PROPOSAL ESSAY / ENGLISH 112
CONGRATULATIONS! BY NOW YOU HAVE WRITTEN THE MAJORITY OF
YOUR ESSAY; YOU HAVE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR AN EFFECTIVE
PROPOSAL IN YOUR CAUSAL ANALYSIS.
THE FOLLOWING IS A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO ORGANIZING YOUR
PROPOSAL SECTION OF THIS MAJOR RESEARCH ESSAY.
VI: SECTION SIX: TRANSITION FROM CAUSAL ANALYSIS INTO
PROPOSAL:
In this section (as many paragraphs as needed), formerly your conclusion for
your causal analysis, you want to transition from causes to solution—how to
fix the problem or at least improve the situation. Resummarize your
enthymeme, and then give your specific proposal, your precise policy or
practice change. As John J. Ruskiewicz and Jay T. Dolmage state, “Proposals
are written to try to solve problems. Typically, you’ll make a proposal to
initiate an action or change” (176). Explain your proposal clearly and
thoroughly in this section of your essay.
Additionally, make sure you go back and add your proposal to your
thesis statement in your introduction, since it is now the second half of your
entire essay thesis.
VII:
SECTION SEVEN: Feasibility
In at least one paragraph, argue your proposal’s feasibility. As Ruskiewicz
and Dolmage observe, “Be prepared, too, to show that your plan is feasible—
that is to say, that it can be achieved with existing or new resources. . . . A
little ingenuity goes a long way—it’s part of the problem-solving process”
(188). Just be sure your proposal passes the “Is this realistic?” litmus test in
that it could realistically be implemented. If it seems to be too good to be
true, then it probably would be. It’s better to aim for a more conservative
proposal that is realistic than one that, while a great idea, would probably
never get off the ground.
VIII: SECTION EIGHT: Addressing the Causes
Using your own analysis, logic, and any relevant research to support it, one by
one address your causes, explaining exactly how your proposal should solve
or at least improve the situation each cause represents as connected to the
overall problem. Since you have spent a great deal of time and energy
arguing the dominant and systemic causes/contributing factors to the problem,
addressing them shows that your proposal is reasonable and gets to the root of
the issue.
IX: SECTION NINE: Precedents
What are the precedents which have been set by other groups, companies,
organizations, communities, states, countries? Explore those here, as precedents
lend credibility to your proposal. The precedents you find may be very
close to your own policy or practice change. Whether the precedents are
exactly like what you propose (you may even get the idea for your proposal from
your research of precedents) or are more in the same spirit of your proposal,
they are powerful ammunition defending your proposal’s legitimacy. Remember,
attorneys (some of the best arguers around) rely heavily on precedents to win their
cases in court. Be sure to analyze how these precedents are important and explain
how if followed in this situation they would very likely produce similarly positive
results. This section of your essay is part of pursuing best information in that
this indicates that your proposal is logical, reasonable, and fair.
NOTE: YOU MAY CHOOSE TO INCORPORATE YOUR PRECEDENTS WITHIN SECTION SEVEN
(VII Addressing the Causes). THIS WORKS QUITE WELL, SOMETIMES EVEN BETTER THAN
DEVOTING A SEPARATE PARAGRAPH OR PARAGRAPHS TO IT. JUST MAKE IT LOGICAL.
X.
DRAWBACKS TO PROPOSAL
As you did earlier in the causal project, look at the opposite side of this issue
and explore any objections to a proposal like the one you are suggesting based
on other points of view. (You need at least one source for this section
dealing with at least one drawback.) What are the drawbacks of your
proposal? Acknowledging them gives your essay further credibility.
XI. REBUTTAL:
Explain how the drawbacks can be overcome or how you rebut them.
XII. CONCLUSION
Resummarize your thesis. Then answer this question: What will happen if
your proposal is not implemented? Don‘t be overly dramatic and go down a
slippery slope of logical fallacy, but instead logically present the wisdom of
following your recommendation. Then state what you think can reasonably
be expected if your proposal is implemented, ending on a hopeful note.