Guidelines for Project Proposals*

A technical proposal, often called a "Statement of Work,” is a persuasive document. Its
objectives are to
1. Identify what work is to be done
2. Explain why this work needs to be done
3. Persuade the reader that the proposers (you) are qualified for the work, have a plausible
management plan and technical approach, and have the resources needed to complete the
task within the stated time and cost constraints.
What makes a good proposal? One attribute is appearance. A strong proposal has an
attractive, professional, inviting appearance. In addition, the information should easy to access.
A second attribute is substance. A strong proposal has a well-organized plan of attack. A strong
proposal also has technical details because technical depth is needed to sell your project.
Remember: A proposal is a persuasive document.
Required Format
Format consists of the layout and typography of a document. In formatting your
proposal, use the guidelines in Table 1. A template to produce your proposal exists at the
following web page:
http://www.writing.eng.vt.edu/design/proposal_template.doc
One aspect of layout is the incorporation of illustrations. In your proposal, each
illustration should have a name and be formally introduced in the text. Illustrations consist of
figures and tables. Figures include photographs, drawings, diagrams, and graphs. Each figure
should have a stand-alone caption, and the key points and features should be labeled. Tables
are arrangement of words and numbers into rows and columns. Use tables to summarize lists
that the audience will try to find later (the budget, for instance).
Table 1.                                                                                       Download full