How to write a proposal – C1 English Writing
How to write a proposal – C1 English Writing
In Part 2 of the C1 Advanced Writing paper, you may be asked to write a proposal. While it is similar in structure to a report, the key difference is its purpose: a proposal aims to persuade a specific reader to approve a future course of action.
Proposal vs. Report: What is the difference?
It is easy to confuse these two text types, but the focus is different:
- A Report focuses on the past and present (what happened, what the current situation is). It is primarily factual.
- A Proposal usually includes a brief description of the current situation but focuses on the future (what should happen, what the benefits would be). It is primarily persuasive.
Comparison: Report vs. Proposal
Below are the features of a report and a proposal side by side:
| Feature | Report | Proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Past / present facts | Future suggestions and solutions |
| Tone | Objective and neutral | Persuasive and confident |
| Language | Factual language / often passives | Persuasive language / modals (would, could) |
| Headings | Strongly recommended | Strongly recommended |
| Ending | Summary of findings | Clear recommendation or call to action |
In a proposal, you are expected to:
- use clear headings to organise your suggestions
- address all points in the prompt
- use persuasive language to present your ideas convincingly
- use an impersonal, formal, or semi-formal tone
- write 220–260 words.
Let’s now look at how to develop a proposal based on the following task:
The Dean of the International College where you study is considering ways to improve student well-being and academic performance. You have been invited to submit a proposal for a new wellness initiative to be implemented on campus.
In your proposal, you should:
- describe the current issues affecting student well-being
- suggest two or more specific activities or changes to the campus environment
- explain how these changes would benefit both the students and the college
Write your proposal.
The planning stage
Before you start writing, spend about 5 minutes planning. In a proposal, you need to identify the main problems and then suggest practical solutions that would appeal to the reader.
What to consider in your plan:
- Identify the target reader: the College Dean → formal register.
- Select your suggestions: choose two or three ideas that are realistic for a college budget.
- Explain your reasons: why should the Dean approve this? (e.g. higher exam results, better student reputation).
Choose your two or three ideas
Choose ideas that provide a clear academic or social benefit:
- A quiet study area → to reduce stress.
- Weekly peer-support workshops → to improve mental health and build a stronger sense of community.
- Title: Proposal for a student wellness initiative
- Introduction: purpose of the proposal: addressing student stress and campus environment
- Current situation: rising stress levels during exam periods; lack of relaxation spaces
- Proposed initiatives:
- Silent relaxation room
- Student-led mentoring scheme
- Analysis of benefits: better focus on exams; improved student retention and satisfaction → higher recommendation rate/better reputation
- Conclusion: final recommendation for a pilot programme
General proposal structure
These sections are a useful guide, but you can combine or adapt them as long as your proposal is clearly organised.
🔹 Title
- Purpose: To state clearly what the proposal is about.
- Guidance: Use a clear and specific title, such as ‘Proposal for…’ or ‘A proposal to…’
🔹 Introduction (Heading: Introduction or Purpose)
- Purpose: State the aim of the proposal and provide background.
- Guidance: Use formal opening phrases: ‘The aim of this proposal is to suggest…’ Avoid getting into details yet.
🔹 Section 1 (Heading: e.g. Current situation or Background)
- Purpose: Describe the current problem that needs solving.
- Guidance: Be objective but firm. Use phrases like ‘It has been noted that…’ or ‘Students have expressed concern regarding…’ to show there is a genuine need for change.
🔹 Section 2 (Heading: e.g. Proposed changes / Suggested activities)
- Purpose: Present your main ideas in detail.
- Guidance: Use modal verbs (would, could, might) to present suggestions and their possible results. Explain how the ideas would work in practice.
🔹 Section 3 (Heading: e.g. Potential Benefits / Impact)
- Purpose: Persuade the reader by showing the value of your ideas.
- Guidance: Connect the solutions back to the college’s goals (e.g. higher grades, better student atmosphere). This is where you present the value of your ideas convincingly.
🔹 Conclusion (Heading: Conclusion or Recommendation)
- Purpose: Summarise your position and make a final push for the proposal to be accepted.
- Guidance: Use emphatic language to show you believe in the plan. Avoid adding any brand-new ideas here.
Useful language for writing C1 proposals
To state the purpose:
- The aim/purpose of this proposal is to suggest…
- This proposal is intended to outline the benefits of…
- I am submitting this proposal to request/recommend…
To describe the current situation:
- At present, the situation is…
- It has been observed that…
- There is a clear need for… due to…
To make suggestions (the ‘future’ focus):
- One potential idea would be to…
- Another possible approach would be to…
- It would be highly advantageous to…
- I would propose that this idea be considered…
- The implementation of [X] would enable staff to…
To highlight benefits (persuasive markers):
- This would clearly result in…
- The most significant benefit of this would be…
- Not only would this improve [X], but it would also lead to [Y] (e.g. student performance, satisfaction)
- This may be a cost-effective way of…
To conclude/recommend:
- In light of the above, I strongly recommend that…
- We firmly believe that this proposal offers a viable way forward.
- I hope that these suggestions will be taken into consideration.
Sample Proposal
Introduction
The aim of this proposal is to outline how the college can improve student well-being and academic performance. In recent months, it has become evident that the high-pressure environment is affecting the mental health of many undergraduates.
Background
According to recent feedback from the Student Union, a significant number of students are experiencing high levels of stress, particularly during exam periods. The primary concern is the lack of dedicated spaces for relaxation. Currently, the library is the only available quiet space, but it is often overcrowded and associated strictly with intense study, making it difficult for students to truly recharge.
Proposed initiatives
To address these issues, I suggest:
- Creating a quiet area: repurposing an underused classroom into a quiet, screen-free lounge where students can practise mindfulness, rest between lectures or study quietly.
- Setting up peer-support workshops: launching weekly student-led sessions focused on time management and stress-reduction techniques.
Analysis of benefits
These changes would offer clear advantages for both the students and the college. A dedicated relaxation space would lead to an immediate improvement in students’ mental clarity and focus. Furthermore, fostering a peer-support network would significantly boost the college’s reputation as a supportive academic community. This, in turn, is likely to lead to higher exam results and higher student retention rates.
Conclusion
It is vital that the college takes proactive steps to support its students. I firmly believe that the initiatives outlined above are not only practical but essential for our long-term success. I strongly recommend that the Dean consider these proposals for the coming semester.
➟ State the aim of the proposal.
➟ Describe the current problem that needs solving.
➟ Present your main ideas in detail.
➟ Introduce the advantages the proposed changes would bring.
➟ Encourage the acceptance of the proposal.
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