202 Memo
To:
Core 202
Students
From: Rick Van Noy
Date:
February 2018
Subject: Request for Proposals
This request for proposal (RFP) explains the general requirements, contents
and form of your individual research proposal.
General Requirements
The purpose of your proposal is to request approval to do more work
on a report topic involving ethics. Remember—you don’t have to solve or make
recommendations yet, but just provide an understanding of what you would do if
your proposal is chosen. Modeled
on the case studies we have read, write a proposal that will examine and
analyze a current and active environmental issue or controversy. If not
environmental, the topic may be one health-related or related to your field.
But it should involve some ethical issue you would investigate, probe, look at
from different angles. Ultimately, your group will be expected to carry out
both background research (such as from books, newspaper articles, web sites, or
government documents) and perhaps fieldwork, including interviews on the issue
and on the people/parties most directly affected by it. However, we will write
individual proposals and select topics to pursue from them.
Your intended report topic must satisfy the following requirements:
- The subject offers practical
value to an identified audience (even if you have to make one up—include
this in the “To” line).
- The time necessary to
complete the report does not exceed the time allotted for the class.
Focus—world hunger too big.
- The subject is suitable in
scope for a formal report of no longer than eight pages, minimum of four
(excluding front and back matter).
Contents
- Project Summary: In
this brief section, summarize the need for the study, the proposed plan,
and your qualifications. This short proposal overview resembles an
abstract; like the abstract, it can often determine whether the reader
will commit to reading your proposed ideas.
- Introduction/project
narrative: Include here a clear, complete explanation of the problem
your report will analyze and eventually make recommendations for. Convince
your audience that a significant problem does exist, that you understand
it well enough to lead a group of peers in solving it, and that your
identified primary reader genuinely wants your results and will assist
you, if necessary, in gathering information. In addition, remember to
include background information (what causes the problem or your experience
with it), and explain your final report’s scope (what it will
include).
- Proposed Procedure/Methods:
In this section, demonstrate that you have a plan for examining the
problem explained above. The more thorough the plan, the more prepared and
qualified you will seem to do the work required. Describe sources of information,
primary and secondary, you will use to accomplish your goals. Try to list
at list three secondary sources you will use.
- Qualifications: Here
you should briefly describe your qualifications, highlighting why
you are especially well suited to work on, and serve as project manager
for, this project.
- Conclusion: In this
final section, highlight all key reasons for selecting your proposal,
including how it will benefit its intended primary reader(s). End with a
formal request for approval to pursue the project that you have just
outlined.
Form
Your document should meet the following form, format, and style
requirements:
- Memo form, utilizing headings
and subheadings. Include a clear subject line.
- Semi-formal writing style,
you attitude
- Typed, single spaced and
unbound (staple)
- Laser printed
- 1-1 1/2 pages
Conclusion
If you have any questions regarding this RFP, please ask them in class so
everyone may benefit from their answers.