Writing proposals (2nd ed ) (2^nd Ed.)

Written for college students or professionals seeking a reference, Writing Proposals offers a comprehensive, strategic approach to proposal development for the technical professions. The author takes readers step-by-step through the development process, helping them invent ideas, organize materials, write in plain and persuasive styles, and create an effective visual design. Writing Proposals provides students with additional material frequently not found in other texts on writing proposals, including a full chapter on creating budgets and thorough coverage of using the Internet.

Preface

Chapter One: Introduction to Proposals and Grants

Why Do We Write Proposals?

Rhetoric

The Proposal Genre

The Proposal Writing Process

Writing Grant Proposals

Case Study: The Cool Campus Project

Chapter Two: Identifying Problems and Opportunities

Two Basic Reasons for Writing Proposals

Unsolicited and Solicited Proposals

Reading RFPs

Determining the Status, or Stasis, of an Opportunity

A Description of the RFP Interpretation Process

Defining the Problem or Opportunity

Applying Stasis Questions

Case Study: What Is The Problem?

Chapter Three: Strategic Planning for Proposals and Grants

Elements of Strategic Planning

Setting Objectives

The Rhetorical Situation

The Situation at Overture Designs

Focusing a Writing Team

Case Study: Defining the Rhetorical Situation

Chapter Four: Describing the Current Situation

Why Describe the Current Situation?

Guidelines for Drafting the Current Situation Section

Researching the Current Situation

Mapping in Teams

Writing the Current Situation Section

Lisa Miller's Current Situation Section

Special Case: Research Grants and Literature Reviews

Case Study: Describing the Current Situation at Durango University

Chapter Five: Developing a Project Plan

The Importance of the Project Plan Section

Setting Objectives for the Project

Setting Goals for the Overture Designs Project

Answering the How Question

Mapping a Project Plan for the Overture Proposal

Organizing the Project Plan Section

Answering the Why Questions

Writing the Project Plan Section

Developing a Project Timeline

A Comment on Research Methodologies

Case Study: Planning the Charrette

Chapter Six: Describing Qualifications

The Importance of Trust

Types of Qualifications Sections

What Makes You Different Makes You Attractive

Developing the Content of the Qualifications Section

Writing the Qualifications Section

Creating a Persona

To Boilerplate or Not to Boilerplate

Case Study: Who Is Qualified for the Work?

Chapter Seven: Introductions, Costs, and Benefits

Framing the Body of the Proposal

Setting the Stage: The Purpose of an Introduction

Developing the Introduction

Writing the Introduction

The Introduction to the Overture Designs Proposal

Costs and Benefits: Concluding the Proposal

Writing the Conclusion

Concluding the Overture Designs Proposal

Case Study: Beginnings and Endings

Chapter Eight: Developing Budgets

Budgets: The Bottom Line

Budget Basics

Budgeting in Teams

Developing a Budget

Writing the Budget Rationale or Budget Section

The Budget for the Overture Designs...

• An emphasis on rhetorical strategies and persuasive techniques help readers develop and write effective proposals.
• Visual mapping strategies encourage students to tap into writers’ visual abilities, demonstrating how visual “boxing” can be used to help invent new ideas and fill out important sections of proposals.
• Strategies for using the Internet assists with the collection of information for writing proposals, including key word and topic tree search techniques.
• Two case studies run through the text, adding a new element with each chapter: one case study shows how a small networking company writes a business proposal that proposes telecommuting as a solution to managing growth in a busy architecture firm and the other shows how a group of university faculty, staff, and students writes a grant proposal to a private foundation to help them convert their campus to renewable energy sources.