Formal proposals often respond to RFPs provided by an external source (client or granting agency). These RFPs typically have very specific guidelines about how to structure your proposal. In general, however, a formal proposal includes the following elements:

Front Matter

• Letter of transmittal

• Title Page

• Summary

• Table of Contents

• List of figures and tables

Body

• Introduction (identify need or problem and highlight context. State your objectives.)

• Approach (highlight appropriate theory, models, previous work, and hypotheses)

• Management Requirements (include a timetable or Gantt Chart; required resources and facilities; materials and equipment; and personnel--add resumes in appendices)

• Work or Project Plan (describes how a project will be completed)

End Matter

• Bibliography

• Resumes

• Appendices

 

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Source: Perelman, Leslie, Paradis, James, and Edward Barrett. Technical Scientific Writing. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield. 1998.