How to write a proposal

PROPOSALS and reports have a similar layout. Reports are based on current circumstances or situations whereas proposals are action plans for the future. You give more space to the current situation in a report and more space to recommendations for future actions in a proposal.

Hints

First things first...

1.      Begin by brainstorming ideas, in any order, and don't worry about language at this stage.

2.      Group your ideas under headings for each section of your proposal.

3.      Write a first draft, paying attention to the level of formality of the language.

Don't forget!

• Begin by stating the purpose of your proposal.
• Use an impersonal, semi-formal style.
• Use clear layout with headings.
• Express opinions and make recommendations in the last section of your proposal.
• Include a final sentence summarising your opinion.
• Use bullet points but not too many.

Useful language for a proposal

Stating the purpose of the proposal

• The principal aims/objectives of this proposal are to...
• This proposal is intended to...
• In this proposal I describe/evaluate/present/assess...

Background information

• Comments made at the end of the questionnaires suggest...
• Following a survey among families of young children...
• Concerned members of the local community were invited to attend...
• A number of concerns with regard to the most recent street party were expressed by locals...

Making recommendations and suggestions

• A working group should be set up by...
• There should be an enquiry into...
• I recommend that a larger survey should be conducted before a final decision is reached...

Final recommendations

• The results of the survey/questionnaire suggest that the introduction of heavier fines would seem to be the best option/choice/solution.
• If these recommendations are implemented, the situation is bound to improve.
• Unless these suggestions are implemented, it is unlikely that there will be any improvement in the short term.

Verbs with to or -ing

VERB + ING:
Stop enjoy - Fancy - Admit - Consider = Miss finish, Mind, Imagine, Deny, Involve, Postpone, Delay, Suggest, Regret, Avoid, Risk, Practise,Give up, Put off, Keep on, Go on (continue), Carry on, 
E.G. Are you going to give up smoking?

VERB + INFINITIVE:
Agree, Offer, Decide, Appear, Forget, Refuse, Attempt, Plan, Seem learn, Promise, Manage, Arrange, Pretend, Dare, Threaten, Fail, Hope, Afford, Tend
E.G. He dedided to have a taxi home.

VERB+ OBJECT+ INFINITIVE:
Want, Ask, Expect, Help, Mean, Would like, Would prefer.
E. I asked to see the manager or I asked Tomm to help me.

VERB+ OBJECT+ TO+INF ITIVE:
Tell, Remind, Force, Enable, Persuade, Order, Warn, Invite, Teach, Get.

B2 Grammar: Basic verbal tenses

Present simple and present continuous

The present simple is used to describe:

•         a permanent state or situation: I live in the town where I was born.
•         a fact or something which is always true: The Earth revolves around the sun.
•         an activity which happens regularly or occasionally: He gets up at six o’clock every day.

The present continuous is used to describe:

•          a temporary situation: I’m living with my uncle while the builders finish decorating my house.
•       an activity happening at the present moment: I’m sorry you can’t talk to her at the moment. She’s having a shower.
•     an activity in progress but not exactly at the present moment: I’m studying three foreign languages, so I’m quite busy nowadays.
•         a situation which is changing or developing: Lots of people are coming to live here, so the town is growing quickly.
•         things the speaker finds strange or irritating, with always. This is a way of complaining: You’re always  using the telephone. Our phone bill will be enormous!
•         something which happens frequently, with always: My girlfriend is always cooking me special meals!

State verbs

Verbs which describe states, not actions, are not usually used in the continuous. These verbs describe:

thoughts: believe, know, remember, think (meaning believe), feel (meaning believe), suppose, etc.

feelings: love, like, hate, want, prefer, etc.

senses: smell, hear, taste, see

possession: have, belong, own, etc.

the verb to be.

Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous

Both the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous talk about something which started in the past and:

•        either has a result in the present: He’s lost his job (i.e. he’s unemployed now). I’ve been partying all weekend, so I’m feeling pretty tired now.
•      or is still happening now: We’ve been building an extension to our house (and we haven’t finished yet).

Often they are interchangeable. However:

The present perfect simple	The present perfect continuous
·    emphasises the result: I’ve phoned all my friends and they’re coming to the party.	·    emphasises the activity: I’ve been phoning my friends (that’s why I haven’t done my homework).
·    says how much you have done: I’ve cooked three pizzas.	·    says how long you’ve been doing something: I’ve been cooking all afternoon.
·    may give the idea that something is more permanent (and may be accompanied by a time expression which shows this): He’s worked in this shop all his life. I’ve always lived here.	·    may give the idea that something is temporary (and may be accompanied by a time expression which shows this): I’ve been working here for the last two months until I go to university. We’ve been eating dinner in the garden while the weather has been so warm.
·    is used when we want to say how many times somethings has been repeated: I’ve invited her two or three times but she always says she’s busy.	·    when we want to emphasise the process of change over a period of time and that these changes are not finished: Your English has been improving tremendously since you started doing your homework!

Remember: state verbs are not normally used in the continuous (see left).

Writing a review

Look at this task.

You have been asked to write a short film review for a school /college magazine. Choose any film which you think might be of interest to your fellow students. The film can be in any language and it can be of any type: comedy, thriller, science fiction, romance, historical drama etc.

Your brief is to include a clear description of the story/contents, to comment on what you think the most successful and least successful features are, and to give an overall recommendation. Write about 250 words.

First, choose a film to review. It doesn’t have to be a new film, though it is helpful if you have seen it recently, and you don’t have to have enjoyed it. Sometimes it’s easier to pinpoint what you don’t like about something than what you like! Think about what you liked or didn’t like about the film.

The purpose of a review is firstly to give factual information about the subject, and secondly to give an opinion about it which will help the reader to decide whether to buy the book, see the play or film or visit the exhibition.

Reviews normally contain three main ingredients: overview, pros and cons, andverdict, which are described more fully below. A review may not always fall into three neat sections, however. The writer may decide to describe an aspect of the subject and comment immediately on strengths and weaknesses, for example, before going on to describe another aspect of the subject.

English at University: Episode 7

English at University: Episode 6

Writing Task 1 – How to write the Process or Diagram Essay

The process/diagram essay should also have 4 consistent paragraphs.

Once you’ve practiced this approach, you should feel much more confident in how to tackle  a diagram. You can use this strategy every time.

Here we go:

1. Look at the diagram carefully. Make sure you understand the process and all the labels.
2. Identify the different main stages of the process. If there are lots of steps, can you group them into stages from the beginning to end?

Once you’re clear on the stages and steps (mark them out on the paper so you can easily see it), plan on writing 4 paragraphs:

1. Introduction. This is actually one sentence which paraphrases the explanation of the process in the task question.
2. Overview of the process by stating the main stages from the beginning to the end. Don’t mention the individual steps (save those for paragraphs 3 & 4). You can state what happens at the very beginning and the end result.
3. (Divide the stages in two). Start describing the first steps in the first stages.
4. Describe the steps in the later stages, ending with the final result.

English at University: Episode 5

English at University: Episode 4

English at University. Episode 3

English at University. Episode 2