Proposal

Check the files

Business Letters
A review of how to format a letter
CM 2300

School of Language Studies and Academics

School of Language Studies and Academics

1
Lecture 2 BROCKIE
Fall 2014

Co. name and address (could be letterhead)

1. Complimentary Close
2. Signature (by hand)
3. Typed Name
4. Title

1. Recipient name / title
2. Company name
3. Complete Address
Salutation – Dear Name:
Body

School of Language Studies and Academics

Letter format – what goes where?
Receiver’s company name / address
Complimentary Close
Receiver’s Name & title
Body of letter
Date
Your company name / address
Signature – hand writing
Your position / title
Salutation
Your name
2. ________________________
1. ________________________
3. ________________________
4. ________________________
6. ________________________
5. ________________________
7. ________________________
8. ________________________
10________________________
9. ________________________
Your company name / address
Date
Receiver’s name and title
Receiver’s co. name / address
Salutation
Body of letter
Complimentary Close
Signature
Your name
Your position/title

School of Language Studies and Academics

Inside Address
Position: two to four spaces below date
Left-aligned
Include name of specific person if possible
Include job title
may also include Mr. Ms. Mrs. (optional)

NOTE: Adjust vertical position of letterhead/heading and inside address to balance your page layout.

School of Language Studies and Academics

Salutation
Position: usually two line spaces below inside address
Begin with Dear, end with colon (:)
Use ‘attention’ instead of ‘dear’ if…
…you don’t know the person’s name
(e.g.: Attention: General Manager)
…it’s going to a group of people
(e.g.: Attention: Engineering Department)

School of Language Studies and Academics

Letter Text
Begin two lines below salutation
Typical structure:
Introduction paragraph – identify purpose and engage interest
Details – one or more paragraphs depending on content of letter
Closing paragraph – sum up, encourage action if applicable, and provide contact info:

School of Language Studies and Academics

Letter Text
Keep paragraphs short – fewer than 8 lines if possible
Consider using bullets or lists to make detailed information easier to follow

School of Language Studies and Academics

Closing – Three Components
Complimentary Close (eg: Sincerely,)
Signature (allow three line spaces)
Writer’s name and position
Common Closings
Yours Truly, Sincerely, Respectfully,
Regards, Best Wishes etc.

School of Language Studies and Academics

Optional Elements
Attention line: if you don’t know person’s name, or if writing to group
Subject line: good for attracting attention to purpose. Place below salutation.
Enclosure Note: below writers name – state number of enclosures (Enclosures 2, Encl. 2)
Distribution Note: at very bottom – indicate with copy, cc (carbon copy), bc (blind copy), or distribution (c. S. Porter)

School of Language Studies and Academics

Design Factors
Choose format – full block or simplified
Use 10-12 point font
Use quality stationery
Use uniform margins and spacing to achieve balance and visual appeal
Keep it short – one page if possible
A proposal letter may run to 2 pages with an attachments.

School of Language Studies and Academics

Oryx Communications
The Corniche – P.O. Box 26793
Doha, Qatar

May 8, 2006

Fred Perry, Manager of Contract Training
College of the North Atlantic – Qatar
P.O. Box 24449
Doha, Qatar

Dear Mr. Perry:
I am writing to you for more information on the various training programs your college offers. I
have a team of 45 employees, and I ’m interested in helping them update their business
communication skills. Specifically, I would like my emp loyees to develop their skills with letter
writing, report writing, and presentation skills, while improving their use of English.
I have heard good things about your college, and I look forward to hearing back from you with
full details. Please send a complete package to the address abo ve, and feel free to call me at 495-
6358 to discuss the possibilities.
Sincerely,

Hamad Al Naimi
Human Resources Manager

Proposal Letter SAMPLE

Business Management Student

CNAQ Student #600XXXXX

Doha, Qatar

Date

Instructor’s Name

Communications Instructor, Office #

College of the North Atlantic – Qatar

Doha, Qatar

Dear …

Introduction

This proposal letter is for a research report that will compare three makers of electric vehicles: Tesla, Nissan and Hyundai to evaluate their performance to make a recommendation for best purchase choice for a new vehicle buyer. This proposed report will discuss three types of electric vehicles based on criteria of battery life, engine power/speed, charging time, purchase price and the availability to determine which one is the most effective electric vehicle to purchase.

