Writing+a+Proposal

Writing a Proposal

For the Banned Book Project, your first step is writing a proposal. Here are some ideas to consider for this part of the assignment.


 * 1) Your audience. You are not writing to the teacher, you are addressing your parents. You know them. You know what they will allow and what they will not. You have to couch your argument in a way they will find acceptable.
 * 2) Your Purpose. You are presenting an argument. You have to provide your audience with all the information they need. You must address the issues that are controversial in the book. You should explain where the book has been challenged and by whom. Finally, you need to justify why you should be allowed to read the book – and getting a passing grade is not a valid reason.
 * 3) Format. This is not an essay. This is not a letter. This is a formal (or at least semi-formal) document objectively presenting an argument. You may start with a heading of some sort – merely a title or even a memo heading will work. At the end, you need to have a statement for the parent to sign allowing you – or not allowing you – to read the book you chose. Think formal.
 * 4) Length. This argument should take you at least one page with the permission statement included. You need to keep your argument to no more than a page and a half. Be direct.
 * 5) Documentation. You have to prove to your reader that you have done your research. You do that by including MLA in-text documentation of your researched material and ending with a correct MLA citation of any and all sources you cited in the proposal. (Note: I will alert your parents to look for documentation. If none is there, I will advise your parent to deny your request. I guarantee that lack of documentation will cost you greatly in the grade.)