MODULE VIII

COMMUNICATION FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES

Objectives: At the end of the unit, the students must have

a) explained substantially what a reaction paper and a journal is all

about;
b) developed a feasibility study;
c) constructed a business proposal;
d) organized the references following the right format.
 Lesson I

WRITING A REACTION PAPER AND JOURNAL WRITING

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the student must be able to

i) describe substantially what is a reaction paper and what is journal writing;
ii) discuss intelligently the parts of a reaction paper;
iii) recall the benefits of journal writing;
iv) write a reaction paper following the tips;
v) create a journal.

Introduction

Academic writing, particularly in English Language, oftentimes engaged students

to have a written output. Its contents varies depending on the intention and/or purpose
for which it is relayed. For purposes of academic exercise, writing activity is adopted for
students to express their thoughts regarding the literature they read. Writing could be
free-willing, however, rudiments must be observed to have a uniform rubric in going
over the writing output. In this lesson, you will be provided with inputs regarding writing
a reaction paper and journal writing.

Key Idea:
A reaction paper is a form of an academic writing done in response to a given
proposition or to an idea in a given situation; it is developed following the careful
consideration and of the senses of what has been seen or read.
Journal writing is a form of writing recording personal insights, reflections and
questions on assigned or personal topics.  Journal writing may include your opinions or your
thoughts about daily experiences, reading assignments, any concern over an issue that may
have an impact to one’s life.

Key words: Reaction paper; Journal Writing

Let’s get Started!

Lesson Focus I: WRITING A REACTION PAPER

One of the major tasks you will be asked to do in college is writing a reaction
paper. Although there is no strict standard in writing a reaction paper, some professors
have their own format which they expect their students to follow.
Tips in Writing a Reaction Paper
A. Every time you are asked to respond or to react on what you read or view, have in
mind the following questions:
 How do you feel about what you are reading (seeing)?
 With what do you agree or disagree?
 Can you identify yourself with the situation?
 What would be the best way to evaluate what you read or see?

B. Pre-writing for Your Reaction Paper. Keeping your responses to these questions in
mind, complete as many statements as possible about what you read or saw.
 I think that
 I see that
 I feel that
 It seems that
 In my opinion
 Because
 A good quote is
 For example
 Moreover
 However
 Consequently
 Finally
 In conclusion

These are just suggestions good for you to start with. You can make use of
transitions to further develop your reaction paper. The above statements when
completed into a sentence(s) become your rough draft. They need to be organized
having an introduction, body, and conclusion.

LESSON FOCUS II: JOURNAL WRITING

Journal writing is the process of recording personal insights, reflections and

questions on assigned or personal topics. Journal projects assigned in class may
include your thoughts about daily experiences, reading assignments, current events or
science experiments. Journal entries are a form of reflective writing, in that you can use
them to consider and respond to something you have read or learned. However, journal
entries should not merely summarize what you have read, nor should they focus only on
your feelings. Instead, they should demonstrate your ability to conduct a critical inquiry.
The term, critical inquiry, refers to the steps involved in collecting and analyzing ideas or
information.

Because journal writing allows you to examine different ideas and writing
strategies, it's also a form of exploratory writing. Keep in mind that a class journal is not
the same thing as a private diary, in that the writing may be a little bit more formal,
although not as formal as an essay. And while a personal diary is private, your teacher
may have access to your class journal or require you to share portions with other
students.

Let’s Learn!

Parts of a Reaction Paper

A reaction paper has the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The following
literature serves as a good guide on how to develop or write a reaction paper:
I. Introduction.
 Sentence 1 should include pertinent information such as author, title, and
publication or presenter, title, and place.
 Sentence 2, 3, and 4 should give a summary or overview.
 Sentence 5 should be your thesis (i.e., you agree, disagree, identify with, or
evaluate). NOTE: A thesis statement is an assertion, not a statement of fact.
A thesis should take a stand, contain one main point, and be sufficiently specific
and narrow. Example: Students write papers in college to advance their
knowledge of certain subjects.
II. Body
 The body should contain paragraphs that provide support for your thesis.
 Each paragraph should contain one idea.
 The topic sentence of each paragraph should support the thesis.
 The final sentence of each paragraph should lead into the next paragraph.
III. Conclusion. It can be:
 A restatement of what you said in your paper,
 A comment that focuses your overall reaction, or
 A prediction of the effects about your topic.

Note: your conclusion should include no new information.

