Essentials of Technical Communication Chapter 9 Proposals and

Essentials of Technical Communication Chapter 9: Proposals and Progress Reports

Proposals

A Proposal Describes • • • Proposed work or research, Reasons for the work, Methods proposed to accomplish the work, Estimated time required, and Expected cost. “Keep in mind that proposals and progress reports are persuasive documents. ”

Proposals for external funds are often written in response to • RFP (Request for Proposal) • SOW (Statement of Work) • RFQ (Request for Qualifications)

Typical Government CFP Sponsor: Sponsor Office of Innovation and Improvement/Department of Education Program Number: Number 24512 Title: Title Supporting Effective Educator Development Grant Program E-mail: E-mail soumya. sathya@ed. gov. Web Site: Site http: //www. gpo. gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011 -09 -08/pdf/2011 -23011. pdf Program URL: URL http: //www 07. grants. gov/search. do? &mode=VIEW&opp. Id=121173 SYNOPSIS: SYNOPSIS The sponsor announces the availability of approximately $24, 680, 000 in funds for the Supporting Effective Educator Development Grant Program. This grant is designed to support projects that are supported by at least moderate evidence, as defined in this notice, to recruit, select, and prepare or provide professional enhancement activities for teachers or for teachers and principals. Deadline(s): Deadline(s) 10/11/2011 11/07/2011 * DEADLINE NOTE* Deadline for optional notice of intent to apply is October 11, 2011. Deadline for transmittal of applications is November 7, 2011.

In Response to an RFP, Ask: • • • What does the soliciting organization really want? What is the problem that needs to be solved? What approaches to the solution will be viewed most favorably? What approaches will be viewed unfavorably? What objections will our plan elicit? Can we accomplish the goals we propose? (Additional questions in textbook)

Standard Sections of Proposals • Project summary • Project description (technical proposal) • Introduction • Rationale and significance • Plan of the work • • Scope Methods Task Breakdown Problem Analysis • Facilities and equipment • • Personnel (management proposal) Budget (cost proposal) Conclusion Appendixes

Progress Reports

Progress Reports Include the Following Information: • • • goal of the project, work accomplished (for a given period), work remaining/planned (for the next period), problems encountered, and financial expenditures

A Progress Report May Be Structured by Task: • • Introduction Project description Summary of work to date Summary of work in this period • • • Work accomplished by tasks this period Work remaining on specific tasks Work planned for the next reporting period Work planned for periods thereafter Cost to date Cost in this period • Overall appraisal of work to date • Conclusions and recommendations concerning problems

A Progress Report May Be Structured by Time: • Introduction/project description • Summary of work completed • Work completed • Period 1 (beginning and ending dates) • Description • Cost • Period 2 (beginning and ending dates) • Description • Cost • Work remaining • Period 3 (or remaining periods) • Description of work to be done • Expected cost • Evaluation of work in this period • Conclusions and recommendations

A Progress Report May Be Structured by Goal: • Introduction/project description • Summary of progress to date • Work completed • Goal 1 • Goal 2 • Goal 3, etc. • Work remaining • Goal 1 • Goal 2 • Goal 3, etc. • Evaluation of work to date • Conclusions and recommendations

The following is a sample oral progress report with slides

Learning Processes Task Group Chicago Meeting Progress Report April 20, 2007

Learning Processes Task Group Contributing Members • Dave Geary • Dan Berch • Wade Boykin • Susan Embretson • Valerie Reyna • Bob Siegler • Jennifer Graban, staff

Learning Processes Task Group Completed to Date § Principles of learning and cognition § Mathematical knowledge children bring to school § Math learning in whole number arithmetic

Learning Processes Task Group Goals for the June Meeting in Miami, FL § Take comments and suggestions into consideration from other task groups and revise three existing sections accordingly § Begin to make policy recommendations more explicit § New section on Social, Motivational, and Affective Processes

Learning Processes Task Group Goals for the September Meeting in St. Louis, MO § Math learning in the key content areas: • Fractions • Estimation • Geometry • Algebra § Review of differences and similarities across race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and gender for key areas § Brain science and math learning

Elizabeth Tebeaux and Sam Dragga Essentials of Technical Communication Oxford University Press