A Meditation on Proposals and Their Backgrounds

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 1987

A Meditation on Proposals and Their Backgrounds

Richard C. Freed Iowa State University

Abstract

Based upon several years of research on proposal writing in large management consulting firms, this article attempts to define the proposal genre and argue the importance of the background section, especially in the management consulting environment. Because the background is the first major section in these proposals, it offers writers the opportunity to demonstrate implicitly their qualifications as problem solvers long before a qualifications section does so explicitly. That demonstration, the projection of image and ethos, can occur logically—through an argument that responds to the generic requirements of proposals, and psychologically—through the incorporation of themes that respond to the rhetorical situation.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 1987-04-01
DOI: 10.2190/lrw7-a0pr-5f6x-d73a
Open Access: Closed
Topics: multimodality argument

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (3)

RENTZ (1992)

The Value of Narrative in Business Writing

Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Freed et al. (1989)

The Nature, Classification, and Generic Structure of Proposals

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
McGuire et al. (1989)

Defining Problems That Call for Innovation

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (0)

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