Source: www.artresourcesforteachers.com/.../What_is_a_reaction_paper.doc
http://web.mnstate.edu/robertsb/313/Reaction%20paper%201.pdf

Benefits of Journal Writing

1. It can serve as a great place to explore ideas and improve your writing skills, among
other benefits.
2. Journal writing can also provide you with the opportunity to:
 Become more confident about writing
 Broaden your perspective about topics
 Gather material for later essays
 Identify progress in writing
 Overcome writing blocks
  Spend more time on self-reflection
 Write without fear of criticism
3. Additionally, journal entries can help to alleviate the stress associated with writing,
a task some people find daunting. When you're journaling, there's no need to worry
about grammar and spelling or polishing your work. Instead, you can use your
journal as a place to brainstorm and form your points. Writing regularly also makes
writing easier, which can help you feel more comfortable approaching formal
documents, presentations and polished essays.
4. In relation to reading, you can also use your journal to summarize what you've read,
remember important points and organize arguments. Sharing journal entries about
the same readings with other students can also serve to broaden your own
perspective and understand opposing positions: a key benefit when it comes time to
write a finished essay.
Source: https://study.com/academy/lesson/journal-writing-topics-prompts-tips.html

6 Tips for How to Write a Journal

1. Choose your kind of journal. A book where you can write with a pen or pencil and a
paper.
The advantage of paper is you can write without having to be plugged into an
electronic device. You don’t have to worry about a dead battery, and you can write
even when the sun is bright or the airline makes you turn off your electronic devices.
The disadvantage to a paper journal is if you lose the journal and you didn’t make
a copy of it, you have lost all of the writing.
2. Date your entry to avoid forgetting.
3. Tell the truth. The journal is a record of how you felt and what you did. Telling the
truth will make you a reliable storyteller.
4. Write down details. Record details like the time, location, who you were with, what
you were wearing. Details will help bring the memory alive when you record using
your five senses.
5. Write down what you felt. What you were thinking? Were you mad? Sad? Happy?
Write down why.
6.  Write a lot or a little. A journal entry doesn’t have to be three pages long. It can be a
few words that describe what happened, a few sentences about the highlight of your
day, or it can be a short description of an event from your day, where you describe
details to help you remember what happened. Like, what time of day was it? What
sound do you remember?

Your journal entry might be a drawing, a poem, or a list of words or cities you have
gone to. It is your journal, and you have the freedom to be creative.
Source: https://thewritepractice.com/how-to-write-a-journal/
 Let’s do this!

Following is an article regarding the Social Amelioration Program of the

government through the agency of Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Read it carefully and following the tip given in the early part of this lesson, write a
reaction paper for this article. Be sure there is introduction, body and conclusion.

Social Amelioration Program

The current public health crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has
disrupted all aspects of society, particularly income and employment. The
unemployment rate rose to 17.7% in April, leaving 7.3 million Filipinos jobless.
According to the World Bank, the two-month loss of income could increase the poverty
rate by 3.3 percentage points in the Philippines.
Like many countries, the Philippines has implemented cash transfer programs
to support the displaced and the vulnerable. The government was quick to enact a law
to alleviate the public health crisis. Among the most salient features of the Bayanihan
to Heal as One Act was the allocation of P199.975 billion to the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) to fund its Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

WHAT IS SAP?

The Social Amelioration Program grants a P5,000 to P8,000 monthly cash

subsidy to low-income families for two months, depending on the area of residence.
The subsidies provide marginalized sectors of society the means to afford basic needs
during the pandemic.

Much like any new program, the implementation of SAP has not been smooth-
sailing. Many LGUs have reported issues with coming up with the list of beneficiaries,
and releasing the cash subsidy due to insufficient funds or inadequate distribution
infrastructure. Some have also criticized the speed with which the subsidies are rolled
out, the uncertainty with regard to the recipients of the subsidies, and the exact amount
they are given.

SURVEY ON SAP
To evaluate the SAP, Action for Economic Reforms (AER) launched a survey,
supported by the Asia Foundation, to ask respondents about their experience with the
SAP subsidies. The survey ran from May 3 to 23, and aimed to know key details in the
distribution of SAP — who were covered, how much was given, and how fast was it
done. These questions can shed light on policy recommendations to improve the
distribution and the administration of succeeding tranches. Advocating data-driven
development, we believe that without data, the local government units (LGUs) may not
know what they are doing right, and what they can do better to guide their decisions
moving forward.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the survey, we have arrived at the following recommendations for the
succeeding tranche for SAP, as well as for future government subsidy programs.
Any targeting program is only as good as the data used to identify its beneficiaries. We
echo the call of the DSWD for a national database system not just for the SAP but for
social welfare programs moving forward. Through our survey, we noted various reports
of households receiving multiple subsidies from the different programs of the DSWD,
the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), and the Social Security System
(SSS). Having a unified database that is updated regularly prevents this from happening
and leads to more efficient use of resources.
To improve targeting, better coordination is necessary among barangay and
LGUs. This enables both barangays and LGUs to respond more quickly should there be
any changes in the list. The use of data-driven approaches — i.e., using the
Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) or the National Household Targeting
System (NHTS) data — can help LGUs identify barangays with more vulnerable
households. By using clear indicators (i.e., residing in a gated subdivision), LGU officials
will find it easier to redirect aid from one barangay to another. The data can map out
areas not reached during the first tranche, and give insights into how to ensure their
prioritization in the second tranche.
After coming up with the list, LGUs need to ensure that eligible or disadvantaged
households are universally covered. Our survey revealed that during the first tranche,
food distribution was faster and more widespread than cash distribution. If delays in
cash distribution persist, LGUs may prioritize food or relief goods distribution to ensure
that constituents do not go hungry. This is crucial given that a recent SWS survey
showed 5.2 million Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger in the past three
months, the highest since 2014.
Given the scarcity of resources, the mistargeting (i.e., when some households
receive both food and money, while some households receive neither) of program
benefits must also be minimized. Our survey also revealed that high-income individuals
received food subsidies, which, although technically is not mistargeting, represents an
inefficient use of resources.
To address issues of “palakasan,” or when those eligible were not reached or
tagged as ineligible, transparency is critical to fighting corruption. Presenting both the
inclusion and exclusion criteria and publishing lists of recipients in public offices and
official LGU websites or social media pages and reason/s for receiving will promote
transparency, and avoid suspicions of corruption and favoritism. These transparency
measures will also allow the public to participate and report instances of double
counting, mistargeting, and corruption. We welcome the DSWD’s efforts to publish the
lists online and encourage them to continue to do so for the second tranche.
Ultimately, as the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a public health issue,
the distribution of cash transfers may also be an avenue to enjoin vulnerable
populations to do their part to beat COVID-19. Health promotion programs can be
added during the rollout of the cash transfer to improve the public’s safety and well-
being.
Evidently, it takes a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach to
address the current issues brought about by COVID-19. Interestingly, the etymology of
the words social amelioration gives us a clear vision to undertake this path: social from
socialis meaning united, and amelioration from ameliorare meaning to improve. It is high
time for us to take a united stand to improve our current state of affairs to reduce
persisting inequities. In its core, is that not the spirit of bayanihan?
Source: https://www.bworldonline.com/ameliorating-the-social-amelioration-program/

