Proposal Writing Stages

The process of producing a good proposal consists of the following stages:

Preliminary Study

Preliminary study requires research for the idea or product being proposed. Producing a first rate plan for a proposal requires the following: (1) a careful study of the invitation to bid, the specifications, and any related papers or information such as obtained in a briefing conference; (2) careful consideration of background information such as that which may be available; (3) careful analysis of the competition; and (4) strategic evaluation of the technical design or program to be presented.

Drafting a plan or outline, including decisions about what to emphasize

If the above preliminaries have been carefully completed, the making of an outline or plan of presentation should not be particularly difficult. The important things to bear in mind about an outline are that (1) a written plan, or schematic, is essential as a guide to follow in developing the text; (2) the outline serves a useful and necessary function as a table of contents for the reader of the proposal; (3) the outline should be logical and strategic outgrowth of the material presented in an order that is most likely to make a favorable impression on the reader; and (4) supplementary material should be included only as needed.

Writing a rough draft and planning illustrations and layout

It's temptation to say that after going through all the necessary preliminaries and drafting a plan, the proposal will practically write itself; that, of course, is nonsense. The main things you have to be careful about are (1) introduction, (2) transitions between parts of your discussion, (3) correlation of text and illustrations, (4) exception taking, (5) the concluding section, and (6) style

Review and revision

The final chore in the preparation of an effective proposal is reviewing and revising the manuscript before final printing. Careful review and revising pays big dividends, both in personal satisfaction and in prospects for new contracts. The good writer will take full advantage of his last opportunities to polish and refine his product and to remove those errors and oversights that would otherwise mar it.

Sample Proposals

Sample Business Proposal - Fast Food Establishment.

Sample Proposal - Installation of Power Generator.

Research Proposal.