Engineering
Assignment based on Everyone’s an Author, 2nd Ed. by Andrea Lunsford, et al., Ch. 16
“Here’s What I Recommend”: Making a Proposal
ENGL 1302 – Proposal
Description
Proposals are “recommendations that something be done, often to bring about some kind of
change or to solve a problem” (Lunsford et al., 340). For this assignment, you will propose
the topic (a cultural issue) that you will write about in your next assignment, a position paper.
The audience for this proposal is your instructor; however, you might also wish to consider
the traits and expectations of your classmates, as well as the values of an entity who also
needs to hear your proposal, like an organization, a business, an administration, or some other
decision-making group.
For this assignment, the proposal should be no longer than 2 pages, single-spaced. The
format required is a block style business letter. Use the information from the OWL at Purdue to
format your business letter using a block style.
Objectives
Develop habits of intellectual exploration, personal responsibility, and physical wellbeing
Demonstrate knowledge of individual writing processes
Communicate ideas and support conclusions effectively in writing
Use Edited American English
Prompt
Write a letter to your instructor proposing the topic, stance, and audience of your
next paper (an argument paper). In the letter:
describe the background of a problem briefly
propose a solution to the problem (your position)
identify evidence (potential sources) that could be used in the paper
target a specific audience for your paper
justify the rhetorical techniques that could be used in the paper
Procedures
Read Everyone’s an Author by Andrea Lunsford, et al., Ch. 16 or the text assigned for OER
coursework: Lumen Learning, English Composition 2 (p. 32-43) and Wikibooks,
Rhetoric and Composition (3.4)
Brainstorm for a specific problem and solution
Conduct preliminary research to learn more about the issue
Consider the audience and the rhetorical techniques that would be the most effective
Pre-write to develop an organized plan for presenting your proposal letter
Draft a proposal letter that addresses the prompt
Revise the proposal letter draft—consider the prompt, the mode, as well as organization,
tone, and clarity
Ask someone to read your revised draft and provide feedback
Make additional revisions as needed
Edit the revised draft—consider grammar, mechanics, spelling, format
Submit the finalized draft to turnitin.com (Blackboard)
Assignment based on Everyone’s an Author, 2nd Ed. by Andrea Lunsford, et al., Ch. 16
“Here’s What I Recommend”: Making a Proposal
ENGL 1302 Proposal ___________________________________________________________
Pts. Requirements Comments Pts.
5 Describe the background of a
problem briefly
10 propose a solution to the problem
(your position)
10 identify evidence (potential
sources) that could be used in the
paper
10 target a specific audience for your
paper
5 justify the rhetorical techniques that
could be used in the paper
30 Well-written and free of errors
5 or more errors
30 Formatted properly as a block style
business letter
No longer than 2 pages in length,
margins, left justified, no indentions, 1
blank line between paragraphs,
Single-spaced, 12 pt TNR font,
date, inside address, salutation,
closing, sender’s address
-10
/day
On-time? YES / NO TOTAL