and formatting of a specific type of writing. However, sometimes an organization will provide you with a template or boiler-plate to assist in the writing task.