This part is for your reaction paper.

Introduction
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Body
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Conclusion
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________________
Course/Year/Section: ___________________________________
Class Schedule: _______________________________________

Let’s Test what you Know!

Reflect on the message of the song “We are the Champions” by Queen. The lyrics is
given hereunder. Read or Sing the song in five (5) days, write a journal for five days
reflecting on what you have accomplished each day that makes you feel a champion.
Write them here, indicate the date next to Day 1, Day 2, etc.

We Are the Champions Day 1,

by: Queen ____________________________________

I've paid my dues ____________________________________

Time after time ____________________________________
I've done my sentence ____________________________________
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes Day 2,
I've made a few ____________________________________
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face ____________________________________
But I've come through ____________________________________
(And I need to go on and on, and on, and on) ____________________________________

We are the champions, my friends Day 3,

And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end ____________________________________
We are the champions ____________________________________
We are the champions ____________________________________
No time for losers ____________________________________
'Cause we are the champions
Of the world Day 4,

I've taken my bows ____________________________________

And my curtain calls ____________________________________
You brought me fame and fortune and ____________________________________
everything that goes with it ____________________________________
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses Day 5,
No pleasure cruise ____________________________________
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race ___________________________________
And I ain't gonna lose ____________________________________
(And I need just go on and on, and on, and on) ____________________________________

We are the champions, my…

Source: LyricFind

Lesson 2

DEVELOPING A FEASIBILITY STUDY

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the student must be able to

i) describe what a feasibility study is;
ii) typify feasibility studies;
iii) recall the contents of a feasibility study;
iv) discuss intellectually how to conduct and write a feasibility study;
v) develop a feasibility study.

Introduction

Experience in academic writing like reaction paper and journal could be a good
preparation for another type of academic writing such as a feasibility study. To
determine whether a proposed project or idea can proceed or not depends on the
results of the feasibility study. Lesson 8.2 offers a knowledge and understanding of what
a feasibility study is all about, how to conduct and how to write the same.

Key Idea:
A feasibility study is an analysis that takes all of a project's relevant factors
into account—including economic, technical, legal, and scheduling considerations—
to ascertain the likelihood of completing the project successfully. It can be used in many
purposes but much of which is on business-related interests.

Source: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/feasibility-study

Key word: Feasibility study

Let’s get Started!

Lesson Focus: FEASIBILITY STUDY

Source: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/wholefarm/pdf/c5-65.pdf

Conducting a feasibility study is a good business practice. If you examine

successful businesses, you will find that they did not go into a new business venture
without first thoroughly examining all of the issues and assessing the probability of
business success.

Below are other reasons to conduct a feasibility study:

 Gives focus to the project and outline alternatives.
 Narrows business alternatives
 Identifies new opportunities through the investigative process.
 Identifies reasons not to proceed.
 Enhances the probability of success by addressing and mitigating factors early
on that could affect the project.
 Provides quality information for decision making.
 Provides documentation that the business venture was thoroughly
investigated.
 Helps in securing funding from lending institutions and other monetary
sources.
 Helps to attract equity investment.

Feasibility studies help determine: a) does the company possess the required
resources or technologies; and b) does the proposal offer a reasonable return vs. risk
from the investment. Feasibility studies can be used in many ways but primarily focus
on proposed business ventures. Farmers and others with a business idea should
conduct a feasibility study to determine the viability of their idea before proceeding with
the development of a business. Determining early that a business idea will not work
saves time, money and heartache later.

The feasibility study is a critical step in the business assessment process. If

properly conducted, it may be the best investment you ever made.

Let’s Learn!

