Proposal

You work for a large company based in a town centre. Most of the employees of the
company drive to work. The director of the company has asked you to prepare a
proposal on reducing car use by employees including:
• an outline of why it would be a good thing to reduce car use
• possible ways of achieving this
• problems in introducing changes
• your recommendations on what should be done.
Write your proposal in 300-350 words.

Proposal to reduce car use by employees

The problem
Most employees drive to work, despite the provision of public transport in the city.

Benefits of reduced car use

Reducing car use by employees would have a number of significant benefits for the
company as well as the wider world.
• It would ease parking problems for employees and this ought to decrease the
number of people arriving late due to parking difficulties. Thus, the company’s
output might increase.
• It would reduce greenhouse gases emitted and thus lower the company’s
contribution to global warming.
• As we are an influential company in the city, it may encourage other companies to
introduce their own schemes for reducing car use.

Possible ways of reducing car use

A number of possible ways of reducing car use are suggested:
• The introduction of a car-share scheme, organised by the company.
• Providing secure bicycle parking at the company to encourage people to cycle to
work.
• Promoting the use of public transport by providing travel passes subsidised by the
company.

Barriers to change
A number of problems will be faced when changes are implemented, including:
• Resistance to change. For example, some employees said that they take their
children to school before coming to work, so are not able to share transport. Others
said that they would be unwilling to cycle in wet weather.
• Limitations of the public transport system. Many employees said that the
reliability of public transport needs to be improved substantially before they would
consider giving up their cars.
Recommendations
None of the suggestions is supported by all employees. I therefore recommend that
a mixed approach should be taken to the problem, with the company adopting all
three of the proposals. To overcome barriers to change, the company should
organise a publicity campaign highlighting the convenience and financial benefits
of car-sharing and the health benefits of cycling. At the same time, the company
should join with other major businesses to put pressure on local government to
improve public transport.
Proposal
At a recent meeting of your college student committee, there was a discussion of
fundraising for good causes. Here is an extract from the minutes of the meeting.
You decide to write a proposal for them. Write your proposal in 300-350 words.

5 Any other business

5.1 Daphne Jones noted that college students raised over £4,500 for a number of good causes last
year (including Oxfam, UNICEF, people with visual impairment, homeless people), but that the
maximumraised for any one good cause was only £520. She suggested that next year one particular
good cause should be identified, and all funds raised should go to this.
5.2 After discussion it was decided to ask students to write proposals.
Students should:
• identify a good cause and say why they would like the college to support it
• suggest what fundraising activities might be done
• say what part they will play in the fundraising process.
The college student committee will select the best proposal and choose the student to be in charge
of fundraising.

Fundraising for charity: a proposal

1 The cause
I propose that our college should raise money for the United Nations Children’s
Fund, UNICEF, the aim o f which is to ensure children around the world have
access to the support, healthcare and education necessary for a happy and healthy
childhood. The reason why I have chosen this charity is that, as young people, we
can empathise with the people the charity aims to assist. Supporting UNICEF
should help us appreciate the opportunities we have, compared with young people
who are less fortunate than ourselves.

2 Fundraising
I have various ideas for fundraising, one of which is to have a cake sale within the
college. This could involve all senior students contributing some food, for example
cakes or biscuits they have made themselves, and then selling these to the rest of
the school. This way everyone could help make a contribution.

Another idea is to have a sponsored walk. For example, we could find out how far
some children in developing countries have to walk to school, to water supplies or
to hospitals, and then get sponsorship for walking this distance. This would allow
students to experience the difficulties faced by many children in poorer societies,
and also raise money at the same time.

3 My role
For the cake sale, I would arrange the time and place for the sale, and also organise
people to bake enough cakes and biscuits.
For the walk, I would try to find a company which would agree to sponsor us. Then
all participants could wear a T-shirt advertising the cause that they are supporting. I
would also find out from UNICEF about the long distances walked by some
children in a developing country, and would prepare maps for participants with
walking routes of the same distance.

Before both events, I would organise a meeting for the whole college where a group
of senior students could present the main aims of UNICEF, why we are supporting
this specific charity, and how everyone can get involved.
Proposal
Your college has money to spend on improving the buildings and facilities. The
Principal has asked each class to suggest how the money should be spent, and your
class has decided it would like the library to be extended, more books to be bought
and the resources (e.g. computers) to be upgraded. Write a proposal to the
Principal outlining the benefits of your proposal. Write your proposal, which may
include headings, in 220-260 words.

A PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE LIBRARY

Introduction
Class 12Y proposes that the money put aside by the college for the improvement of
the building and facilities should be used for an extension of the college library. We
suggest that a wider variety of books and new computers should be bought. In
doing so, the college can ensure that students have state-of-the-art facilities for
study.

The benefits
A number of benefits can be identified for both students and teachers:
* The new library would provide a quiet working environment for students in their
study periods.
* New reference books would be of value for students working on assignments and
teachers preparing for their classes.
* The availability of a variety of novels of various genres would encourage students
to read more widely outside school. A large collection of novels should be built up
but, as paperback books are quite cheap, it would not cost a lot to do so.
* Computers with Internet access could be used by students and teachers for
research purposes.
* Teachers could occasionally have the whole class using computers. Doing so will
encourage new and innovative ways of teaching.

