Project 2, the Topic Proposal
English 2223, Fall 2020
Project 2 asks you to write a formal proposal memo seeking my approval for the project that will become your formal report. This proposal is the first document in a series of sequenced assignments that also includes a progress report, a formal report, and a presentation.
For the purposes of this sequence of assignments, were going to pretend that Midwestern State University has received a windfall donation of a considerable amount of money ($25 million US dollars) that must be spent on meaningful improvements within the Universitys sphere of operations. In short, you are being asked by University officials to identify how, when, and where some of that money should be spent.
Your first assignment in this sequence, the Topic Proposal, asks you to identify a problem, issue, or concern pertaining to Midwestern State University that you would like to explore further and propose a solution for in your formal report later in the semester. You do not have to have a solution to the problem at this time; at this point, you are only seeking clearance to explore the matter further.
Your audience for this memo is me, your instructor. Think of me as someone who wants to be sure that you choose a project from which you can learn a great deal and on which you can do a good job. I need to be convinced that this project is important to you and that you have the ability to complete it. You should also think of me as someone who wants to see your time spent wisely, just like your boss would. The topic you propose should be clearly meaningful to the University and its constituents, and therefore, merit further exploration.
While I am willing to consider a wide range of topics for your report, you must persuade me that you have chosen a worthwhile issue that you are capable of handling well. Id like to see some ambition in your projects, but I also want to be sure the scope of your project is manageable. However, I must warn you that I will not accept proposals on parking lots, textbooks, or a new stadium as they often require little in terms of deep analysis.
When reading your proposal memo, I will be looking for answers to the following questions:
What problem/issue/concern do you want to explore? Have you clearly defined a conflict between a desired situation and the current situation?
Who is affected by the situation? Who will be the audience for your final report? What is your position in relationship to the audience?
Why is this challenge significant for this final audience? What is at stake?
Do you have a possible feasible solution for the problem? Have you established what a good solution would require? Have you thought about alternative plausible solutions?
What makes you qualified to carry out the project? How is the topic related to your major? Your career plans?
What will it take to gather the necessary information and complete your analysis? Can you complete your report in the time left in this semester, using the resources readily available to you?
Do you have a work plan for your project, a plan that shows specifically when certain activities must be completed this semester if you are to finish the project on time?
