(mini-grant proposal)

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to

• Provide you with an opportunity to practice applying the slots tactics without concerns of research and information gathering, and
• Provide you with an opportunity to internalize the importance of audience and purpose in the format and persuasive elements of a proposal.

Tasks

You are nearing the end of another semester, and you have a break before you either return to school or pursue your career.  You want/need a vacation, and you cannot finance this trip by yourself. 

Write a letter to your parents, or someone else who can finance your trip, requesting funds (either the all of the funds, or those you cannot manage on your own) for your trip to the vacation spot of your choice.

You will need to

• Develop a Hot Button List,
• Write a list of benefits of your trip to your audience, and
• Write a letter to your parents or other audience requesting funds for the trip.

Requirements

Your responsibilities include

• Ensuring that all “slots” or information elements are present in your letter,
• Writing the letter with your specific audience and purpose in mind,
• Including a table for your proposed vacation budget.

This letter is an individual submission (no groups).  This letter is primarily an exercise to practice for your larger, more in depth, proposal.  Your biggest concern should be to include the “slots” that we discussed in class (not as sections, but as informational elements).

Situation (background information and statement of problem)

Objectives (goals of the project or change)

Methodology (details on how you will solve the problem)

Costs (explanation of costs of the project and budget)

Qualifications (qualifications of the people or organizations doing the work)

Benefits (benefits to the audience and other benefits)

Evaluation

The letter is worth 30 points:

• 25 pts for application of “slots”
• 5 pts for creativity and preparation