Background

Electric vehicles are new environmental transportation devices that protect the earth from exhaust emissions that cause ozone depletion. According to the US Department of Energy (n.d.), “electric vehicles (EV) derive all of their power from electricity supplied by the electric grid and include all-electric vehicles (AEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).” Most AEVs have a range of 80-100 miles with some luxury models having ranges up to 250 miles before the depleted battery needs to be recharged; 30 minuets for fast charging and a full day to fully recharge (Energy.gov, n.d.).

Many environmentally-conscious people prefer to buy an electric vehicle to support protection of the environment. This proposed research will help people who are thinking of buying an electric vehicle by recommending a manufacturer based on specific criteria and EV specifications from the three manufacturers chosen for evaluation.

Research & Methodology

This report will be supported by secondary research conducted at the College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNAQ). Secondary sources will include a variety of information from manufacturer’s websites, blogs, journal articles and scholarly publications from the CNAQ library databases.

There will be three main sections included in the final report.

· The first section will define electric vehicles and introduce Tesla, Nissan and Hyundai manufacturers that will be researched.

· The second section will discuss each electric vehicle from three manufacturers based on specific criteria.

· The last section will evaluate the best manufacturers based on the selection criteria to make a recommendation.

Qualifications

As a third year business management student, I feel that I have a good background of experience and knowledge that will allow me to successfully complete this report. Courses such as CM1240: Business Communications I and CM1241: Business Communications II taken at the College of the North Atlantic – Qatar (CNAQ), along with support from the CNAQ Library and Advanced Writing Centre (AWC), will provide me with the support needed to research and write this report.

Proposed Outline

This section includes a sample outline of the proposed research report with brief details for each section of the final report.

Research Question : Which is the best manufacturer of electric vehicles? Introduction · Briefly introduce and discuss electric vehicles · Thesis: STATE YOUR THESIS HERE E.G. This research report will analyze three different electric vehicle manufacturers to help a newer buyer select an electric vehicle based on specific criteria of efficiency (battery life, engine speed, charging time, purchase cost and availability in Qatar. Body of Report · Discuss need to effectively evaluate electric vehicles manufacturers · Discuss vehicles from Tesla, Nissan and Hyundai · Criteria: Define & explain criteria to be used in report · Efficiency · batteries life · engine power/speed · charging time · Purchase Price (US$) · Availability (country) · Findings: discuss findings for comparison or present benefits and drawbacks/limitations of options · Comparison: Use table to highlight findings for each option vs criteria · Recommendation Conclusion · Discuss results of comparison · Re-state recommendation on best option or most suitable solution

Thank you for considering this proposal. Please provide me with your authorization to go ahead with the research so that I may start fully researching and writing this report. I look forward to your feedback and I will be pleased to support you with any additional clarification necessary.

Regards,

Student Signature

Student Name #600XXXXX

COLLEGE OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC – QATAR

2

>Proposal and Outline Assignment: 20%

Due:

TASKS

Proposal Letter

1. Now that you have selected a topic to research, you need to write a proposal. A proposal:

· sells’ your idea to your instructor as a means of acquiring permission to continue your research and to write a report.

· outlines
what
is being researched,
how
the research will be done,
why
the report is needed, and
who
it is being written for, or who will benefit from the report.

2. Compose an informal proposal letter of six paragraphs for your CM 2300 instructor.

· Paragraph 1: Presents the topic, the type of report, the problem/question or the ‘need’ you have identified and the potential solutions/answers (if applicable). Here, you will explain your thesis. What is your argument or the purpose of your report?

“The following document is a proposal to prepare a report on the topic of ___________. This report will argue that _________.”

· Paragraph 2: Provides the background to the topic: what is the event you’re studying and why is it perceived to be a problem? Why does this report need to be written? Here, you will also describe the intended audience for your report. Who is interested in your work and why?

NOTE: this section requires the inclusion of at least one APA citation (either quotation or paraphrase) from a resource that you have found to support your thesis.

· Paragraph 3: Outlines the proposed plan. What are the main sections of your report and what will each section do? Discuss any limitations to your report. It is important to explain not only what your report aims to accomplish, but also to identify important areas
your report will not discuss
. Remember, you
only
have 20 pages and 12 weeks for this exercise.

Note: include your Outline in this section.

· Paragraph 4: Give a brief schedule of main delivery dates (consult course CIS).