Types of Feasibility Studies

a. Technical - hardware and software; existing or new; staffing skills
b. Financial - initial and future stakeholder investors; ROI benchmarks
c. Market - industry type; marketing characteristics; market growth; competition
environment; sales projections
d. Organization - structure; legal; management team’s competency

Contents of a Feasibility Study. The most-common feasibility study should

include the following sections:
 An Executive Summary
 Description of Product or Service
 Technology Considerations
  Product or Service Marketplace
 Identification of Specific Market
 Marketing Strategy
 Organization Structure
 Schedule
 Financial Projections

Steps to Conduct a Feasibility Study

1. Preliminary Analysis. During this first step to the feasibility process you may
investigate a variety of ways to organize the business and/or to position the product
in the marketplace. It is like an exploratory journey and you may take several paths
before you reach your destination. Just because the initial analysis is negative does
not mean that the proposal does not have merit. Sometimes limitations or flaws in
the proposal can be corrected.
There are four key steps to performing a preliminary assessment:
a) Create an idea outline: Outline everything you hope to achieve by taking on this
project and why this project is important to your team, organization, or business.
b) Assess the market space for this project: Try to find examples of this type of
project and whether or not others have had success in execution.
c) Examine your competitive advantage: What will you do differently to ensure that
your idea will succeed, such as talent, location, technology, etc.
d) Determine the risks of the project: Risk management is a huge part of assessing
the viability of any project. Perform a risk assessment to outline anything that
may pose a threat to your success.
2. Create a project scope outline. This outline will detail the objectives of the project
by using the five feasibility questions that I explained earlier in this guide:
a) Is this plan technically feasible?
b) Is this plan legal?
c) Is this plan operationally feasible?
d) Is this plan feasible within a reasonable period of time?
e) Is this plan economically feasible?
Using these five questions, you will outline the core tenets of this project including
what the current situation or issue is that you plan to solve, what you plan to
accomplish, estimations on the impact of the project, and what it will take to
accomplish this goal.
3. Organizational Structures. This step in the feasibility analysis pertains to
organization. Staffing requirements, including management and labor alignment are
studied. How many workers are needed for how long? What other resources will be
needed?
4. Financial Controls. It is important to formalize an opening day balance sheet. In this
step, first efforts at projected revenues and expenses are attempted. All sorts of
financial factors will go into determining the feasibility of a project proposal,
 however, there are a few major considerations that you should keep in mind when
making these calculations:
a) Will your financial resources come from within your organization or from an
outside financier?
b) What is the financial cost of failure when executing your project?
c) Which risks will impose an undue financial burden on your project budget?
d) What is the break-even point for profit once your project is off the ground, if
applicable?
e) How much will you need to complete this project, including risks?
Always keep Murphy’s Law in mind when running through the financial feasibility
of your project, because whatever can cost you money, will cost you money.
5. Points of Vulnerability Factors that are internal to the project and represent
vulnerability to the project’s short-term or long-term steps should be reviewed and
analyzed. These points then can be controlled or otherwise eliminated.
6. Results and Conclusions. The conclusions of the feasibility study should outline in-
depth the various scenarios examined. The project leaders need to carefully
examine the feasibility study and challenge its underlying assumptions. This is the
time to be skeptical. Don’t expect one alternative to “jump off the page” as being the
best scenario. Feasibility studies do not suddenly become positive or negative. As
you accumulate information and investigate alternatives, neither a positive nor
negative outcome may emerge. The decision of whether to proceed is often not
clear cut. Major stumbling blocks may emerge that negate the project. Sometimes
these weaknesses can be overcome. Rarely does the analysis come out
overwhelmingly positive. The study will help you assess the tradeoff between the
risks and rewards of moving forward with the business project.
7. Go/No-Go Decision. This is one of the most critical in business development. It is
the point of no return. Once you have definitely decided to pursue a business
scenario, there is usually no turning back. The feasibility study will be a major
information source in making this decision. Thus, a properly developed feasibility
study is important.
https://www.fool.com/the-blueprint/feasibility-study/

Let’s do this!

With all the inputs given regarding feasibility study, think of three (3) titles that
are related to ur chosen specialization which you think you can develop into a full-blown
Feasibility Study. Write them here:

1.
 2.

3.

Name: ______________________________________________
Course/Year/Section: ___________________________________
Class Schedule: _______________________________________

Let’s Test what you Know

Fill out the following parts of the Feasibility study:
1. Title:

2. Rationale: (maximum of 5 sentences only)

3. Description of Product or Service: (maximum of 5 sentences only)

4. Technology Considerations (what can technology do to your study/project)

5. Financial Aspect (present this in table)

a) Estimated Capital investment
b) Estimated Expense/Financial Projection (include among others all the raw
materials you will be using for the production, packaging, water, electricity, fuel,
salaries and wages of workers and for the supervision of the project. etc.)
 c) Estimated production with timeframe
d) Estimated Income
e) Return of Investment

6. Schedule/Time Investment (from procurement to processing to production, to

marketing, etc. to the next cycle of production)

7. Organization Structure (from the top to the lowest in the rank and file position of the
organization)

8. Target Marketplace and Marketing Strategy (consider SWOT analysis here and your
strategy versus your return of investment)
a) Tell something about the Strength
b) Tell something about the Weakness
c) Tell something about the Opportunities
d) Tell something about the Threats
e) Use the table that follows

Strategy Strength Weakness Opportunities Threats

9. Results and Conclusion (Analyzing the foregoing, is the project/study feasible? State
your findings in a maximum of 10 sentences)

Lesson 3

WRITING A BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the student must be able to

i) describe what a business proposal is all about;
ii) differentiate the types of business proposal;
iii) explain substantially how a business proposal is written;
iv) construct a business proposal.

