PROPOSAL

- It starts by describing the situation in a business, school, club, or other organisation

you might be part of. For example, you might have to talk about the computer room in
your college or the state of the canteen in your office.
- You have to give recommendations on improving the situation.
- You have to persuade whoever is reading the proposal to make the changes you think
are best.

So:

 describe a situation

 say how you think it could be better

 try to convince someone you are right

STYLE

Sometimes the proposals in CAE are set in the business world, and sometimes in the
academic world. In these cases you'll be writing in quite a formal style.

Another common scenario is that you're in a club and want to propose some changes - if
you're writing to the other members of the club you can be a bit less formal but you should
still be polite – semi-formal but still impersonal.

RULES

You should use headings, and have an introduction (where you say what purpose you
have), a body (three paragraphs, usually) and conclusion. Use modal verbs for suggestions
and recommendations.

Write in full sentences.

 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 …
- Concerned members of the local community were invited to attend...
- A number of concerns with regard to ….

Making recommendations and suggestions

- A working group should be set up…

- There should be an enquiry into...
- I recommend that a larger survey should be conducted before …

Final recommendations

- The results of the survey/questionnaire suggest that seem to be the best

option/choice/solution.
- If these recommendations are implemented, the situation is bound to…..
- Unless these suggestions are implemented, it is unlikely that the short term.