· Paragraph 5: Describe your research and methodology. What type of research will you do? Where will you find your information? Consider journals or newspapers for your secondary research. Provide as much detail as you can.

· Paragraph 6: Present your conclusion. What benefits will your report bring? Request authorization to begin work on your report.

This letter will be graded on content, clarity, organization, formatting and grammar. Your proposal letter will be between 2 – 2.5 pages in length.

Format instructions:

Font: Times New Roman, size 12

Spacing: 1.5

Arrange your proposal in the format of a letter. A good example can be found on the D2L.

Arrange your letter as follows:

Sender’s Address

Date

Receiver’s Address

Salutation

Body paragraphs

Proposed Outline

Closing

Please submit to D2L Dropbox by (insert date). Late submissions will lose 10% for the first two days (for a maximum of 20%); any submissions after that time will receive a grade of zero for the assignment.

The Advanced Writing Centre is available to you to review your work and help with ideas. Please consider paying a visit. When doing so, bring this assignment with you.

Remember that if you are working on the same topic as another student, you must submit your own distinct CM 2300 report: your instructor will be comparing all proposal submissions.

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COLLEGE OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC – QATAR

CM2300 – Report Topic (Marketing)

Background

Welcome to Corporate Malfeasance Investigations Office (Cormalino). Our mandate is to research negative and unethical behaviour in the areas of business management such as accounting, marketing, and human resources as well as the modern information technology (IT) sector. Bad business behaviour can have significant effects for company stakeholders. This office will investigate the consequences of fraudulent accounting practices, failed marketing campaigns, 21st century challenges for human resources departments and the risks and disadvantages associated with modern technology. In so doing, it is the expectation that this office can and will guide government to develop safeguards for consumers and workers in a fair and well-regulated marketplace.

Task

You are a junior research assistant, tasked to investigate: New Coke.

What went wrong?

“Over the 15 years leading up to 1985, Coca-Cola’s flagship cola drink had been losing market share to Pepsi Cola. To compete, the company changed the drink’s formula for the first time in 99 years — but the move today is considered one of the greatest flops of all time. New Coke was met with public outrage and lasted only a few months. The company reintroduced its older formula, rebranded as Coca-Cola Classic” (Sauter, Comen, Frohlich, & Stebbins, 2018).

It is urgent that our agency understand the impact of failures such as this and study the causes of and possible solutions to them.

Over the next several months, you will prepare your sources, a proposal for your investigation, and a final report of your findings. Along the way, you will meet with your manager to report on progress and demonstrate the development of your understanding of the problem under study. Details of each assignment will be revealed in due course.

Congratulations on your posting to Cormalino. Your research will be invaluable to keeping the public safe and happy, and for this office to fulfill its mandate. I look forward to working with you towards the successful completion of your mission. Failure, agent ________________, is not an option.

Instructor’s Name

Instructor’s Name

Deputy Director – Corporate Malfeasance Investigations Office

References

Sauter, M. B., Comen, E., Frohlich, T. C., & Stebbins, S. (2018, September 27). When Product Launches Go Awry: 50 Worst Product Flops of All Times. USA Today : https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/07/11/50-worst-product-flops-of-all- time/36734837/

COLLEGE OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC – QATAR

Outline Sample

Introduction: what is the issue? Why is it important to address?

· What is the issue? People bribe officials to gain university placement.

· Why is it important to address? This affects public trust in institutions.

· What will you be discussing? The impact of corruption in ‘pay-to-play’ scandal at top US universities.

Thesis statement:

This report will argue that college corruption scandals are a big problem and one that produces several significant victims. First, the children of the parents who bribed college admissions will, through the bad publicity, be known for this act of corruption: queue jumping may well produce negative consequences for the children, including bullying and social ostracism. Next, the reputation of the university itself finds itself damaged; with a poor reputation, the university will struggle to find business. Finally, the students who honestly qualify for a spot at the university may find themselves on the outside, as wealthy people jump the line; this will lead to young people having to settle for either a university of lower quality, or they will have to travel and leave their community and families.

Background: history of the issue – section needs to include names, dates, and locations.

· Lori Loughlin – US actress (Full House) – charged with bribing universities to gain children’s admission – 2019.

· Paid $500 000 USD in bribes to USC as ‘fake rowing team recruits’. Children don’t row.

· Accused of ‘mail fraud’. Many parents involved in scandal.