Introduction

In addition reaction paper, journalizing, and feasibility study, another form of

academic writing which a college student must be knowledgeable of is writing a
business proposal. A business proposal can bridge the gap between you, the
proponent, and the potential clients. Its primary purpose is to persuade a company or
organization to do business with you.

Key Idea:
A business proposal is a document to persuade a prospective client to engage
business with the proponent or to the one who wish to establish business with a
prospective customer on terms and conditions agreed upon by both parties.

Key word: Business proposal

Let’s get Started!

Lesson Focus: BUSINESS PROPOSAL

What Is a Business Proposal?
A business proposal is a formal document that is created by a company and
provided to a prospect with the purpose of securing a business agreement. It is
different from a business plan. The proposal aims to sell a product or service, rather
than the business itself. While the business plan looks for investors to fund one’s
business, the business proposal helps you seek new customers.

Types of Business Proposals

1) Unsolicited Business Proposals. With unsolicited business proposals, you
approach a potential customer with a proposal, even if he or she doesn't request for
one with the objective of having business with him/her.
2) Solicited Business Proposals. Solicited business proposals are requested by
a prospective client. Through the solicited business proposal, a certain company or
organization requests for a proposal which may address the current problem or
issue of the organization. The proposal includes the details on how the current
problem be addressed or be solved.

Whether the proposal is solicited or unsolicited, the steps to create your proposal
are similar. The proponents must ensure that the proposal includes three main points:
a) statement of the problem the organization is facing; b) proposed solution, and
c) pricing information.

Let’s Learn!

How to Write a Business Proposal

a) Begin with a title page.
b) Create a table of contents.
c) Explain your “why” with an executive summary
d) State the problem or need.
e) Propose a solution.
f) Share your qualifications.
g) Include pricing options.
h) Clarify your terms and conditions.
i) Include a space for signatures to document agreement.

Tips in writing a Business Proposal

1. Start with an outline. Before you dive into writing, outline the major sections of your
business proposal and the pertinent information you want to include. This will ensure
you stay focused and your message stays intact as you write.
2. Include data and visuals. Don't forget to include compelling, quantitative data.
When applicable, use visuals such as charts and graphs to enhance the proposal.
3. Add social proof. Customer quotes and testimonials can with a lot more trust than
your words can on their own.
4. Incorporate video into your proposal. If you're doing an online proposal over a
document or PDF, you can include multimedia elements to enhance the proposal
 experience. Whether you add it at the beginning as an intro to your proposal or in the
project breakdown to verbally discuss some of the more confusing parts, extras like
this can make an impression, especially on prospects who are visual or auditory
communicators.
5. Use a call-to-action. Make sure the reader knows what to do next after reading
your proposal. If the reader is ready to take action, your Call To Action should clearly
indicate the next steps in the process.
6. Include up-sell and add-on opportunities.  They say you won't receive unless you
ask. When it comes to an upsell, a prospect may have use for additional support but
they don't know what you offer. 
7. Create a sense of urgency. Your proposal should not be an indefinite offer. Give
the reader a deadline to act on the proposal to expedite the decision-making process.
8. Keep it simple. While there's no ideal business proposal length, focus on quality
over quantity. Keep sentences short and simple, and avoid the use of business
jargon.
9. Make the decision for them.  Craft your copy in a way that seems like saying 'no'
to the proposal would be stepping over dollars to pick up pennies. Your offer should
go above and beyond their expectations, and you should do everything in your power
to eliminate frictions and objections along the way.
10.Stay on brand. Don't be afraid to let your company's personality shine through in
your proposal. Stay true to your brand and show the client what sets you apart from
your competitors.
11.Quality control. Before you send the proposal out, make sure to read and re-read
it for any typos or grammatical errors.

Template of a Simple Business Proposal

To write a simple business proposal, a template is suggested to be followed
such as the following:
1. Cover Page. This included the title of the proposal, the name and address of the
client/s, the date of submission of the proposal, and the name/s of the proponent/s.
2. The Problem, the Issue, the Job on Hand.
a) State the Problem
b) Give the details of the Issue or Problem
c) State the job you can offer to address the problem/issue
3. Approach and Methodology. In a brief statement, the approach and methodology
refers to the detailed procedure or system or process the proponent will have to
adopt to arrive to the solution of the problem. This should include all the steps to be
taken, from the start until the end of the procedure or system or process.
4. Schedule and Benchmarks.
a) Schedule. This refers to the timetable of the proposal as it runs through. A
Gantt Chart indicating the periodic milestones of proposal could be a great help.
 b) Benchmarks. This refers to the best practices a proponent can offer to the
prospective client. Benchmarking spells the edge of a proposal or a proponent
over a related or similar product and/or service/s.
5. Cost, Payment, and Legal Matters. A business proposal will not be complete
without the appropriate cost, the mode of payment, and the legal matters that may
cover the agreement. This gives the protection to both parties, the proponent and
the client, and seals the proposal to start.

