Individual Project Proposal Exercise
This assignment leads up to to the Formal Proposal Assignment, in which you will create a formal written proposal and describe a real-world project.
Deliverable (1)
In this Individual Project Proposal Exercise, you will create and present a 4–6 minute PowerPoint presentation. It will include a specific, realistic, researchable problem that you think the class could use when working on the Formal Proposal Assignment.
You should do the following things in your presentation:
- Identify the real-world problem or need you want to address.
- Describe why the problem/need is a valid concern.
- Name the real people who would receive the full proposal.
- Describe the research/investigative methods the class will use to gather information.
- Explain why you think it's possible to write a 6–10 page proposal on this topic.
You should not include a single recommended solution in your presentation.
For Example
Let's say that SPSU needs a chewing gum recycling program and you want to use this topic for your Individual Project Proposal Exercise.
Option A: Recycling bin in the Atrium Building
The Ecology Club could spend $15 for a small trash can, place the can next to the Atrium Building main stairwell, and pick up the contents every third Tuesday.
This is not a good project idea. You've already figured out the whole project from start to end. Why don't you just talk to the Ecology Club's president and suggest the idea? This project's topic is too simple to justify a six-page proposal.
Option B: Campus-wide Recycling Program
SPSU should have a campus-wide chewing gum recycling program. You would need to figure out how the project would work, including...
- the necessary number of recycling bins;
- where to put the bins;
- the best type of bins;
- prices on bins;
- where to get permission to place the bins around campus;
- costs for running a full-on recycling program;
- an organization to run the program in future years;
- how to obtain funding from the student government.
This is a very good project idea. You could easily write a six-page proposal based on this project's topic.
Submission Requirements
Save the document in PowerPoint 2003 (.ppt) format, and use the following file naming convention, including spaces:
YourLastName - SectionNumber - Individual Project PPT
for example...
Oakenfold - 083 - Individual Project PPT
After you have presented the PPT in class, email me (arnett2010@gmail.com) the PPT as an attachment. Use the following subject line convention, including the spaces:
TCOM 2010-SectionNumber - Individual Project PPT
If I do not receive your PPT on the same day you present it in class, the presentation will be considered late.
You will be graded on your attendance, whether you are presenting or not. Since this is a class participation assignment, all class members must be in attendance and ready to present. Any student absent during oral presentations will receive a 10% late penalty for every absence and will be ineligible for bonus points.
Suggestions
...for Presenters
Keep in mind the following tips for creating a successful proposal.
Pick a do-able project. Building a soccer stadium is too big; just writing the proposal would take months and cost thousands of dollars. Asking the City of Marietta to paint a crosswalk on a narrow residential street is too small; all it would require is a letter to City Hall.
Show an understanding of the class' needs. What will your classmates want to know about the project in order to think it's a good idea? And will the idea itself interest your classmates?
Do some basic research. Because your classmates don't want to get stuck with an impossible project, they won't vote for your project unless they know you have already done basic research.
Justify your methods. Explain why you would use the investigative methods you suggest.
Use some kind of visual material. (Hint: MS PowerPoint can include pictures as well as text.) People remember more of a combination of words and pictures than either one alone. Be careful, though; a bad presentation can kill a good idea.
Keep it short. Talk for no more than 6 minutes. We've got a lot of proposals to get through, so don't be "that guy" who bored everybody or made the class stay late.
...for Audience Members
Keep in mind the following tips for being a good audience member.
Ask hard questions. It's your job to decide if the project is do-able and is worth your time. If you pick an enormous project just because it sounds interesting or if you pick an easy project because it wouldn't require much effort, you run the risk of getting a low grade.
Ask relevant questions.Your questions should be geared to the presenter's choice of audience, the suggested research methods, the existence (or not) of the problem, or the project's feasibility. (I suggest using these words to let the presenter know what your question is about).
Be respectful of the speakers. Anyone who text-messages during another student's presentation will receive a zero on their own presentation.
Take notes while the speaker is talking. Note any areas where you are confused or need more information. This is where you'll get good questions for the Q&A session.