Body

Affected party 1: who, how, why + proof (financial, social, political, legal, reputational, etc.) You are developing a chain of consequences for actions.

Reason + proof (proof must be a quote or paraphrase with in- text citation)

How or why the party has been affected:

Who: parents’ children.

What: children will suffer from humiliation from peers who see them as ‘undeserved rich’.

Proof: ‘effects of peer bullying and ostracism on students’ – article X outlines the main effects from hostility from peers.

Affected party 2:

How or why the party has been affected:

Who: university – its reputation

What: university will suffer from emerging reputation as corrupt institution, susceptible to bribery, and unconcerned with integrity of its systems. A university’s reputation matters; it needs to attract clients (students) and top researchers to work there. If tarnished by scandal, a university’s business model becomes compromised; it slips down international rankings, lose its support from the community/government, and cease to be a place where people want to learn

Proof: Evidence suggests that, in the past, this process has occurred with the University of X…

Affected party 3:

How or why the party has been affected:

Who: qualified but rejected students

What: student with proper qualifications don’t receive a place at the school and, thus, have to travel further afield, to either a lesser school or a more expensive ‘out of state’ college. They leave their friends and family, and that has negative effects, both on the students – distraught to leave home – and on the families.

Proof: Study X demonstrates the effects of forced familial separation on youth between the ages of 16 and 21. The study shows that both psychologically and emotionally, the maturity of young people stalls and development is delayed relative to peers who receive stronger and closer support from parents.

COLLEGE OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC – QATAR

Outlining your topic – model

Task

Complete an outline by the end of class this week.

Instructions

1. Submit to the D2L Drop Box your completed work at the end of class.

2. Include a quote or paraphrase with in-text citations for proof/evidence.

Note: at least 4 quotes and/or paraphrased ideas are required

Introduction: what is the issue? Why is it important to address?

· What is the issue?

· Why is it important to address?

· What will you be discussing?

Thesis statement:

Background: history of the issue – section needs to include names, dates, and locations.

Body

Affected party 1: who, how, why + proof (financial, social, political, legal, reputational, etc.) You are developing a chain of consequences for actions.

Reason + proof (proof must be a quote or paraphrase with in- text citation)

How or why the party has been affected:

Who:

What:

Proof:

Affected party 2:

How or why the party has been affected:

Who:

What:

Proof:

Affected party 3:

How or why the party has been affected:

Who:

What:

Proof:

C O L L E G E O F T H E N O R T H A T L A N T I C – Q A T A R

LETTER RUBRIC
Student Name: ID #:

Business Letter Format – 20 A B C D F
x

Score
Required Parts (10) 5 4 3 2.5 2-0

Present and
Accurately

Placed

 Letterhead, sender and receiver addresses
 Date
 Salutation
 Message (opening, body, and closing)
 Complimentary closing
 Signatures (typed + signed)

2

Appearance (10) 5 4 3 2.5 2-0

Meets Letter
Requirements

 Margins
 Fonts (size and type)
 Indents or spacing to indicate paragraphs
 Other (e.g. section divisions, bullet points, italics,

balanced, underlining, etc.)

2

Organization and Content – 55 A B C D F
x

Score
Opening ¶ (10) 5 4 3 2.5 2-0

Effective for the
Purpose

 Purpose of the message/ letter is clear
 Appropriate approach is used (direct/ indirect)
 Attracts reader’s attention

2

Body ¶s (20) 5 4 3 2.5 2-0

Contains Main
Points

 Details support the letter’s purpose
 Action and deadline are provided (as needed)

4

Closing ¶ (10) 5 4 3 2.5 2-0

Appropriate to
the Purpose

 Gives contact information
 Uses courtesy/ ‘good will’ statement
 Summarizes, calls to action, etc. as needed

2

Overall Message (15) 5 4 3 2.5 2-0

Professional
Quality

 Sentences and paragraphs are coherent and fluent
 Paragraph order follows suggested pattern
 Ideas are logically arranged and fully expressed

3

Writing – 25 A B C D F
x

Score
Grammar, Mechanics, and Punctuation (20) 5 4 3 2.5 2-0

Conform to
Principles

 Writing supports communication and clarity
 Capitalization and spelling are accurate
 Standard rules of punctuation are followed
 Abbreviation use is correct and appropriate

4

Style (5) 5 4 3 2.5 2-0

Appropriate to
the Situation

 Word choice suits audience and purpose
 Tone is professional
 Writing is clear, concise, and complete

1

Total for Letter – 100 marks Your mark:

CM 2300 SAMPLE BUSINESS LETTER

Letter Layout – Sample

NOTE: Do not use the languge or specific vocablulary of this sample for your CM 2300 proposal letter; this sample is provided only to show where elements such as headings, addresses, dates, etc. should be placed.

