Upload
mebrahtom
View
168
Download
12
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Sample proposal writing for your research proposal
Citation preview
Proposal Writing
Mebrahtom GebresematiSchool of Biological and Chemical
Engineering (BCEN)Mekelle Institute of Technology (MIT)
Technical/Research WritingPresentation
Outline
• Answer 5WH Qs• Types of Proposal• Purpose and Audience Impact• Writing Process• Elements of Business Proposal• Elements of Research Proposal
What?
• Proposal:• is “Formal description of the creation, modification or
termination of a contract.” …. (WebFinance, 2010)(WebFinance, 2010)
• May serve as: • blueprint for a future agreement
• May be accepted or rejected by the entity or entities that receive it.
(Cont.)• Why?– Targets audience to take specific action
• Where?– Bureaucracy, NGOs, Academic Councils,
Business• When?– Get Business, New Projects, Partnership
• Who?– Entrepreneur, Researcher, Department
Head
Types• Business Proposal– A written offer from a seller to a
prospective buyer, whenever a buyer considers more than price in a purchase
• Research Proposal– A document written by a scientist that
describes in details the program for a proposed scientific investigation.
Business Proposal
• Formally Solicited–Written in response to published
requirements, contained in a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), or an Invitation For Bid (IFB).
• Informally Solicited – Result of conversations held between a
vendor and a prospective customer.
• Unsolicited Proposals–Marketing brochures
Purpose
Reason – why are you writing?
• Strategy Analysis, Cause/Effect Statements, Illustrations, Examples, Comparisons, Description, Narration
Audience Impact
• Receptive Audience– Direct Approach
• Skeptical Audience– Indirect Approach– Buffer/Butter ;)
“All audience have expectations”
Proposal Writing Process
• Pre-write• Write• Rewrite
Prewriting Writing Rewriting
Proposal Writing Process: Prewriting
• Brainstorming• Answers to 5 Ws and 1 H• Mind mapping• Surveys (optional)
Proposal Writing Process: Writing
• Reviewing Pre-write• Organization of Data• Formatting
Proposal Writing Process: Rewriting
• Adding Clarity• Omissions• Simplification• Reformatting• Corrections• Rephrasing
Elements of A Business Proposal
• Title Page• Cover Letter• Table of Contents• List of Illustrations• Executive Summary• Introduction• Discussion• Conclusion/recommendation
Business Proposal: Title Page
Someone said and we quote: “…acts as a dust cover to keep the report neat
and clean.”Includes:– Title of the proposal– Addressed audience– Name of author and company– Completion date
Business Proposal: Cover Letter
– Prefaces the proposal– Provides overview– Tells about:• Writing• Subject• Importance• Planning• Action• Timeline
Business Proposal: Table of Contents
– Flashes complete detail for topic specific readers– Saves time and effort– Provides exact brief of proposal– May includes list of Illustrations
Business Proposal: Executive Summary
– Abstract– Brief overview of proposal’s key points– Get across a low-tech reader– Contains 3 – 10 sentences– Focuses:• Problem• Suggested Solution• Implementation
Business Proposal: Introduction
Purpose– Inform intents– Small and brief
Problem– Highlights proposals’ importance– Reveal knowledge of situation– Lengthy and detailed
Business Proposal: Discussion
– Body of proposal– Contains• Analyses• Technical Descriptions/Instructions• Options• Managerial Chains• Corporate Credentials• Schedules• Cost Charts• Projected Milestone
Business Proposal: Conclusions/RecommendationsConclusions• Provides closure• Specific – Reveals Impact, Percentages etcRecommendations• Suggests next plan of actionShould be well knit for both executives and low-
tech readers
Business Proposal:Supplementary Elements
Glossary– Defines terms for readers, alphabetically
References– Cites work, quotes and paraphrased
Appendix– Additional Information – Surveys, tables, figures,
letters/memos etc
Elements of A Research Proposal
• Introduction• Problem Statement• Purpose of Study• Literature Review• Hypotheses• Methodology• Limitations and Delimitations• Significance
Research Proposal: Introduction
– Provides readers with the background– Establish a framework for the research
(Wilkinson, 1991)(Wilkinson, 1991)
– Create interest in topic– Foundation for problem relating to study
(Creswell, 1994)(Creswell, 1994)
Research Proposal: Problem Statement
– Describes contacts for study– Identifies general analysis approach
(Wiersma, 1995)(Wiersma, 1995)
– Issue that exists in literature, theory or practice(Creswell, 1994)(Creswell, 1994)
Research Proposal: Purpose of Study
– Accurate synopsis if overall purpose of study(Locke, 1987)(Locke, 1987)
– Incorporates rationale for study(Pajares, 2007)(Pajares, 2007)
Research Proposal: Literature Review
– Context for the research problem– Establish needs for research
(Wiersma, 1995)(Wiersma, 1995)
– Shares results of prior studies(Fraenkel, 1990)(Fraenkel, 1990)
– Relates topics to a larger horizon(Marshall, 1989)(Marshall, 1989)
Research Proposal: Hypothesis
– Research question– Declarative statement of relation between two or
more variables(Kerlinger, 1979) (Krathwohl, 1988)(Kerlinger, 1979) (Krathwohl, 1988)
Types1. Literary null2. Operational null3. Literary alternative4. Operational alternative
Research Proposal: Methodology
– Heart of research proposal– Maximum detailed description of activity
(Wiersma, 1995) (Wiersma, 1995)
Includes i. Samplingii. Instrumentationiii.Data Collectioniv.Data Analysis
Research Proposal:Limitations and Delimitations
Limitation– Identifies• Potential weakness of study• Threats to internal validity
Delimitation– Addresses• How a study narrows in scope• How is it bound• Undo’s
(Pajares, 2007)(Pajares, 2007)
Research Proposal: Significance
– Indicates how research refines, revises, and extends existing knowledge in investigation area
– Think pragmatically - $– Focus both practitioners and peers
(Pajares, 2007)(Pajares, 2007)