1. Writing the Proposal Introduction

2. What is a proposal?
A description of the work you will complete on a project
Primary document for obtaining money or new clients

3. Types of Proposals
In the industry: primary document for securing new work
New client bids
In academia: primary document for securing research grants
Government agencies
University money
Non-profit organizations

4. The Introduction What is in an introduction?
Your question / problem
The advantages in solving that problem
Information that persuades your reader that you’ve considered an interesting problem
Always consider your audience

5. How to start Write about your preliminary proposal research question.
What problem are you trying to pursue in your research proposal?
Write about your preliminary proposal research question.
A research question is a clear, focused, concise, complex, and arguable question around which you center your research.

6. How to start
Next… Write about the advantages associated with focusing on this problem. How many can you list?

7. How to start Finally, choose your audience A university? A client?
The government?
What kind of audience will be most interested in your problem and proposed solution?

8. The Four Rhetorical Moves
Move #1: Find Common Ground
What do most people already know about your problem?
Summarize current opinions
Current debates in the field
What can you add to existing arguments?

9. The Four Rhetorical Moves
Move #2: The Problem
A problem has two parts:
Destabilize
“Yet” – “However” – “In contrast”
NOT your main point
“So what?”

10. The Four Rhetorical Moves
Move #3: The Problem
A problem has two parts:
Costs/Benefits
Explains the “So what?”
Names the consequences
Costs are negative
Benefits are positive

11. The Four Rhetorical Moves
Move #4: The Main Point
Your main point or promise of a main point
Your response to the problem
New way of thinking
Major themes in your proposal

12. References http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/guide.cfm?guideid=8 1
engineering-proposal/