3.0 Writing Proposals

CM2300

What is a proposal?
A proposal …
Is usually the first step in conducting research, writing a report, or creating a project.
Is a statement of intent (or plan for what is intended to be completed) that will keep you on track and focused.
Asks for permission to do the work intended/ proposed.
Once it is approved, a proposal becomes an IMPORTANT contract.
The final report or project might be a little different from what was proposed, but any major change would require a new proposal.

When are proposals used/ needed?
When a company:
Needs some equipment or product
Requires a service
Has a problem to solve
Wants to makes changes in its operations

Two General Types of Proposals
Solicited
Means it is requested
Known as a Request for Proposal (RFP)
Getting permission or approval becomes a competition
The ‘best’ proposal is selected.
Unsolicited
Means it is NOT requested.
Written and offered to ‘fix’ a need (through research and report).
No competition, but persuasion is generally needed.
Convincing someone that your proposal is the best, or has value, requires persuasive techniques.

Example
Problem/ Need
CNA-Q is looking at changing its telephone system. It has found that most instructors do not use the landlines provided in their offices, but use their mobiles instead. However, there are some departments where the landlines are necessary.
RFP
The college would like a full review of its telephone system, in terms of need, usage, and what changes could be made to increase efficiency and lower cost.
Internal Proposals
A person or a group from inside the company will ask (or be asked) to take on a study and to make recommendations to the company.
External Proposal
A person or a group from outside the company will ask (or be asked) to take on the study and to make recommendations in the form of a report.

Proposal Structure
Your proposal should consist of six sections:
Introduction
Background
Research & Methodology
Qualifications
Proposed Plan
Conclusion
Other elements
may be required for the assignment, but will be discussed later.
(e.g., cover page, Table of Contents, References, and so on)

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Section 1: Introduction
The Introduction indicates the Report’s Topic and Purpose
Briefly grab the reader’s attention
Ex: The growth of real estate in GCC countries is a compelling area for investment in construction and tourism.
Include your thesis statement – gives the report’s purpose, main ideas, and arguments
Ex: The Pearl is the largest residential and commercial development in Qatar, and its construction will bring many benefits to Qatar.

7

Section 1: Introduction
State the purpose of the report – briefly indicate what you plan the report to accomplish
Ex: This report describes business-oriented details of The Pearl’s development, in order to show its size and importance to Qatar’s business community.
Develop a clear, specific title for your report – use it in the introduction
Ex. Selecting an Appropriate Sensor for a Smart Traffic-Control System

8

Section 1: Introduction
Make jot notes of the ideas you will include in the Introduction section of your report:
Attention-Grabber
Thesis Statement
Purpose
Report Title

9

Section 2: Background
Provide Background AND Indicate Readers
Background – help readers understand the issue; may include:
a recent history of the topic
problems experienced by the company
special terms
goals of the research and report

10

Section 2: Background
Ex: The report will discuss the feasibility and creation of previously reclaimed-seafloors, or artificial peninsulas, islands or lagoons, in The United Arab Emirates with a specific reference to “The Palm Tree” and “The Globe”. The areas of financing, construction, marketing and residential development will be detailed.
Preliminary research
Use it here to strengthen your proposal to
Support your argument
Provide background information

11

Section 2: Background
Identify the Audience – who is expected to read the report?
Always remember to consider who will read the report.
Look at the situation from the reader’s point of view.
The reader will decide to accept your proposal, or not.
Ex: The intended audience is the general reading public in Qatar who know little about the details of The Pearl’s development.

12

Section 2: Background
Explain how the audience will benefit from the report
Answer these questions:
What are you proposing to do for the company? (To solve a problem?)
Why should your plan be accepted? (What is different about it?)
How will the company benefit if it accepts your proposal?

13

Section 2: Background
Watch the video: Writing a Persuasive Message

14

Section 2: Background
Use persuasive techniques in this section to answer the questions:
Why is this a problem?
Why is this of interest to others?
Why does this need anybody’s time and/ or effort?
You do not want your audience to think:
So? Who cares? What’s the big deal?

