Deck 7: Proposals

Question 1

Corporate mission, philosophy, and history of the company; corporate facilities and equipment; and organizational structure of the company are typically included in which section?

A) discussion of costs and benefits
B) budget
C) review of qualifications
D) description of the project plan

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What is an elevator pitch?

Answer 2

An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive speech that you use to spark interest in what your organization does, a project, idea, or in yourself. It is called an "elevator pitch" because it should be concise enough to present during a short elevator ride, typically within 30 seconds to 2 minutes. The goal is to deliver the core message effectively and intriguingly enough that the listener wants to hear more.

A good elevator pitch should:

1. **Be concise**: It should be succinct, focusing on key points without extraneous details.
2. **Be clear**: Use language that is easy to understand and avoid jargon that might confuse the listener.
3. **Define a problem and solution**: If applicable, quickly outline a problem and how you, your product, or your idea can solve it.
4. **Communicate your unique selling proposition (USP)**: Explain what makes you, your idea, or your organization different and why it matters.
5. **Engage with a question or a hook**: A rhetorical question or an intriguing statement can engage the listener and prompt them to ask for more information.
6. **End with a call to action**: Be clear about what you want as a next step, whether it's a meeting, a sale, or another form of follow-up.

The elevator pitch is a staple for entrepreneurs, salespeople, job seekers, and anyone who needs to quickly and effectively communicate their value proposition. It's a useful tool for networking, interviews, and whenever you have a limited amount of time to make a memorable impression.

Question 3

Which of the following things should you accomplish in the current situation section of your proposal?

A) Discuss the effects of the problem if nothing is done.
B) Discuss similar problems at other companies.
C) Discuss legal ramifications of issues from previous proposals.
D) All of the above are correct.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Professional design of a proposal can be achieved

A) by using page numbers for easy referencing in meetings.
B) by expanding outside margins.
C) by using images to reinforce important points.
D) by using all the above techniques.

Question 5

The qualifications section is not as important as the budget and project plan.

Question 6

Which style is most commonly used in writing proposals?

A) plain style
B) persuasive style
C) rhetorical style
D) Both plain and persuasive styles are generally used.

Question 7

In small groups, find three good proposals written to the following audiences: government agency, philanthropy, corporate. How do the proposals differ according to their audiences? How are they similar? Is there anything about the proposals that you would change? Write your instructor a memo discussing your findings.

Question 8

Imagine that you have a rich but eccentric uncle who wants to invest in a new business. He is offering to fund a project for one of his nieces or nephews, but he wants the venture to be something unique and exciting. He is not interested in opening another tired franchise. Write a proposal to your uncle suggesting a business in an area that interests you. For example, perhaps you are interested in go carting and would like to open a track, or maybe you have always loved ice cream and would enjoy opening a one-of-a-kind ice cream shop. Do some research and present a solid proposal that contains all of the major components mentioned in

Question 9

Explain the differences between solicited and unsolicited proposals.

Question 10

Which of the following sections is NOT required in the current situation section?

A) closing
B) project plan
C) body
D) opening

Question 11

Which of the following does NOT enhance the dynamic use of medium?

A) using presentation software to summarize the proposal into slides
B) creating a model that can demonstrate how the finished product will look
C) embedding videos
D) avoiding background music

Question 12

When you design your proposal, you should consider three components. Which of the following is NOT one of the three components mentioned in

A) graphics
B) budget
C) page design
D) medium

Question 13

Which move is NOT part of a proposal's introduction?

A) state the costs of the project up front
B) define the subject of the proposal
C) forecast the organization of the proposal
D) state the purpose of the proposal

Question 14

Proposals often include plenty of graphics.

Question 15

Identifying the solution, stating the objectives of the plan, describing the plan's major and minor steps, and identifying the deliverables or outcomes are all part of which section of a proposal?

A) introduction
B) description of the current situation
C) discussion of costs and benefits
D) description of the project plan

Question 16

Paying attention to causes and effects is part of which stage of the proposal writing process?

A) organizing and drafting
B) planning
C) researching
D) revising

Question 17

Use persuasive style in places in the proposal where readers are expected to make decisions.