Final Writing Project
ENGL 2311
The ability to sell an idea is the cornerstone of professional writing. Whether you are seeking
funding to open your own small business or professional practice, proposing new procedures in
your workplace, leading a large-scale marketing campaign, or organizing a small neighborhood
improvement effort, your ability to persuade others to care about the project can determine
whether it will succeed. For our final class project, you will do this kind of persuasive
professional writing by advocating for a solution to a local issue. To do so, you will create a
proposal that requires approval, support, or funding from a specific audience. You must include
information from reputable, relevant, and appropriate sources (cited in APA format) to help your
audience understand the background and context of the issue. When appropriate, you should
create data visualizations that help your audience make sense of the relevant data. The complete
package of materials you will submit for a grade includes:
• A proposal that identifies the problem, provides a potential solution, and categorizes the
resources needed to implement the solution. This piece is worth 20% of the final grade
for this project.
• A press release that imagines the proposal audience has approved the project and
announces it to a wider public audience. This piece is worth 30% of the final grade for
this project.
• A presentation (PowerPoint, Prezi, Google Slides) that functions as the visual aid for
your live pitch to the proposal audience. This piece is worth 30% of the final grade for
this project.
Example topics from former students:
• A proposal to the President of TCC Northwest to create a food truck park so that students
can have expanded on-campus food choices on certain days of the week.
• A proposal to a local HOA to turn a vacant lot into a community pool and park.
• A proposal to a local hospital board asking the hospital to be the primary sponsor of a
community mental health and wellness fair.
Ask yourself these questions as you brainstorm topics:
• Does the problem exist? (Do TCC students need more food options? Is this community
less appealing without a pool and park to attract families? Do Fort Worth residents have
enough access to free mental health and wellness services and information?)
• Who is the specific audience that would have the power to say yes or no to approving
your request or investing in your solution? You cannot write to a vague, general
audience.
• Is this an issue you are familiar with or passionate about? You have limited time to
research, collect data, and formulate your plan, so choose something that works with your
existing knowledge base, experience, etc.
The paper must be APA format.
