Proposal

English 3107: Technical Writing for Engineering

Project: Proposal and Presentation
Vital Statistics

Due Date: November 3-7, 2008. The written proposal is due the day the group presents.
Drafts Due: No drafts for this project.
Conferences: No conferences for this project.
Workshop Dates: October 27-31, 2008.
Length: About 1200 words for the proposal; 20-25 minutes maximum for the presentation.
Research Requirement: Prices, functions, and such. See below for details.
Unusual Requirements: See Collaboration and Presentation below.
Questions? Ask in class, or e-mail me.

Write a proposal for a new, high-tech classroom to be built at TSU, and present your proposal. Address it to the PFJ Foundation, a philanthropic organization which funds educational projects and other humanitarian endeavors. Since the PFJ has lots of money, you may ask for really expensive things. But no one has infinite money, and you must make a persuasive case for any grant. Convince the PFJ that your classroom should be given priority and receive the funding.

You must collaborate with one or two other students on this project. Your group will need:

Someone conversant in technology, but not necessarily a technology major.
Someone majoring in the subject for which the classroom will be used.
An education major might be helpful, but not required.

Keep a work diary for the group to be handed in with the proposal. This diary should include dates, times, and activities (i.e., on a certain date, for so long, X and Y did this work).

All members of the group receive the same grade. If you are having a problem in your group, tell me at least a week before the proposal is due.

The group must present their proposal to the class. Be sure to hit the most important points of your proposal and make a good pitch. You are free to use presentation software, flip charts, and other props if they are relevant.

All good proposals contain research. In this case, you're going to have to tell the PFJ Foundation how the classroom will be used, how the technology will affect teaching and learning, what training the teachers will need and how the teachers will acquire said training, and what maintenance will be required for the technology once installed. You will also have to give an itemized cost estimate for the building of the classroom. Feel free to consult catalogs and on-line resources, as well as knowledgeable folks in the field, but you must give them credit! Failure to do so is plagiarism, and could get you fired (or, in this case, a zero grade).

Your proposal should consider the following:

What specific course(s) will the classroom be used for? How many students per class / semester can it accomodate?
Why does this classroom/course(s) need technology to teach these courses? What other courses could make use of the room?
What will the technology be used for? How will it be used?
How will the technology affect teaching and learning?
What kind of control will the students and teachers have over technology?
What will the technology cost?
How will the technology be administered? Administration concerns include training, maintenance and repairs, upgrades, and security. How will these things be paid for?
What will be the physical layout of the classroom? What modifications will have to take place in the building? Drawings and/or plans are appropriate here, but do not count towards the page length.
What non-technological equipment will the room need? For example, will the technology require a special case or security equipment? Heating and cooling units? Will the students need special desks?

Things to remember as you write the proposal:

Use the techniques of technical writing! Proposals are technical writing documents, not academic ones. You may choose to use headings, lists, graphics, and white space, etc.
Check your textbook for the appropriate components of a proposal and for some sample proposals! Remember that this is a technical writing document.
State your objective and purpose clearly!
Include a budget!
Document your information! Proposals may or may not have a formal Works Cited, but should include some statement of where outside information came from.

Due Date: November 3-7, 2008.

Back to the Work Page.

Page created December 31, 2001, based on the Fall 2001 version. Latest update, October 3, 2008, for English 3107 at Tennessee State University.