write a semiformal proposal for a specific rhetorical situation. Please review the proposal rubric up above (100 points)
THE TASK
Choose a specific technical or scientific topic and write a proposal to do a study. By study, and this is key, I mean something that requires primary research (interviews, surveys, experiments) and not just library research. Note also that the proposal itself is not the study; rather, it is a report designed to pitch your study to some group or individual in order to get approval to go ahead and do the study. In addition, your proposal might aim to get funding, access, or other needed tools from your audience so that you can do the study. Keep in mind that you eventually will have to do the study, so it should be realistic in terms of time and cost: something you can do in a matter of a few weeks or less. IMPORTANT! Be sure to view the video down below on how to write a research question and form a hypothesis to help you assemble your data collection and analysis.
THE PLAN
As a team or individual, invent a rhetorical situation for the proposal. Whom are you trying to persuade? What do you want from them? Whom do you represent (what company, institution, etc.)? Be specific. Name names. I also want to know the research question of your study (what you propose to learn) and a concise idea of your methodology (how you will learn it). Also indicate if the proposal is solicited or unsolicited. Put all of this into a neatly organized plan. A note of caution: Focus on a single research question and methodology; in other words, if you have four members, don’t give me four related research questions or a four-part research question.
THE PROPOSAL
Once your plan is approved, write the proposal. It should be geared to your audience and should clearly articulate both your identity as author(s) and the purpose of the proposal up front (review the pyramid in Chapter 7, WRGR). It should address the need for the proposed study and should lay out in detail your methodology for conducting it. It should also include all necessary explanations of costs, timelines, etc. Use at least one original graphic, and make sure graphics are integrated effectively and labeled appropriately.
THE PEER REVIEW PROCESS
Before submitting your final proposal, you will need to submit a rough draft of your team or individual proposal draft to the Groups link (Peer Review Group) for review. The draft doesn’t have to be “perfect” or fully completed. Do as much as you can so that your peers’ can give you as much feedback as possible prior to your final submission. This is where the “collaboration” portion of the class takes place. Technical writing is a “collaborative” process and peer review plays an integral role. Each student will need to peer review two (2) proposals based on the Peer Review Worksheet Form. A copy of this worksheet is located under the Peer Review link below. Due dates for drafts, peer reviews, and the final proposal are listed up above and also inside the Course Schedule link. After you receive your feedback back from your peers, you will need to implement any changes prior to your final submission.
THE REST
Once you have submitted your proposal, you need to do the study and gather your data. You will then write a team (if you wrote your proposal as a team) or individual Progress Report (see Course Schedule link for due date).
THE GRADE
Your proposal itself will be evaluated on: detail, organization, tone, clarity, document design, graphics, mechanics (grammar and spelling), and, most importantly, how well you suit the report to the specific situation. In fact, all of these items depend on your situation. For example, level of detail depends on what your particular audience needs to know (or doesn’t know already). So it is imperative that you have a specific situation and consider it as you write the report. Remember to revise and edit for a consistent voice if you are writing the proposal as a “team.”