Business Writing Short Report/ Proposal Draft Basic Peer Review
Draft written by (print): ____________________________________________________
Reviewed by (print): _____________________________________________ Date________
_____1. Format, appearance, and related elements: effective document design that is appropriate for the task; correctness, spacing, margins, documentation, headings [or topic sentences serving same function]; paragraphing; visual aids; parts of report; format appropriate to purpose.
_____2. Diction/syntax: correct use of idiomatic English and specialized business vocabulary; word choice; correct, effective sentences; coherence within paragraphs, appropriate to audience, suitable level of formality/register.
_____3. Correctness: editing and proofreading: grammar, mechanics, punctuation, spelling, usage.
_____4. Style: coherence between paragraphs and overall; conciseness; conversational yet professional style; reader sensitivity/appropriate tone; consistent tone; sense of audience; sense of context; courtesy; avoids belaboring the obvious; aids to readability (such as transitions).
_____5. Clarity: clear, effective organization that recognizes, but does not slavishly follow, organization of samples in task; unity--stresses relevant information and avoids irrelevancy; structure; completeness; contains all necessary parts/ documents; logical, thorough development of ideas; adapts general report and proposal concepts to the specific situation; support of generalizations.
_____6. General impression upon reader and overall response to draft: correct content--relevance to assigned task/topic; realistic, defensible handling of task problem; professionalism; maturity and originality of approach; value of content; appropriate level of development and length overall.
Additional suggestions and critique information should go below or on reverse side.
For each area, weight the skills thus: 5=Mastery of writing skills; outstanding and no problems; 4=Sound command of writing skills; very good; acceptable business quality; may have limited or minor problems that don’t affect meaning; 3=adequate writing skills; for teaching purposes, but not business quality; one or two major problems or a group of minor problems need further attention; 2=limited writing skills and competency, multiple problems and/or frequent minor problems; 1=minimal writing skills and competency, but attempts the skills listed; 0=weak writing skills; lacks competency in this area.
Last updated March 2010
Showing posts with label Proposals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Proposals. Show all posts
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Proposals
Proposals
Proposals are a special kind of persuasive writing. They suggest changes and actions and attempt to convince their readers to follow these suggestions. The characteristics of effect tive persuasive writing are thus important considerations for the writer of a proposal. They often appear in a report format, but can also be presented as letters or memorandums. Typically, proposals suggest ways to solve a problem which exists, to improve a policy or procedure, to answer a question, or to present a benefit from a particular product or service.
They may have been requested, as in the case of a supervisor asking an expert on his staff to propose a new method of accounting for petty cash or a company replying to a "request for proposal" (RFP) from a government agency in hopes of obtaining a contract. Proposals of this sort are termed "solicited proposals." Other proposals (called "unsolicited proposals") are developed at the writer's own initiative in hopes of persuading the reader to act or to accept the proposal's ideas. A sales proposal or a proposal to a university dean advocating changes in campus parking regulations are examples of unsolicited proposals.
While the specific content of proposals will vary, they almost all discuss something happening over a period of time. In other words, most proposals include narration as well as persuasion. For this reason, much of the content of a proposal can be developed in a preparing stage based on the journalistic "5 W's and H" approach.
Typical concerns might include the following:
Why should changes be made?
Why is the change an improvement over what exists now?
What problem needs solving?
What needs to be done to solve it?
What specific changes are involved?
What equipment and personnel will be needed?
Who will be in charge of making these changes?
When will work begin and end?
Where will the changes happen?
How, exactly, do you plan to make these changes?
How much will the changes cost?
How will the changes be financed?
Organization of proposals varies with the specific circumstances and with the arranging strategy you wish to use. But most effective proposals move quickly at the beginning, giving an overview of the problem and the solution without providing specific technical details. This opening is then followed by a more detailed discussion in which you may consider the nature of the problem more precisely, explain what you plan to do to solve the problem, and specify exactly how you plan to accomplish the work you propose to do. A concluding section might establish your qualifications to do the work (if this information seems appropriate), point out the reader benefits that will follow, and encourage action, which may simply mean approval of the proposed project. Headings, subheadings, enumerations, and graphics can help guide readers through proposals as they do for reports, and, like reports, proposals can appear in a variety of formats.
Proposals are a special kind of persuasive writing. They suggest changes and actions and attempt to convince their readers to follow these suggestions. The characteristics of effect tive persuasive writing are thus important considerations for the writer of a proposal. They often appear in a report format, but can also be presented as letters or memorandums. Typically, proposals suggest ways to solve a problem which exists, to improve a policy or procedure, to answer a question, or to present a benefit from a particular product or service.
They may have been requested, as in the case of a supervisor asking an expert on his staff to propose a new method of accounting for petty cash or a company replying to a "request for proposal" (RFP) from a government agency in hopes of obtaining a contract. Proposals of this sort are termed "solicited proposals." Other proposals (called "unsolicited proposals") are developed at the writer's own initiative in hopes of persuading the reader to act or to accept the proposal's ideas. A sales proposal or a proposal to a university dean advocating changes in campus parking regulations are examples of unsolicited proposals.
While the specific content of proposals will vary, they almost all discuss something happening over a period of time. In other words, most proposals include narration as well as persuasion. For this reason, much of the content of a proposal can be developed in a preparing stage based on the journalistic "5 W's and H" approach.
Typical concerns might include the following:
Why should changes be made?
Why is the change an improvement over what exists now?
What problem needs solving?
What needs to be done to solve it?
What specific changes are involved?
What equipment and personnel will be needed?
Who will be in charge of making these changes?
When will work begin and end?
Where will the changes happen?
How, exactly, do you plan to make these changes?
How much will the changes cost?
How will the changes be financed?
Organization of proposals varies with the specific circumstances and with the arranging strategy you wish to use. But most effective proposals move quickly at the beginning, giving an overview of the problem and the solution without providing specific technical details. This opening is then followed by a more detailed discussion in which you may consider the nature of the problem more precisely, explain what you plan to do to solve the problem, and specify exactly how you plan to accomplish the work you propose to do. A concluding section might establish your qualifications to do the work (if this information seems appropriate), point out the reader benefits that will follow, and encourage action, which may simply mean approval of the proposed project. Headings, subheadings, enumerations, and graphics can help guide readers through proposals as they do for reports, and, like reports, proposals can appear in a variety of formats.
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