Recommendation
The college administration should consult with students and teachers on the design
of the extension and on the new facilities. By doing so, it can be confident that they
will meet the demands of the users.
Proposal
You have received this note from your boss. Read it and the other information and
write your proposal. Say what was wrong with last year’s conference and suggest a
suitable location and time for the conference this year. Write your proposal in 180-
220 words.

Introduction
I undertook a survey to identify staff views on the time, duration and location of the
annual sales conference.

Time
The conference is traditionally held in the spring and this seems to suit the majority
of staff members. The survey indicated that there is an overwhelming preference
for the conference to take place in February or March, with only a small minority
favouring April.

Duration
In the past, the conference has lasted three days. However, it appears that most staff
members consider this to be too long. The general view is that the information
could easily be covered in two days. It is possible that the conference could be held
over a weekend, although this may inconvenience staff members with families.

Location
This year’s conference should be held somewhere different. There was considerable
negative feedback on last year’s venue. People felt confined to the countryside
centre for the whole three days. If the conference were held in town, there would be
many more facilities available.
Recommendations
I propose that we hold our conference for two days during the working week in
early spring, I think it essential that it takes place in town. This would appeal to
most staff members, with the likely result of increased motivation and participation.
Your town has been shortlisted to host a major international festival of folk music
and dance next year. You have been asked to write a proposal for the festival
organizers, stating why your town should be chosen from the list. You should
include relevant information about accommodation, transport, concert venues and
other leisure and entertainment possibilities.

Proposal for the International Festival of Folk Music and Dance: Sidbury

Introduction
As a popular seaside resort, Sidbury is well equipped to deal with the large influx }
of people which a music festival of t his type would attract.

Accommodation
Within the town itself there is a wide selection of hotels and no shortage of
guesthouses offering bed-and-breakfast accommodation and a warm, friendly
welcome. In addition, the campsite has space for 600 people and is conveniently
located on the edge of Sidbury with easy access to the town centre and main
concert venues.

Transport
In terms of transport, the town is ideally situated for overseas visitors arriving
by sea or air. The ferry port of Old haven is a short bus ride away and the town is
well connected to the capital's main airport with regular train and coach services.
There is also an extensive local bus network and it would be no problem to provide
extra services for the duration of the festival.

Concert venues
Major festival events could be held in the newly-built Arena Hall, which has a
seating capacity of 5 000, but there are a number of other smaller venues with a
more intimate atmosphere. Additionally, the main square and seafront area are
perfectly suited for outdoor dancing events.

Further leisure and entertainment possibilities

Sidbury can offer the visit or all the facilities one would expect from a bustling
holiday resort. It also boasts a fine municipal health spa with saunas and steam
baths, ideal for dancers with aching legs and sore feet.

Sidbury has a reputation for making its guests feel at home, and we feel sure that
if the festival were hosted here, it would be a resounding success.
Your company has problems with some employees not working well with each
other and needs to improve relations between them. You have been asked by your
manager to propose ways in which relations can be improved.
Your proposal should
• outline reasons for the problems.
• suggest ways to improve relations.
Proposal: Improving staff relations at I-tech
Introduction

Over the last few months there has been tension between members of staff in the
company. This has had a negative effect on productivity.

New staff

Four employees have recently transferred to our branch from the city branch.
However, some long-term employees at this branch have complained that their new
colleagues have not been doing their job properly and ill feeling has resulted from
this. I have carried out some informal interviews and I suspect that they are simply
not familiar with our particular systems.

I suggest that we have a training day for all the new staff, preferably as soon as
possible. I recommend this be led by Daniel Billep as he has organized training
sessions before and has good rapport with the new group.

Staff with family commitments

We have a number of employees with young families. This sometimes means that
an employee needs to leave work early if their child is sick. However, some staff
members without children are unhappy with this situation.

I propose that we create a clearer policy about taking time off for family
commitments. We should indicate how staff can make up any hours they have lost;
for instance, by working from home or extending their hours on another day. In this
way, other employees will know that the company is not discriminating against
anyone.

Conclusion

I feel that the current problems we are experiencing with staff relations can be
resolved, providing new staff receive the necessary training, and that all staff
perceive that their workmates are fulfilling the terms of their contract.
Your college currently doesn't provide enough support for students planning to spend time
studying in another country. You see this notice in the library.

The college is planning to introduce a special course for students planning to spend time
studying in another country. The college principal invites students to send a proposal outlining
any problems students may face when studying abroad and suggesting ways in which the
course could address these problems. A decision can then be made about what to include on the
course.

Introduction

This proposal is intended to outline common issues students have when studying abroad, and
suggest ways that a course could help them to deal with these. The final section makes
recommendations about what should be included in the course curriculum.

