Write a proposal of 3-4 pages, plus at least 1 page that lists 5 sources in MLA style, that discusses a problem you want to learn more about and that recommends a solution. For this proposal you do not have to write a complete paper. Write a Thesis statement, an outline as described below, and provide a Works Cited page. See the guidelines below.
The problem you choose must be a current problem, even though it may have been a problem for many years. Most students choose a problem that is too large. See the information in Chapter 6.5 about “Narrowing and Focusing.” The problem must also affect many people, and it must have an actual solution or solutions that you can learn about through research. In other words, the problem cannot be unique to you, and the solution you recommend cannot be one you only imagine; both the problem and the solution must be grounded in reality.
One way to get ideas about a problem to write about is to read a high-quality newspaper, website, or social media account for a week. Read widely on whatever platform you choose so that you learn what people are saying, what a newspaper’s editorial board is taking a stand on, what opinion writers are making cases for in op-eds, and what community members are commenting on. You’ll begin to get a handle on problems in your community or state that people care about. If you read a paper or website with a national or international audience, you’ll learn about problems that affect people in other places.
You will need to consult and cite at least five reliable sources. They can be scholarly, but they do not have to be. They must be credible, trustworthy, and unbiased. Possible sources include articles from reputable newspapers, magazines, and academic and professional journals; reputable websites; government sources; and visual sources. Depending on your topic, you may want to conduct a survey, an interview, or an experiment. See Research Process: Accessing and Recording Information and Annotated Bibliography: Gathering, Evaluating, and Documenting Sources for information about creating and finding sources. Your proposal can include a visual or media source if it provides appropriate, relevant evidence.
Thesis and Organization
Drafting a Thesis
When you have a solid grasp of the problem and solution, try drafting a thesis. A thesis is the main idea that you will convey in your proposal and to which all the paragraphs in the paper should relate. In a proposal, you will likely express this main idea in a thesis statement of one or two sentences toward the end of the introduction.
After you draft a thesis statement, ask these questions and revise it as needed:
Is it engaging? A thesis for a proposal should pique readers’ interest in the problem and possible solutions.
Is it precise and specific? If you are interested in curbing the spread of invasive plant species, for example, your thesis should indicate which environment the plant or plants are invading and that you are proposing ways to stop the spread.
Organizing Your Ideas
A proposal has a recognizable shape, starting with an introduction, followed by discussions of the problem, possible solutions, potential objections to the solutions, and a conclusion with a recommendation. A graphic organizer like Table 6.5 can help you organize your ideas and evidence.
Proposal Section Content Your Notes
Introduction (usually one paragraph, but can be two)
Draw readers in with an overview. Provide necessary background here or in the description of the problem, defining terms as needed.
State the thesis.
Description of the Problem (one or more paragraphs)
Explain the problem, establishing it as a problem in need of a solution.
Develop the paragraph(s) with evidence.
Possible Solution or Solutions (one or more paragraphs)
Describe possible solutions, one at a time.
Develop the paragraph(s) with evidence.
Objections (one or more paragraphs)
Explain objections readers are likely to raise to the solutions given in the previous paragraph(s).
Develop the paragraph(s) with evidence.
Conclusion and Recommendations (one or more paragraphs) Conclude with a summary of the points and recommend a solution or a course of action.
Table 6.5 Proposal Organization
Body Paragraphs: Problem, Solutions, Objections
The body paragraphs of your proposal should present the problem, the solution or solutions, and potential objections to the proposed solution(s). As you write these paragraphs, consider using the point, evidence, and analysis pattern:
The point is the central idea of the paragraph, usually given in a topic sentence stated in your own words at or toward beginning of the paragraph.
With the evidence you provide, you develop the paragraph and support the point given in the topic sentence. Include details, examples, quotations, paraphrases, and summaries from sources. In your sentences and paragraphs, synthesize the evidence you give by showing the connections between sources. See Position Argument: Practicing the Art of Rhetoric and Argumentative Research: Enhancing the Art of Rhetoric with Evidence for more information on quoting, summarizing, paraphrasing, and synthesizing.
The analysis comes at the end of the paragraph. In your own words, draw a conclusion about the evidence you have provided and relate it to the topic sentence.
The paragraphs should show the point-evidence-analysis pattern in practice.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The conclusion and recommendation section of your proposal is the part in which you interpret your findings and make a recommendation or give a call to action. At this point, focus on the solution that will best solve the problem, suggesting or summarizing specific actions.
Works Cited Page
Including any data you gathered through primary research, such as a survey you created and administered, interviews you conducted, or observational notes you took, you must cite the sources you consulted. These sources appear in the text of your proposal and in a Works Cited at the end. For more on documenting sources, see Index and Guide to Documentation, MLA Documentation and Format,
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