To:
ENGL 3040 Students
From:
Dr. McKelvey
Date:
June 2, 2023
Subject:
Project 3—Proposal
This
memo describes Project 3: Proposal. This assignment will give you the
opportunity to write a persuasive memo, convincing me to grant permission for
you to pursue a topic for your formal report in your next major project
(Project 4). The topic should be appropriate to your field of study (Marketing),
leading to a formal research report such as a problem-solution report or
feasibility report. This proposal will explain the topic, propose a research
question, and describe the research methods you will employ to answer your
research question.
Overview
A proposal persuades the reader to take an action, such as to buy a product or service, execute a plan, or give you permission to conduct further research (as this research proposal will do). The proposal is also a detailed plan that shows how you or your organization will accomplish something. In the case of this proposal, you will show me how you will complete the formal report in Project 4.
Write a research proposal that argues for
a research project you will complete in Project 4.
This proposal will be in the form of an extended memo addressed to me, your instructor. Choose a topic that relates to your major or your future career, situating your topic within a real-world context. In writing your proposal, be sure to:
• Choose an appropriate topic that interests you and suits your background. (See below for more information.)
• Include enough evidence and reasoning to persuade me to approve your topic for your formal report in Project 4. Your proposal will include secondary research to provide background and context on your research problem and to demonstrate that your proposed research is necessary and useful in a real-world context. Your sources can be from the Web, trade publications, and/or scholarly journals, but they need to be from credible, reputable publications.
Your finished product should be a minimum of two full pages long—but no more than three pages—using single-spaced, block formatted text, as is the convention for memos.
Proposal Topic
Your proposal topic should be something that warrants in-depth investigation and analysis and that you can research sufficiently within the time and resource constraints of this class. Your research question should be fairly narrow and lead you to meaningful primary and secondary research in your next project.
Choose one of the research questions below:
• How can a business in your field best solve [a significant problem facing your profession]? Marketing
• How might professionals in your field need to adapt in order to address [a particular change/evolution in your profession]?
• What training procedures work best for entry-level employees in Marketing.?
•Which software (or tool, device, equipment, etc.) is most effective to solve [a particular need in your profession
•What opportunities for growth exist in [your profession, Marketing, and how can an organization best take advantage of those opportunities?
Content
Your proposal should:
• Describe the subject and context you plan to pursue in detail, including both a research question and a description of all research and writing tasks that you will complete.
• Include a timeline for completing the formal report (Project 4), persuading me that you can complete the research and writing in the allotted time.
Due June 5 Research Topics Brainstorming
Due June 7 Project 3 Rough Draft
Due June 9 Project 3 Final Draft
Due June 12 Elevator Pitch for Project 4
Due June 13 Progress Report for Project 4
Due June 14 Project 4 Rough Draft
Due June 16 Project 4 Final Draft
• Include basic research to provide background, to show the need that your proposed project would meet, and to demonstrate that you have considered the complexities and challenges of your research problem.
• Develop sustained, well-reasoned analyses and arguments, present clear and complete information, and use appropriate sources and documentation methods.
• Persuade me to approve your research. (In the real world, companies need a good reason to spend company time and resources on the kind of extensive research you will be doing in Project 4.)
Format
As you compose your proposal, be sure to:
• Format your proposal as a memo addressed to me (Dr. Seth McKelvey). The subject line should be “Proposal to research [your research topic].”
• Begin with a purpose paragraph or sentence.
• Use topic headings to organize your proposal (e.g., Summary, Introduction, Proposed Tasks, Research Timeline, and so forth).
• Include a list of tasks that identifies the specific research and writing endeavors you will accomplish in order to compose an effective formal report.
• Use block formatting (single space within paragraphs, double space between paragraphs, and don't indent).
• Number pages on the bottom right corner.
• Apply document design principles to enhance communication effectiveness and usability.
Documentation
Cite page numbers for all direct quotations and for all other references to specific information from paginated sources. At the end of your proposal memo, include a references section that lists the sources you used (for quotations, facts, or any paraphrased or summarized material). Format the section in APA style or a style that is dominant in your field. If you choose a different style, provide me with a link to the style guide.
If you don't know how to format your citations, refer to online resources such as the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL).
Summary;Small
businesses must adopt digital marketing strategies that suit their needs to
increase their online visibility and attract their target market. Advertising
is an integral aspect of a company’s success; hence small businesses should use
it to improve their sales, customer loyalty, brand equity, and brand awareness.
Unfortunately, barriers are impeding the adoption of digital marketing by small
businesses, including their negative perceptions and budgetary constraints. As
such, this project aims to explore these challenges using research and explore
the adoption of digital marketing by small businesses. Understanding their
current state and challenges will bridge the gap between practice and theory by
recommending evidence-based best practices in digital marketing.