Unit 1: The Proposal

In the Introduction, we considered the concept of strategic communication and gained familiarity with the course scenario. We also thought about our focus and scope for the course project, reflecting on how we would respond to the request for proposals. Now, in Unit 1, it’s time to refine our ideas for the project, determine the rationale for and value of our project ideas, and think about how we will present them persuasively to the client. By the end of this unit, you will be able to:

Explain the purpose and nature of proposals as a genre of professional writing.
Demonstrate skills in assessing rhetorical context as a necessary starting point for any persuasive and strategic professional communication, especially proposals.
Demonstrate knowledge of basic document design principles.

When you’ve completed this unit, you will be ready to produce your proposal.

Here is a visual reminder of how the course assignments build on each other:

a woman sitting at a table reading a paper by Anastassia Anufrieva on Unsplash

Topics

The Logic Behind Proposal Writing
Strategies for Persuasive Communication

Consider each section of this unit as the close equivalent to a standard week of work in a 3-credit, 13-week course. Plan to spend about 3–4 hours working the course material in each section, plus additional time to apply the information to work on your course project.