In this course, you will learn how to write persuasive proposals. We will explore how to locate appropriate funding opportunities and how to evaluate requests for proposals to ensure that your proposal contains the right information. Drawing off the principles of rhetorical analysis, you will analyze and revise an existing proposal and then you will write a real proposal. In the process, you will learn how to

• Develop a clear statement of need,
• Offer achievable objectives,
• Design logical step-by-step plans,
• Create specific and accurate budgets, and
• Present your organization powerfully.

We will also discuss methods of writing persuasively that are both ethical and effective, and study how to use document design to create a professional proposal package.

Service Learning Component

Proposal writing is not a solitary task, but rather a process of working with others to identify needs, locate opportunities, discover methods, and develop a persuasive solution. Therefore, to become fully versed and skilled at proposal writing, you need to understand first hand how the process works in the real world. To accomplish this need for real world experience, you will write a real proposal in a service learning project. Service learning allows students to work with organizations in their community to develop a deeper “understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility (Lima in Campus Compact).”

I will provide you with a list of local non-profit organizations you can work with to write a proposal. You may also find an organization or opportunity on your own and write a proposal in response to it. However, as a student in this course, you must write a real proposal. If you chose a different approach to writing a real proposal, you must clear it with me first.

After you have chosen an organization to work with, you will meet with their representative to learn about the organization, ascertain their funding needs, help them locate funding opportunities, and then write a grant proposal under both their supervision and mine. You will be responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective working relationship with the organization by coordinating your own schedule to develop the proposal.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Understand how to evaluate the funding and rhetorical needs of an organization.
• Locate and evaluate funding opportunities.
• Analyze your purpose, readers, and contexts.
• Perform necessary primary and secondary research.
• Create an effective grant proposal that meets both your organization’s and funder’s needs.
• Incorporate document design to enhance your proposal’s readability and professional quality.
• Develop problem solving and critical thinking abilities that you can apply in other courses and your chosen profession.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with other students and members of the outside community.
• Develop empathy, respect, and the ability to deal fairly with individuals who have perspectives different from your own.
• Experience community involvement as a means of understanding your role as an active member of society.