College Composition -- Scott Wrobel
Your Name:
Prewriting: Proposal Essay
(10 pts)
Directions
After having completed your reading, answer the following questions by writing freely in
the spaces provided, using hard returns to push forward the next question so you have as
much space as you need to write. Do not eliminate the questions. You will submit both
the questions and your responses. Write as much as you feel like. There is no word
limitation here. Your prewriting is evaluated on its mass and effort of invention, not on
its spelling or grammar.
Before you begin the prewriting, read: How to Write a Proposal (and what you'll be
writing about).
Note: After you have completed your prewriting, you may not change your topic for
draft of revision.
________________________________________________________________________
1. Listing Problems. Make a list of problems and remember that the problems must
be within the subject area of Consumerism. See How to Write a Proposal. Begin
by listing specific communities of which you are a part (school, work, club, etc.),
and then list a number of problems within each of those communities.
2. Choose a problem. Choose a problem from your list that seems important to you,
but that also strongly impacts the community (the problem should have
magnitude), and is solvable. Also, before making a final decision, see Forbidden
Essay Topics. Also, make sure your problem is not an issue rather than a problem
(see Page 118, THE ART OF THINKING).
3. Next, take the problem and write a number of questions about it in order to
express the problem. Instead of expressing as an issue (“Should ______”), express
as a problem with the verb as “How can _____?” as in “How can people be
encouraged to stop buying overpriced clothing?” or “How can Co2 emissions be
decreased without harming the economy?”).
College Composition -- Scott Wrobel
4. Testing your Problem. Select the exact question you want to work with, and test
it by the following criterion. (Now’s the time to change your mind; not later).

Is the problem a “social” problem rather than a personal one?

Is the problem on the Forbidden Essay Topics list?

Is the problem clearly a Consumerism matter?

Do you have some kind of personal connection to the problem? You
should, even if tenuous. Don’t choose something abstract or familiar and
overdone like “leaky border security” or “how to solve the obesity
epidemic.”

Does the problem have magnitude? Does it not only affect you personally,
but a larger community for whom the stakes are high? (Example: “How
can my Cub Scout troop generate more revenues?” might be important,
but lacks magnitude.

Is the problem narrowed and focused enough? (You don’t want too much
magnitude. Example: “How can we solve world hunger?” That’s way too
broad.
5. Test your knowledge of the problem. Analyze and begin researching the
problem. Write in response to the following questions:

What, or who, caused the problem?

What is the history of the problem?

What are the negative effects of the problem?

What community members are negatively affected by the problem? List
them all, and how they are negatively affected.
6. Define the problem. Write a definition of the problem, being specific. Identify
who or what seems responsible for the problem, and give one recent example.
7. Audience awareness.
College Composition -- Scott Wrobel

Describe your specific readers – those authority figures whom you are
trying to persuade (school board, city council, general public – the more
specific, the better) and state your reasons for directing your proposal at
them. Instead of writing to a general audience, I want you to aim toward a
more specific audience, i.e. if your problem was traffic congestion in
Anoka and your solution is a new stoplight, your audience would probably
be the city council.

Why would this problem be important to your audience and what authority
do they have to help implement your solution?
8. List Possible Solutions. List as many possible solutions to the problem that you
can think of.
9. Attempted Solutions. What solutions to this problem have already been tried?
Again, you may need to be in the preliminary research mode here.
10. Is the problem to big to be solved all at once? Can you divide it into several
related problems?
11. If a series of solutions is required, in what order would you put them?
12. What is the most daring, challenging solution you can think of, and describe your
reasoning in either choosing to select, or not select, this working solution.
13. COMPLETE THESIS STATEMENT. Choosing a Solution. In a sentence or
two or three, state what you consider the best possible solution to this problem,
and why (list the main benefits). This will be your complete working thesis.
Example:
“In order for American families to reduce the stress in their busy lives, they
need to simplify their schedules through prioritizing their activities and sticking
to essentials. Reducing stress will improve physical health while strengthening
family relationships.”
One constraint here: the solution should not simply be legislation (passing a law).
That kind of solution doesn’t involve many problem-solving skills.
Write complete thesis here:
14. Steps of Solution. Write down the major steps, or stages, necessary to carry out
this solution -- your specific steps of action to make the solution happen. Be
thorough and precise. This is the key element of the essay, and distinguishes your
College Composition -- Scott Wrobel
proposal from your solution. The job of the proposal is to make the solution
happen.
15. Defending Your Solution. Write a few sentences refuting each of the following
statements:






We can't afford it.
It would take too long
Few people would benefit.
We already tried it, and it failed.
What’s in it for me?
This only benefits you personally.
16. Listing Reasons. List every possible reason you can think of that might help
convince people to believe in your proposal.
17. Choose your Strongest Reasons. From your list in the previous questions, state
your three strongest reasons to support the strength of your proposed solution.
18. Alternative Solutions. List alternative solutions the group or community might
offer in response to your solution.
19. Research. Start researching the problem, especially if you are having a hard time
finding alternative solutions.
Submission Instructions
On-Line Students
Copy and paste all of your prewriting (do NOT include the instructions at the top) into
the Discussion Board on the D2l course site under the correct topic. For instructions on
submitting essays to D2L Discussion board, read Posting Essays to the D2L Discussion
Board.
I also would like you to comment on the prewriting, particularly the complete thesis
(question 13) -- of your group mates only (not the whole class). Make informal comments
by the “reply” feature. Read: Peer Critique Procedure
See the course calendar for the commenting due date.
On-Campus Students
Bring a copy of your prewriting to class for work shopping. See course calendar.
College Composition -- Scott Wrobel