15

Section 2: Background
Make jot notes of the ideas you will include in the Background section of your report:
Background to understand
Recent history / problems / issues
Special terms / concepts
Goals of the research and the report
Preliminary research findings
Audience
Identify who will read the report
Explain why the report is important
Mention benefits

16

Section 3: Research & Methodology
Describe your research task(s)
Discuss your research and how it will support your thesis
Explain all tasks which you will undertake to collect the necessary information, such as
what you have found in your preliminary research
the research you will conduct after your proposal has been approved

17

Section 3: Research & Methodology
Provide details to answer the following questions:
Example:
Internet website on The Pearl
Gulf Times articles on project and its development
Advertising brochures
A book on construction projects in the Gulf

18

What type of resources will you need?

Surveys

Interviews

What kind of research will you conduct?

Primary – research you will personally conduct to get information

Secondary – research conducted by others that you plan to use to support your report

Where will you find the information?

This varies for primary research (discussed later in the course)

Experiments

Books

Videos

Websites

Journals

Electronic, Multimedia, Print – databases, libraries, radio, TV, newspapers, etc.

Section 3: Research & Methodology
Make jot notes of the ideas you will include in the Research and Methodology section of your report:
Explain the steps/ tasks involved in conducting your research
Mention preliminary research – research portfolio #1
Research you will conduct after the proposal has been approved
Discuss the research
Identify the type – books, journals, websites, etc.
Name the kind – primary and/ or secondary
Explain where you will find the information

19

Section 4: Qualifications
Explain your background or ‘expertise’
The reader needs to have confidence in you, the writer.
If this confidence doesn’t exist, the reader won’t bother to read your work!
Explain why you are the right person to do the proposed project
Give details about your student expertise or authority
Use previous experience and knowledge.
Provide skills and background as reasons for why you should take on this project

20

Section 4: Qualifications
This section should provide answers to these questions:
What gives you the authority to write on this topic?
What background do you have in this area?
What courses have you taken to prepare you for this work?
Do you have any personal experience with this topic, area, or concern?
Why are you “credible” (i.e., trustworthy, reliable, dependable)?
Ex: Due to my previous work in this field working with reclaimed coastal land in Indonesia and my engineering education from Qatar University in geology, I feel I am the right person to complete this report on the reclamation of The Pearl seafloor.

21

Section 4: Qualifications
Make jot notes of the ideas you will include in the Qualifications section of your report:
Focus on your expertise/ authority
Convince the reader that you are qualified
Identify experience, knowledge, and skills
Work done before
Provide courses completed
Etc.
Explain why you the right person to write the report
Identify the goals of the research and the report

22

Section 5: Proposed Plan
Provide an outline of your report.
Identify sections and subsections
Explain the purpose of each section
Identify visuals you plan to provide
Ex. Images, Tables, Figures, Charts, Graphs, Diagrams
Identify timelines, costs, staffing requirements (if needed)
Visual Aid Examples
Images of the 3 accounting software types
Image of a target customer Venn Diagram
A graph showing sales figures
A table to compare and contrast the 3 accounting software programs types by cost, functionality, connectivity etc.
A diagram of how the selected option would be used in the Business Proposal project

23

Section 5: Proposed Plan
Discuss any limitations to your report.
identify important areas your report will not discuss, such as:
Topics that will not be covered
Research that will not be done
Geographical areas that will not be included

24

Account for the Body pages

Account for the Supplementary
pages
Account for the Prefatory pages

25

Section 5: Proposed Plan
Make jot notes of the ideas you will include in the Proposed Plan section of your report:
Identify sections and subsections
Explain the purpose
Identify visuals
Identify requirements (if needed)
Discuss any limitations to your report (information your report will not discuss)

26

Section 6: Conclusion
Close with a request for authorization or approval to proceed
Authorization
The author of the proposal will request permission from a superior
This is a request to continue with the project/ report based on the idea presented.
Ex. Based on the information of The Pearl land reclamation plan provided in this proposal report, I ask for authorization to proceed with the project.

