In this activity students will create an oral research proposal. A proposal is a formulated plan to suggest a way to solve a problem or address a situation. Research is used to provide context, background, and rationale for the solution.

Guidelines: The goal of this proposal is to present a judgement the student has formed using research to support the claims. It is important to note that this proposal is not about personal opinions, but instead informed judgements. This presentation should be written as objectively as possible, so emotional tones and connotations should be avoided. It is important to remember that hard value superlatives and causational phrases indicate bias. To try and build credibility with the audience, it is best to be as unbiased as possible. Often this means using qualifying words (i.e. suggestions, indicates, may, could, and possibly) in place of hard value causation words.

This proposal will be written in APA style and in the 3rd person point of view. The majority of the proposal should be in the student’s voice, but it should contain quotes and paraphrased material used to support the claims of the student. These quotations and paraphrased materials must be properly cited within the text, and a reference page included at the end of the presentation in proper APA style. It is easiest to use make the reference page in Microsoft Word using all the steps in the PowerPoint I placed on Canvas for you, and then you can copy the reference page to the presentation.

The proposal is cumulative in design, so that each activity feeds into another. The following activities are the steps that will be completed during the course of the semester to build up to the final proposal:

Step 1 (10 points)

I. Generate Ideas for an Internal Oral Proposal

a. Ideas must be approved by the instructor and each student will have a unique topic.

b. Avoid extremely politically or religiously controversial subjects

c. Topics must be legal in the state of Minnesota right now.

d. Topics must be able to be researched using 5-10 secondary credible sources (see chapter 6)

e. See ideas discussed in Exercise 3 on pages 443-444

f. As a suggestion, utilize an existing company or organization where you work or spend time so you are familiar with the people, issues, and needs.

g. Post 1-3 ideas in the Proposal Step 1 assignment area for your class section and list in order of importance.