Starting your proposal

Let me lead you through the template that you need to develop a proposal.

First you need an introduction.
This might be a narrative paragraph that gives a vivid picture of the situation.
Next you have a the problem statement.
Here is how you think through a problem statement.

• What is the problem?
• Who has the problem?
• Where does the problem occur?
• When does the problem occur?
• What does the problem impact?

A good problem statement should be:

• Concise. The essence of your problem needs to be condensed down to a single sentence. A reader of the project statement should be able to say “Aha!! Now I now understand the problem.”
• Specific. The problems statement should focus your thinking, research, and solutions toward a single population or issue.
• Measurable. Problems can be measured in terms of degree and frequency. The strongest problem statements incorporate measurable aspects of both the degree and frequency of the problem as it exists.
• Specify what is Impacted. The problem statement should identify the population affected by the problem.

Let’s examine the steps for creating a good problem statement.

• Write down your problem or current state. Don’t worry too much about quality at this point – simply making a start is significant.
• Expand on the problem by asking the following questions:
• Who does it affect / does not affect?
• What does it effect / does not affect?
• How does it effect / does not affect?
• When is it a problem / is not a problem?
• Where is it a problem / is not a problem?
• Re-write your problem statement based on those answers. It may consist of several sentences or a set of bulleted items.
• Try to revise the bulleted list or initial problem statement into a single clear sentence. This might take a couple of attempts but stick with it. Finally, review your new problem statement against the following criteria:
• Focused on only one Problem.
• One or two sentences long.
• Does not suggest a Solution.

You should now have a concise and well balanced Problem Statement ready for a brainstorming session. It should be unambiguous and devoid of assumptions. It will enable you or your group to focus in on the problem and provide the foundation for the team to begin work toward solutions that truly fit.

So by now you have about two or three sentences. 

Now you move into each section of the proposal.

The Objective(s)

• Here you will make three bullet points
• Each point is a different objective
• Each objective will likely lead into the next 

The paragraphs below will explain these objectives and how they address the problem statement. See how easy this is to read. A person can glance and get an idea of what is in this section or move on. Get it?

The Strategy 

• This is where you will discuss your key public and who they are
• This is where you will say "Because this - we believe the best way to reach parents is this . . . "
• Again there are one or two paragraph here justifying why we are choosing this direction. 

 The strategy is general. We get specific in tactics. For example if we plan to use social media you will say that in the strategy. "We find that this target audience uses social media over other forms of communication. We know this through research and interviews with parents and discussion with the translation director." We get specific as to what that is 

The Tactics

• We will create a reading kit that will help parents work with students on their reading.
• We will create an event that will interest parents and engage them more in their child's daily reading activities. 
• We will contact parents through social media on a weekly basis to measure engagement.
• The semester will end with an event to introduce parents to teachers, helpers, interpreters based around the reading of a book.

The Measurement 

The semester will end with an event to introduce parents to teachers, helpers, interpreters based around the reading of a book. Success will be measure through the following:

1.

2.

3.

The So What (the conclusion)

By developing this plan we hope to  .............................. because reading is ............