Let’s do this!

a) Make 2 titles for Unsolicited Business proposal

1.

2.

b) Think of the problem you are experiencing now under the new normal
education.

Write the problem:

__________________________________________________________________

Write what you can propose to solve the problem:

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________________
Course/Year/Section: ___________________________________
Class Schedule: _______________________________________

Let’s Test what you Know

Instruction: Develop into a full blown proposal following the template given in Let’s
Learn. Choose from here whichever is workable for you, if none from here, create a
problem and offer a simple proposal to address the problem. Follow the template.
Problem #1: The electrical lines at home had been done more than forty (40) years
ago. That was the time when the house was just a bungalow. We only had 1 unit
electric fan and 1 refrigerator in addition to 6 incandescent bulbs. Many years later, we
already had a second floor with two bedrooms. Each bedroom has an air-conditioning
unit, a TV set, a desk top computer, and a bedroom refrigerator. In the ground floor,
there is a chandelier, two bedrooms with 1 air-conditioning unit in each room. In the
receiving room, there is 1 unit stand-by stand fan and in the dining area as well. There
are appliances such as; a refrigerator, a washing machine, an oven toaster, rice cooker,
water heater, electric iron. There are 2 units of laptop and the six members of the family
has 1 unit android cellular phones. There is urgent need to rewire the house to prevent
overloading and for safety reasons.
Problem #2: The Municipal Patronal Fiesta is fast approaching. You were invited to
submit a proposal to present your services to cater to all the activities related to the
Pageant’s Night.
Problem #3: You are to make a proposal design for 5 residential units in the relocation
area at 1M each unit.
Problem #4: Make your offer for the construction of the 5 residential units stated in
Problem #3. You are the project contractor/supervisor. Consider the number of days
for the project to be completed, the number of men you need to work with you from the
time the work begins until it is completed and habitable. Yours is limited to the
construction of the building only.
Problem #5: You see the necessity to relieve the small-scale entrepreneurs from
usurers who collect money from them on a daily basis. From your locality there are
more than 10 of them tied to this difficulty. Make a proposal.
Problem #6: There are10 units of air-conditioning units need to be repaired or
reconditioned the soonest possible time. Make a proposal for the cost of the services
you can offer to include the cost of replacement of parts should there be a need.
Problem #7: There are 5 units of flat color TV for repair. Make a proposal for the cost
of the services you can offer to include the cost of replacement of parts should there be
a need.
Problem #8: One unit of a bus needs to be restored to its running condition. Make a
proposal for the cost of the services you can offer for the possible overhauling of the
engine, etc. to include the cost of replacement of parts should there be a need.
Problem #9: You are engaged in food catering and servicing. An alumni homecoming
was set for 500 attendees and you were invited to bid for the following:
a) 10 big pork lechon
b) Beef with broccoli
c) Sweet and sour fish
d) Fried chicken
e) Pork chop
f) Rice
g) Cola Drinks
h) Chicken tinola with papaya
Make a proposal to include the services of the waiter, rental cost of utensils, china
wares, and melawares, cost for missing utensils, melawares and broken china wares (in
case it happens), rental for tables and chairs, the kind of service to be extended (self-
service or waited-assisted), and assurance for a prompt and quality service. Offer a
premium as your edge among other bidders.
 Lesson IV

REFERENCING

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the student must be able to:
i. tell substantially what referencing is;
ii. differentiate between reference and bibliography;
iii. construct a list of references following the APA style.

Introduction

To avoid the issue of plagiarism in developing a research and other form of

academic write up, the writer or researcher must acknowledge the source of his/her
information. Lesson IV offers the teacher and the student a good material to refer to
when confusion comes in the process of organizing the list of the references he/she
used on developing a study. Heard of bibliography? Can reference and bibliography
be used interchangeably?

Key Idea:

A reference list is a list of all the sources of information referred to in your

writing which purpose is to allow them to be found by your reader and to give credit
to authors whose ideas you used in your paper.   All references cited in the text must
appear in the reference list, except for personal communications (such as conversations
or emails) which cannot be retrieved.  

A bibliography lists all the sources used during your research and background
reading, not just the ones you refer to in your writing.

Key word: Reference, bibliography

Let’s get Started!

Lesson Focus: REFERENCE LIST

What is APA referencing format?

Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/general-rules-for-apa-format-2794840

APA format is the official style of the American Psychological

Association (APA) and is commonly used to cite sources in psychology, education,
and the social sciences.  The APA referencing style is an "author-date" style, so the
citation in the text consists of the author(s) and the year of publication given wholly or
partly in round brackets. ... Reference lists in APA are arranged alphabetically by
author. APA Style makes it easier for readers to understand a text by providing a
familiar structure they can follow in addition to simplifying the work of editors by having
everyone use the same format for a given publication.

