Proposals: three major types

1. Proposals: three major types • Research Proposal • proposes to define problem • Evaluation Proposal • proposes to evaluate solutions • Implementation Proposal • proposes to implement solutions

2. Your proposal details specific methods for conducting research and evaluation. • Observe • Solicit expert opinion • Collect and synthesize information from published and unpublished sources • Conduct tests • Make calculations • Create preliminary designs

3. Proposal assignment requires these sections: • Summary • Problem Definition • Scope of Project • Solution Criteria • Proposed Procedure • Schedule • Budget • Qualifications • Sources of Information

4. Proposal in original form, without my annotations Annotated proposal, with callouts identifying required elements and strengths On Web: Two versions of same sample proposal

5. Summary is a miniature version of the whole proposal. • Give brief overview of this information: • Problem or need • Scope and purpose • of proposal • of investigative study (what you intend to do) • Alternative solutions • Evaluation criteria (for solutions) • Timeframe • Budget for study • Deliverables

6. Problem Definition • Describe problem or need • give more background than in Summary • support with specific evidence • state from client’s point of view • Describe need for study and benefit for client.

7. Scope of Project • State topics to be investigated and how. • alternative solutions • criteria for evaluating solutions • methods of study • sources of information • what kind of research? • Project time needed to complete project. • List deliverables. • recommendation report • oral presentation

8. Evaluation Criteria • Expand on listing of criteria in Scope section. • Define criteria very specifically • Refine and breakdown all “large” criteria, such as cost, feasibility, etc. • State how you will determine or measure for each criterion (so that you may compare solutions) • Cost of maintenance measured in present-value dollars? • Safety measured according to industry safety reports? • Is there a minimum or maximum value? • Will you use others’ results or your own?

9. Criteria: Clarify these items • Are criteria prioritized? • Which, if any, were set by the client? • If you will not consider cost, say why not.

10. Solution CriteriaThe alternative solutions will be evaluated according to the criteria outlined below. These criteria are listed in order of priority, from highest to lowest, as designated by the client.üEffectiveness in Reducing Noise TransmissionThe client has asked that we determine an appropriate threshold for noise transmission based on the preferences of residents. We will measure each solution in terms of noise reduction (NR), a quantifiable term expressed as a function of the transmission loss (TL) of a barrier (defined as the ratio of sound reradiated by the barrier to the sound absorbed by it, in decibels), the area of the barrier, and the ability of the receiving room to absorb sound.

11. Proposed Procedure • Break down your scope of work into tasks. • Expand on information in Scope section. • Include your methods of research and methods of evaluation (these methods translate into tasks). • Show how you will use criteria as evaluators. • Show sequence of tasks. • Include specific sources of information. • This is the narrative of your schedule. • Schedule section is in graphical form.

12. Schedule • Graphically present your specific tasks along a timeline. • Label the figure/table • Introduce the graphic with at least one sentence. • Include specific dates. • Break down tasks as much as possible. • Valuable planning for you (and partner) This is the schedule for accomplishing the study (research, evaluation, presentation of findings). NOT the schedule for solving the problem.

13. Budget • Present the costs for completing the study. • Include items such as research, estimating, testing, traveling, photocopying, phoning. • any task that takes up your time or costs you something out of pocket. • Remember, you are a consultant – make clear your rate per hour for various tasks. • Present budget graphically, but introduce with at least one sentence. • Label the figure (see sample proposal).

14. Qualifications • Present your (and your partner’s) qualifications for doing the study. • Evidence of qualifications includes these items: • relevant courses taken • relevant employment • degree program in progress • any relevant experience or exposure • Don’t worry about not having lots of experience.

15. Sources of Information • This section is more for me than for a “real-world” engineering boss. • Include all relevant articles, books, people, reports, class notes, etc. from which you will get information relevant to your study. • Give this information for each source (use any format): • Name of author/sponsor • titles of journals (with article title, if known) • titles of books • Be sure also to weave discussion of sources of information into Proposed Procedure.

16. Strategies of Persuasion • Clarify your goal – write it down. • how will you achieve it? • What are your goals for proposal? • Analyze your audience’s values, expectations, experience, and status. • use the Audience Analysis Worksheet • the more persuasive your document is, the more it focuses on readers.

17. Persuasive Writing • Proposal readers – what will convince them of your ability to do the tasks required? • Do you understand the problem or need from their point of view? • Is your methodology clearly thought through? • Avoid words like “maybe,” “feel,” probably.” • Does quality of writing affect reader’s view of your professional ability? • Remember that you have two types of readers for this assignment: Supervisor and Client

18. Use Audience Analysis Worksheet • Purpose of Document • Readers: Primary and Secondary • Reasons for reading • Characteristics • What will reader DO as a result of reading? • Primary • Secondary

19. This week’s lab . . . • Learn to create and use Style Sheets in MS Word! • Make your formatting tasks much easier. • Collaborate more easily. • Reduce overall time producing documents!

20. Claims, Supports, and Warrants(Reference Guide, pp 33-39) • How do you develop an “argument” in a document? • What is the “claim” your proposal makes? • What “support” can you offer for your claim? • What “warrants” (assumptions or beliefs) underlie your argument and which ones probably exist in the mind of your readers? • Many assumptions in engineering work spring from methodology – e.g.: • margin of error in tests or models • reliability of studies used to establish safe levels of a pollutant