Capstone Initial Proposal

English 4320 Project

Here provided are instructions on completing your initial proposal for the capstone project. This initial proposal gives you a chance to tell me what you’ll be doing for the final project, what your plan is, and why this would be a good project.

Project Components
Your proposal should include the following:

Overview
State clearly the purpose of your memo. Don’t start your memo with a description of your project at the very beginning. You can describe the project after you have stated your purpose.

Project Background (If Revising an Existing Project)
Describe what project it is: whether you’re revising a previous project or creating a new one. If revising a previous project, tell me what project it was, for what class you created it, who the intended audience was, what the intended purposes were, whether it was a group or individual project, what your specific contributions were if it was a group project, etc. 

More importantly, what areas of revision have you identified with the project? Justify your planned revisions. 

Project Background (If Creating a New Project)
If you’re creating a new project, tell me in specific terms what exactly you’ll be designing for this project. A research paper? a business plan? a grant proposal? a recommendations report? A website? a brochure? For example, if it’s a promotional packet, tell me exactly what it will include.

Your Client
Your client in this case is the people/company that you designed/are designing the capstone project for. Provide some background on this client: its size, its product and services, etc. More importantly, provide information about your communication with the client. If you’re revising or writing a research paper, there’s no client then.

Target Audience
Describe the target audience of the final product(s) you designed or will be designing: what group of people they are, what kind of demographics, what common characteristics about this group, what needs they have, etc. If you’re designing a promotional packet, your intended audience is obviously the customers of the business that you’re doing this for. If you’re writing a grant proposal, then your audience will the foundation or organization that you’re seeking support from. If you’re writing a business plan, your audience could be your client.

Research Needed
What research do you anticipate doing in order to revise or complete the project? How much time will it take? Will you be able to obtain all the information you’ll need for this project?

Justification
Justify to me why this will best represent your professional/career competency with regards to the type of position you’ll be applying for. 

Technicalities
Here’re some technical details about this initial proposal:

  • Audience–Your instructor (that’s me)
  • Purpose–To persuade me to accept and approve your proposal, so be persuasive!
  • Format–Memo format, single spaced, font size no bigger than 12 for the body, with appropriate headings
  • Length–1-2 pages
  • File Name–Save your file as “Capstone(YourLastNameYourFirstName)-Proposal.”