27

Section 6: Conclusion
Other considerations
The conclusion may also include:
A reminder of the importance of the topic
A summary of main ideas
Contact information

28

Section 6: Conclusion
Make jot notes of the ideas you will include in the Conclusion section of your report:
Authorization
request permission to continue with the report
Other considerations

29

Writing Your Proposal
The required sections include:
Introduction
Background
Research & Methodology
Qualifications
Proposed Plan
Conclusion
Follow the instructions:
Given in your assignment sheet
From your instructor

30

Using Lists
Use lists to present several pieces of information.
There are terms related to listing which you need to know:
Stem – the part of the sentence or list before the colon
Colon (:) – the punctuation used to indicate information will follow
Parallel structure – the same grammatical pattern (parallelism)
Bullets – the symbols used in front of listed items (◊ ● □ →, etc.)
Numbers – the numerical form (1, 2, 3, etc.) in lists

31

Using Lists
There are two types of lists:
Horizontal (in-sentence)
Vertical
Less Emphasis
More Emphasis
I need three things at the store: cereal, rice, and milk.
I need three things at the store:
– cereal
– rice
– milk

Here the stem is an independent clause (it can stand alone as a complete sentence); therefore, commas are not needed in the vertical list.
Stem (lead-in)
Colon
AND

32

Listing Examples

The three solutions will be assessed based on five criteria: cost, software availability, ease of installation, accuracy, and speed.
Horizontal (in-sentence) list
The stem is an independent clause (complete sentence)
A colon is used after the stem and commas separate listed items.

Listing Examples
Once the instructor logs onto his or her classroom computer, the students can sign into the class using the following four steps:
The students place their finger on the reader.
As verification, the system tries to authenticate the student identity by comparing the captured minutia image to those stored in the student database.
Once identification is made, the system returns a confirmation or a rejection. If rejected, the student tries again, or the instructor can do it directly on the PeopleSoft interface.
At this point, the system marks the student as present for that class, using the PeopleSoft attendance interface.
The stem is NOT an independent clause
Vertical list
A colon is used after the stem.
A period (full stop) is needed at the end of this list because the listed items are complete sentences.

Order is important here, so numbers are used rather than bullets.

Examples
I visited three places this summer: Paris, France; London, England; and Frankfurt, Germany.

I visited three places this summer:
Paris, France
London, England
Frankfurt, Germany

The stem is an independent clause (complete sentence).
Horizontal (in-sentence) List
A colon is used after the stem.

Vertical List
Semicolons have been used in this example because extra, internal punctuation is needed to ensure the sentence is clear.

No punctuation is required at the end of the listed items here, because the stem is an independent clause.

Using Lists
Basic guidelines for using lists:
Use lists to:
Emphasize/ highlight important information
Simplify large pieces of information in a sequence
Bullets VS Numbers
Use bullets when sequence or importance is not required
Use numbers to indicate importance or sequence
Do not over use lists; they will lose their effectiveness.
Do not mix bullets & numbers in the same list; use numbers & letters if a sublist is needed.

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Using Lists
Use parallelism
Always introduce a list with a stem:
Independent clause
Use punctuation at the end of listed items, if sentences are listed
Do not use punctuation at the end of listed items
Dependent clause
Punctuate as a sentence
May need to use commas, semicolons, & and.
More useful information about listing can be found at https://www.prismnet.com/~
hcexres/textbook/lists.html
Do not over use lists; they will lose their effectiveness.

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Cite Your Sources
Remember:
If you have used information from a source, you will need to cite your sources.
Cite (verb) – to give detailed information about a researched source (evidence, data, facts, proof, statistics, etc.)
Citing sources requires the appropriate citations.
Citation (noun) – the information that identifies a researched source (evidence, data, facts, proof, statistics, etc.)

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Cite Your Sources
In-text Citations
Found in the written (text) of paper
Placed at the end of the quote or paraphrase
Direct quote
(Author[s], year of publication, page number).
(Swan, 2000, p. 583).
(Swan, 2000, para. 13).
Paraphrase
(Author[s], year of publication).
(Swan, 2000).
If there are no pages, usually the case with webpages, give the paragraph number.
No page number is required.

39

Cite Your Sources
Reference Citation
Found in the References list at the end of the paper
Format:
Author’s last name followed by initials (or first word of the title when author is not known)
Publication year, between parentheses, followed by a period.
Source’s title (as well as subtitle, volume number or edition) is italicized.
Location of publication (city, state, country) and publishing company (i.e., publisher)
Swan, M. (2000). Practical English Usage: Second Edition. New York: Oxford University Press.

For every secondary source used in an
in-text citation, there must be an entry in the Reference list.

