One way to learn a new kind of writing is to look at some examples and consider what they have in common and what they do differently. Just as we saw with emails, memos, and text messages in the first project, you can begin to understand all the different choices you might make when you engage in a new form of writing through some basic genre analysis.
Skim the following proposals (you don’t need to read the entire document), making note of their similarities and differences:
Willowick Community Park Proposal (PDF) Download Willowick Community Park Proposal (PDF)
Making Lafayette a Refuge Proposal (PDF)Download Making Lafayette a Refuge Proposal (PDF)
Even though proposals are a very common form of writing, each organization might have its own expectations for what information a proposal contains or how it presents that information. In fact, each proposal an organization writes might look and sound different depending on the work that needs to be done and who will be reading the document.
So, when we say the words “proposal” or “report,” we’re usually referring to very broad categories of documents that might only share a few important similarities. Two pieces of information usually included in a proposal are the problem being solved and details about the proposed solution. But while those two types of information are always present in some form, there might be big differences in where that information is presented and how much detail the writer provides. To further explore this kind of writing, you’ll be analyzing two examples of recent real-world proposals and make some simple comparisons.
Submission (Canvas)
Write a brief analysis of the two proposals linked above, focusing on the following points. Please number your responses:
Purpose: What problem(s) is each document discussing and what work does the proposal say is needed to address that problem? A well-written report will generally make its purpose clear fairly early in the document.
Audience: Who was each document written for? The audience for a proposal usually includes the people who can do something about the issue it raises, but there are often many other audiences who might need to know about or approve of the work being asked for.
Data: What kinds of numerical or statistical data is presented to help each proposal make its points?
Visual Elements: What roles do things like charts, images, and color play in each document?
Contrast: What’s the biggest difference you noticed between the two documents? Why do you think the documents are different in that way?