Why is APA formatting used in academic writing?

Source: www.verywellmind.com
Formatting college papers in adherence to APA style guidelines assures
clarity, uniformity and credibility. It also it helps to prevent occurrences of plagiarism and
upholds the pursuit of academic integrity and honesty.

Why is APA Format important for academic writing?

Source: https://apastyle.apa.org/about-apa-style

The APA's guidelines are important because they promote consistency within a

discipline. Everyone writing biology papers, for example, uses the same rules. So
everyone reading a biology paper knows where to find citations, how to read tables,
when to look for a footnote, and so on

Purpose of APA formatting in College Writing

Source: https://penandthepad.com/purpose-apa-formatting-college-writing-1089.html

1. Clarity. Under APA style guidelines, academic writing is required to be clear,

concise and consistent in tone. After students analyze and synthesize their research
investigation, APA style shows them how to use proper structure, vocabulary,
grammar and punctuation in support of their thesis topic. It advises use of objective
language that also avoids language bias. This college-level writing ensures the
effective communication of the purpose, method, results and conclusions of a
student’s research to his professors, peers and future researchers.
2. Uniformity. APA formatting gives the college research paper sound structure,
scholarly weight and presentation uniformity. It outlines the exact specifications for a
document including such components as type font and size, margin settings,
headers, page numbering, tables, charts, in-text citations and reference lists. APA
formatting divides papers into clear sections including a title page, abstract, main
body, reference list and appendix. This uniformity enables readers and subsequent
 researchers to quickly access information within a given document and also to
compare and contrast one research article to another.
3. Credibility. APA formatting lends credibility and legitimacy to a college student’s
work. Through objective writing and in-text citations and references, a reader can
easily verify the information. The names of authors, articles and journal titles are all
readily accessible, and all in-text citations must be supported by the reference list at
the document’s end. Whether the student writer is performing a review of literature or
conducting independent research, he is presenting transparent evidence to support
his thesis and inviting the reader to fully investigate the contents of his paper.
4. Plagiarism. The APA style guide offers clear directions on the use of quotations and
paraphrasing and forbids plagiarism. Insisting upon properly crediting sources
teaches students the value of scholarly work and reinforces the worth of their own
efforts. For the college student, incidents of plagiarism, however unintentional, can
result in failing grades, dismissal from a course and even expulsion from a university.

Let’s Learn!

APA Style, 7th Edition Common Reference Examples Guide

Source: https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-examples.pdf

This guide contains examples of common APA Style references. Section numbers
indicate where to find the examples in the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (7th ed.). Choose from here the category of your source or
your reference (in bold letters with section number) and follow the format as shown.

Journal Article (Section 10.1)

Lachner, A., Backfisch, I., Hoogerheide, V., van Gog, T., & Renkl, A. (2020). Timing matters! Explaining
between study phases enhances students’ learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 112(4),
841–853. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000396

Online Magazine Article (Section 10.1)

Gander, K. (2020, April 29). COVID-19 vaccine being developed in Australia raises antibodies to
neutralize virus in pre-clinical tests. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/australia-covid-
19- vaccine-neutralize-virus-1500849

Print Magazine Article (Section 10.1)

Nicholl, K. (2020, May). A royal spark. Vanity Fair, 62(5), 56–65, 100.

Online Newspaper Article (Section 10.1)

Roberts, S. (2020, April 9). Early string ties us to Neanderthals. The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/science/neanderthals-fiber-string-math.html

Print Newspaper Article (Section 10.1)

Reynolds, G. (2019, April 9). Different strokes for athletic hearts. The New York Times, D4.

Blog Post (Section 10.1)

Rutledge, P. (2019, March 11). The upside of social media. The Media Psychology Blog.
http://mprcenter.org/blog/2019/03/the-upside-of-social-media/
Authored Book (Section 10.2)
Kaufman, K. A., Glass, C. R., & Pineau, T. R. (2018). Mindful sport performance enhancement: Mental
training for athletes and coaches. American Psychological Association.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0000048-000

Edited Book Chapter (Section 10.3)

Zeleke, W. A., Hughes, T. L., & Drozda, N. (2020). Home–school collaboration to promote mind–body
health. In C. Maykel & M. A. Bray (Eds.), Applying psychology in the schools. Promoting mind–
body health in schools: Interventions for mental health professionals (pp. 11–26). American
Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000157-002

Online Dictionary Entry (Section 10.3)

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Internet addiction. In APA dictionary of psychology. Retrieved
April 24, 2020, from https://dictionary.apa.org/internet-addiction

Report by a Group Author (Section 10.4)

World Health Organization. (2014). Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young
child nutrition. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/113048/WHO_NMH_NHD_14
eng.pdf?ua=1

Report by Individual Authors (Section 10.4)

Winthrop, R., Ziegler, L., Handa, R., & Fakoya, F. (2019). How playful learning can help leapfrog progress
in education. Center for Universal Education at Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2019/04/how_playful_learning_can_help_leapfrog_progress_in_education.pdf