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Remember:
A proposal
Explains the report
outlines the the key sections of the report
It does not provide complete information
Prepares the audience to start to understand a the topic
Asks for permission to go ahead with a planned idea
It does not describe detailed action
It convinces with a plan and reasoned arguments
Does not have all the same sections as the final report
The final report may be slightly different than what is proposed.
This is not unusual as a proposal is based on projected expectations.
However, if there is a major change, a new proposal will be required.

3.0 – Writing Proposals
CM5: Fundamentals of Research and Reporting

Research Portfolio

CM2300-4

Fatima Al Sowaidi

60062842

Retrieved from: http://www.fin-el.com/services-doc.htm

APA Title Page

Report Outline

Source 1 – COLLEGE ONLINE LIBRARY
URL: https://search-proquest-com.connect.cna-qatar.edu.qa/docview/2348166500?pq-origsite=summon
Explanation:

This article will help me explain one of the latest marketing strategies done by coca cola and see how much it is effective.
I will use this in the discussion part to discuss the previous marketing campaigns of coca cola.
The author raised the concern of coca cola in their marketing campaigns that are raising awareness of unhealthy foods and obesity rates in kids.

Summary: Source 1
Put text here:
This article is a journal article from the British medical journal which is by the author Mahase Elisabeth in the year 2019. This article focuses on the Coca cola public relation marketing campaign in which the are focusing on the exposure of children to the unhealthy foods and increasing in the children obesity rates. The paper mentions as well that the majority of the market is children below 12 years old which makes an amount of 35 % of the market. Therefore, their exposure to such advertising would make a huge impact as the advertisement focused on the exposure of items that are unhealthy and high in fat, salt and sugar.

Source 2 – Online Article
URL: https://innismaggiore.com/newsroom/positionistview/new-coke-failure-why-decision-was-too-far-out-to-swallow/
Explanation:
This article speaks about the famous failure marketing campaign of coca cola and the reasons behind the failure.
The information in this article is helpful because it will help me give an information about this campaign and the reasons it failed.
This could go in the background of the research as the main research is regarding this campaign and developing a new one.

Summary: Source 2
Put text here:
This article is an online article in the year 2017 by the author Dick Maggiore. The author explained the reason for the decision of coca cola introducing a new coke which was due to the increasing competition between them and Pepsi. The main reason was that Pepsi has done a blind test for their drink compared with coca cola and people have chosen Pepsi due to their sweeter taste. Therefore, the main idea of coca cola was to remove the old coke and introduce a brand new flavour and drink. However, this move had been the worst thing ever taken by coca cola as it caused it to lose a lot of customers due to them not preferring the new one over the old one. The main failure of Coca cola was because the toke the decision of taking off the old coke they had off the market and introduce a new one which made a lot of their loyal customers angry.

Source 3 – Online News Article
URL: https://www.thedrum.com/news/2019/05/23/coca-cola-ads-8-its-most-memorable-campaigns
Explanation:
This is an online news article that shows the eight most memorable campaigns and explains the reasons further.
This would be helpful in the recommendation, background and discussion part.
I would include examples in my research from the campaigns mentioned in this news article.

Summary: Source 3
Put text here:
This is a news article from the drum website which explains the top 8 advertisements that is unforgettable for coca cola. The article started by bringing old advertisements from the year 1971 till the year of 2017. each campaign has the video to it with an explanation about each one of them and the reasons behind their success. The most successful campaign in the authors opinion is the campaign of the year 2011 with the name of “Share a coke which was one of the good advertisement that helped coca cola a recognizable brand with international drives.

Source 4 – Online Blog
URL: https://econsultancy.com/digital-marketing-campaigns-coca-cola/
Explanation:
This blog discusses 10 digital campaign of coca cola which have been successful.
I would consider this information in the discussion and recommendation as the online marketing campaign are increasing comparing to old marketing campaigns.
This information could also be included in the recommendation in case of recommending an online marketing campaign for coca cola.

Summary: Source 4
Put text here:
This is a blog from a website called the EConsultancy and they have brough coca cola top 10 digital marketing campaigns. The author has ranked the campaign ascendingly and have described and emphasized on each of the advertisement and the reasons for their success. The author has supported most of the thoughts and opinions with proves from the public and customers. In summary, this blog has gathered a lot of information about successful coca cola marketing campaigns.

APA References