Always Learning

Writing Proposals (Part of the Allyn & Bacon Series in Technical Communication)
Richard Johnson-Sheehan, Purdue University
Sam Dragga, Series Editor, Texas Tech University

ISBN-10: 0205326897
ISBN-13:  9780205326891

Publisher:  Longman
Copyright:  2002
Format:  Paper; 288 pp
Published:  07/27/2001
We're sorry, this product is no longer available and has been replaced with Writing Proposals, 2/E.

Please contact your Pearson rep if you are using this product and need instructor resources.


Print this content

In this section:


Description

Writing Proposals offers a comprehensive approach to proposal development which is often not found in other books on the subject.

The book takes readers step-by-step through the development process, helping them invent their ideas, organize their materials, write in plain and persuasive styles, and create an effective visual design. Another strength is that the book uses “visual learning” techniques to improve the readers' creativity as they write proposals. This text provides students with additional material frequently not found in other texts on writing proposals, including a full chapter on creating budgets, and thorough coverage of using the Internet.

Founded on time-tested rhetorical principles that guide the field of technical/business/professional writing, this comprehensive and up-to-date text provides students with the full range of tools needed for them to develop sound, convincing proposals.


Features

  • Chapters place the steps for developing an effective proposal in a rhetorical context, building a coherent approach to persuasive writing that is consistent with rhetorical strategies students will be learning in other writing classes.
  • Offers students visual thinking strategies, encouraging them to tap into their own abilities to visualize complex situations and imagine solutions.
  • Offers strategies for using the Internet to collect information toward writing proposals, including key word and topic tree search techniques.
  • Helps students sort out the monetary needs of their proposal by including a complete discussion on creating budgets.
  • The book uses two case studies to illustrate the proposal writing process. Appearing in every chapter, these case studies show students how people invent, compose, revise, and edit proposals.


Table of Contents



Preface.


1. Introduction to Proposals.

Why Do We Write Proposals?

Rhetoric.

The Proposal Genre.

The Writing Process and four Rhetorical Elements.

A Comment on Research Proposals.

Case Study: Elmdale Hill.



2. Identifying Problems and Opportunities.

Two Basic Reasons for Writing Proposals.

Unsolicited and solicited Proposals.

Determining Stasis.

A Description of the RFP Interpretation Process.

Defining the Problem or Opportunity.

Applying Stasis Theory Questions.

Case Study: What Is Elmdale Hill's Problem?



3. Purpose, Readers, Context.

The Proposal-Writing Process.

The Rhetorical Situation.

International Readers and Contexts.

The Rhetorical Situation at Earl Grey.

Focusing a Writing Team with the Rhetorical Situation.

Case Study: Defining the Rhetorical Situation.



4. Describing the Current Situation.

Why Describe the Current Situation?

Inventing the Situation Section.

Arguing Logically.

Inventing the Situation Section.

Researching Logical Relationships.

Mapping in Teams.

Writing the Situation Section.

Lisa Miller's Situation Section.

A Note on Situation Sections in Scientific Research Proposals.

Case Study: Describing the Situation in Elmdale Hill.



5. Developing a Plan.

The Importance of the Plan Section.

Setting Goals.

Setting Goals for the Earl Grey Project.

Answering the How Question.

Mapping a Plan for the Earl Grey Proposal.

Organizing the Plan Section.

Answering the Why Questions.

Writing the Plan Section.

A Comment on Research Methodologies.

Case Study: A Plan for Creating Unity.



6. Describing Qualifications.

The Importance of Trust.

Types of Qualifications Sections.

What Makes You Different Makes You Attractive.

Inventing the Content of the Qualifications Section.

Writing the Qualifications Section.

Creating a Persona.

To Boilerplate or Not to Boilerplate.

Case Study: Who Is Qualified for the Work?



7. Introductions, Costs, and Benefits.

Framing The Body of the Proposal.

Setting the Stage: The Purpose of an Introduction.

Inventing the Introduction.

Writing the Introduction.

The Introduction to the Earl Grey Proposal.

Costs and Benefits: Concluding the Proposal.

Inventing and Writing the Conclusion.

Concluding the Earl Grey Proposal.

Case Study: Beginnings and Endings.



8. Developing Budgets.

Budgets: The Bottom Line.

Budget Basics.

Budgeting in Teams.

Inventing a Budget.

Writing the Budget Rationale or Budget Section.

The Budget for the Earl Grey Proposal.

Case Study: Money Issues.



9. Writing With Style.

Good Style Is a Choice, Not an Accident.

What Is Style?

Writing Plain Sentences.

Writing Plain Paragraphs.

Persuasive Style.

Case Study: Revising for Clarity and Power.



10. Designing Proposals.

“How You Say Something...”

How Readers Look at Proposals.

Four Principles of Design.

The Process of Designing a Proposal.

Case Study: Creating a Look.



11. Using Graphics.

The Need for Graphics.

Guidelines for Using Graphics.

Using Graphics to Display Information and Data.

Case Study: Inventing Visuals.



12. Putting the Proposal Together.

Seeing the Proposal as a Whole Document.

Inventing Front Matter.

Inventing Back Matter.

Revising the Proposal.

Case Study: Revising and Polishing.



Example Proposal: “A Proposal to Start a Merchants Association in Elmdale Hill”.


Example Proposal: “Managing Office Growth: A Proposal to Earl Grey Design from Insight Systems”.


References.


Credits.


Index.



Back to top

Log in to the Instructor Resource Center

Login name: 

  Password: 

Forgot login/password?  |  Need to redeem an access code?

        

Instructor Resource Center File Download

This work is protected by local and international copyright laws and is provided solely for the use of instructors in teaching their courses and assessing student learning. Dissemination or sale of any part of this work (including on the World Wide Web) will destroy the integrity of the work and is not permitted. The work and materials from this site should never be made available to students except by instructors using the accompanying text in their classes. All recipients of this work are expected to abide by these restrictions and to honor the intended pedagogical purposes and the needs of other instructors who rely on these materials.

Cancel     I accept, proceed with download

Print this content

Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students contact your Pearson Higher Education representative.

Back to top