Press Release (Section 10.4)

American Psychological Association. (2020, March 2). APA reaffirms psychologists’ role in combating
climate change [Press release].
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2020/03/combatingclimate-change
Conference Session (Section 10.5)
Davidson, R. J. (2019, August 8–11). Well-being is a skill [Conference session]. APA 2019 Convention,
Chicago, IL, United States. https://irp-
cdn.multiscreensite.com/a5ea5d51/files/uploaded/APA2019_ Program_190708.pdf

Dissertation From a Database (Section 10.6)

Horvath-Plyman, M. (2018). Social media and the college student journey: An examination of how social
media use impacts social capital and affects college choice, access, and transition (Publication
No. 10937367) [Doctoral dissertation, New York University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses
Global.

Preprint Article (Section 10.8)

Latimier, A., Peyre, H., & Ramus, F. (2020). A meta-analytic review of the benefit of spacing out retrieval
practice episodes on retention. PsyArXiv. https://psyarxiv.com/kzy7u/

Data Set (Section 10.9)

O’Donohue, W. (2017). Content analysis of undergraduate psychology textbooks (ICPSR 21600; Version
V1) [Data set]. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research.
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36966.v1

Film or Video (Section 10.12)

Doctor, P., & Del Carmen, R. (Directors). (2015). Inside out [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures; Pixar Animation
Studios.

TV Series Episode (Section 10.12)

Dippold, K. (Writer), & Trim, M. (Director). (2011, April 14). Fancy party (Season 3, Episode 9) [TV series
episode]. In G. Daniels, H. Klein, D. Miner, & M. Schur (Executive Producers), Parks and
recreation. Deedle-Dee Productions; 3 Arts Entertainment; Universal Media Studios.

Webinar (Section 10.12)

Kamin, H. S., Lee, C. L., & McAdoo, T. L. (2020). Creating references using seventh edition APA Style
[Webinar]. American Psychological Association. https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-
aids/tutorialswebinars

YouTube Video (Section 10.12)

Above The Noise. (2017, October 18). Can procrastination be a good thing? [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQMwmBNNOnQ
Song or Track (Section 10.13)
Nirvana. (1991). Smells like teen spirit [Song]. On Nevermind. DGC.

Radio Broadcast (Section 10.13)

Hersher, R. (2020, March 19). Spring starts today all over America, which is weird [Radio broadcast].
NPR. https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/817237429/spring-starts-today-all-over america-which-
is-weird

Podcast Episode (Section 10.13)

Santos, L. (Host). (n.d.). Psychopaths and superheroes (No. 1) [Audio podcast episode]. In The happiness
lab with Dr. Laurie Santos. Pushkin Industries. https://www.happinesslab.fm/ season-2-
episodes/episode

Infographic (Section 10.14)

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Data sharing [Infographic].
https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/ data-sharing-infographic.pdf

PowerPoint from a Classroom Website (Section 10.14)

Mack, R., & Spake, G. (2018). Citing open source images and formatting references for presentations
[PowerPoint slides]. Canvas@FNU. https://fnu.onelogin.com/login

Tweet (Section 10.15)

Obama, B. [@BarackObama]. (2020, April 7). It’s World Health Day, and we owe a profound debt of
gratitude to all our medical professionals. They’re still giving [Tweet]. Twitter.
https://twitter.com/ BarackObama/status/1247555328365023238

Open Educational Resource (Section 10.16)

Fagan, J. (2019, March 25). Nursing clinical brain. OER Commons. Retrieved January 7, 2020, from
https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/53029-nursing-clinical-brain/view

Webpage (Section 10.16)

Chandler, N. (2020, April 9). What’s the difference between Sasquatch and Bigfoot? howstuffworks.
https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/sasquatch-bigfoot-
difference. htm

Webpage on a News Website (Section 10.16)

Machado, J., & Turner, K. (2020, March 7). The future of feminism. Vox. https://www.vox.com/
identities/2020/3/7/21163193/international-womens-day-2020
Webpage with a Retrieval Date (Section 10.16)
Center for Systems Science and Engineering. (2020). COVID-19 dashboard. Johns Hopkins University.
Retrieved May 6, 2020, from https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Let’s do this!

Construct a reference list for the following reference materials, separate by

category, e.g.: books, journals, on-line source, etc. As a general rule, you
need to observe alphabetical arrangement of your references by category.

Biber, D. & Conrad, S. (2009). Register, Genre, and Style. USA: Cambridge University
Press.

https://www.slideshare.net/RyanBuer/varieties-and-registers- of-spoken-and- written-

language- 200284234

Tan, Arsenia (2001). Introduction to Literature. Mandaluyong City: Academic

Publishing Corp.

https://www.really-learn-english.com/language-register.html

https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-tips/how-do-you-write-a-
research-proposal-for-academic-writing.html

https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/academic-writing-skills.html

Villamin, A., et al (2000). Developmental Reading. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing

House, Inc.

Misajon, Marie Melanie, et al (2007). On the Wings of Literature. Iloilo City: Seguiban
Printing and Publishing Enterprises, Inc.