Problems when studying abroad

Interviews were conducted with 20 students who have recently completed a student exchange
programme. The majority of students were of the opinion that overcoming the language barrier
in their new country was the biggest challenge and nearly half also said that they experienced
culture shock. Other problems cited included unrealistic expectations, loneliness and packing
the wrong things - particularly being unprepared for a different climate.

Ways a course could address these

A course could prepare students for culture shock by raising awareness of the phenomenon and
describing cultural differences that students may encounter in their host country. To aid
participants with language, a course could include some useful phrases for the first days after
arrival, in addition to some resources for language learning. The course could also include a
discussion about combating isolation and adjusting expectations.

Recommendations

I would like to make the following recommendations:

 Invite students who have previously studied abroad to share aspects of the culture they
found surprising and give advice on what to take.
 Provide a list of useful phrases, together with suggestions of useful resources for
language learning such as websites, blogs or e-books.
 Facilitate a discussion about engaging with people to avoid loneliness and isolation.

If these recommendations are implemented, young people are bound to feel more prepared for
their experience.
Students at your college have to give a spoken presentation as part of their final assessment and
need some help. The school director has invited you to send a proposal outlining any problems
students have with presentations and suggesting how these problems could be overcome.

Helping with students presentations: a proposal

Introduction

In this proposal I will describe some of the difficulties students at this school have with
preparing their final presentations, present the key needs to be addressed and conclude by
making by making a series of recommendations on how teachers at the school could assist
students with overcoming the obstacles to giving a successful presentation confidently.

Current situation

Following discussion among the students, it has become clear that many of them are feeling
very nervous about the upcoming presentations. A number of students are struggling to select
an appropriate structure. Comments made suggest that students lack previous experience in
public speaking and would like opportunities to practise before the final assessment.

Key needs to be addressed

Students require additional help with topic selection and presentation structure, and
opportunities need to be provided for students to gain experience in front of others.

Recommendations

I would suggest the following actions to teachers at the school:

 Provide students with a list of possible presentation topics.

 There should be a lesson or workshop on structuring a presentation for those who are
interested.
 I recommend that students are given time during class to practise their presentations in
small groups.
 Additional upfront speaking opportunities should be incorporated into classes including
plays and games.

If these suggestions are implemented, it will lead to increased student confidence and
performance for the final presentations.
The committee of your college's Arts Club, of which you are a member, has decided to publish
a monthly arts magazine for students. The leader of the committee asks you to draft a proposal
• suggesting what should be included in the magazine.
• outlining ways in which interest in the magazine could be generated.

Proposal for the new arts magazine

Introduction
The committee intends to produce a new arts magazine targeted at students attending college.
The following are my suggestions for attracting the widest possible readership to the
publication.

Reviews
Firstly, I recommend including several reviews per issue. In these, committee members or
‘guest writers’ could report on local concerts, especially when our own students were
performing. We could also review exhibitions and comedy acts it they were offering student
concessions.

Q&A Interviews
In addition, it would be interesting to feature interviews with graduates who are now working in
an arts-related industry. In particular, it might be useful for our current students to hear about
the steps people took after leaving college, what their job involves, and to hear about any tips
for ‘getting your foot in the door'.

Online tutorials
A further idea would be to provide a digital edition of the magazine as well as the print
version. This could feature video tutorials, for example, on using Photoshop for 3D effects.

Launching the magazine

I propose that we promote the magazine via social networking sites and the college website as
this will be the most cost-effective way to reach the widest audience. I also think that a
promotional page should be running at least three weeks ahead of the first issue so people can
contribute articles or use the site to promote their arts events.

Conclusion
I believe our arts magazine could attract a wide readership provided we focus on topics and
events that are directly relevant and connected to our own student body.
 Proposal on how to attract more membersto theEnglish-language society

Introduction

The aim of this proposal is to give recommendations on what new events to organise in order to attract
more people to join our society. It also suggests varied ways in which we can make our current activities
more appealing.

The current situation

There are a number of cultural activities that we offer in our society such as the book club, which meets on
Saturday afternoons to discuss a classic book, and the cinema group, in which a black and white film is
projected once a month. While both events have proved to be popular among older people, mainly middle-
aged women, there are very few young people showing interest in participating. As a result of this, the society
has failed to grow and in fact our statistics show that we are actually losing members little by little.

How to attract new members

I suggest that we create events aimed at people in their early and mid-twenties. For example we can
organize pop concerts, inviting the local bands who perform English covers, or fan clubs, where members can
meet to talk about their favourite British actors or actresses.
We should also try to attract more males to our society and one way to do this is through sport. I recommend
forming a football or tennis club. We can get together to watch the EuroCup matches or the Wimbledon games
and then talk about them.
Regarding our current events, the book club and the cinema group, I think we should keep them but I
suggest discussing modern books and passing premier films from time to time to wider our range of
participants.

Conclusion

There should be no delay in creating appealing activities to attract new members, such as the suggested
pop concerts, fan clubs and sport groups. We should also maintain the book club and the cinema group,
which have proved to be successful in the past, but including the discussion and projection of some modern
books and films which may be interesting to young people.