Business Communication Chapter 13 Homework The section of a proposal that discusses the specific plan for solving a problem, tells how the projects will be managed, specifies how its progress will be audited

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Instructor Manual

Guffey/Loewy, Business Communication: Process & Product, 10e, 2022, 9780357129234;

Chapter 13: Proposals, Business Plans, and Formal Business Reports

Table of Contents

Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter …………………………………………………………………………. 2

Cengage Supplements …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

Chapter Objectives ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

Complete List of Chapter Activities and Assessments ……………………………………………………… 3

Key Terms ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4

What’s New in This Chapter ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

Chapter Outline …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

Discussion Questions …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14

Additional Activities and Assignments …………………………………………………………………………… 18

Additional Resources ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 22

Cengage Video Resources ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 22

Appendix …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23

Generic Rubrics ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 23

Standard Writing Rubric ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23

Standard Discussion Rubric ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24

Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the importance of proposals, business plans, and

formal reports within the workplace. First, we learn about the significance and purpose of

Cengage Supplements

The following product-level supplements provide additional information that may help you

in preparing your course. They are available in the Instructor Resource Center.

• Transition Guide (provides information about what’s new from edition to edition)

• Educator’s Guide (describes assets in the platform with a detailed breakdown of

activities by chapter with seat time)

Chapter Objectives

The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:

13-1 Explain the importance and purpose of informal proposals and their basic

components.

13-2 Discuss the components of formal and grant proposals.

Complete List of Chapter Activities and Assessments

For additional guidance, refer to the Teaching Online Guide.

Chapter

Objective

PPT

Slide

Activity/Assessment

Duration

Certification Standard

13-1

Writing Improvement

Activity in PPT

30 min

BUSPROG: Communication

DISC: Theory application

13-3

Small Group Activity in PPT

60 min

BUSPROG: Communication

DISC: Analysis

13-4

Writing Improvement

Activity in PPT

60 min

BUSPROG: Communication

DISC: Theory application

13-5

Small Group Discussion in

PPT

30 min

BUSPROG: Ethics

DISC: Theory application

13-1–13-6

Grammar and Mechanics

Quiz in PPT

30 min

BUSPROG: Communication

DISC: Standard English

N/A

Grammar and Mechanics

Pre-Course Diagnostic*

60 min

BUSPROG: Communication

DISC: Standard English

N/A

Grammar and Mechanics

Tutorials*

N/A

BUSPROG: Communication

DISC: Standard English

N/A

Grammar and Mechanics

Check-Up Activities*

N/A

BUSPROG: Communication

DISC: Standard English

Presentations)**

13-1–13-6

N/A

Learn It: Chapter 13

Proposals, Business Plans,

and Formal Business

Proposals, Business Plans,

and Formal Business

30–40

min

N/A

13-1–13-6

N/A

Video Presentation: New

Company Business Plan

(Chapter 13 Proposals,

Business Plans, and Formal

Business Reports)

5 min

N/A

13-1–13-6

N/A

Practice Quiz: Chapter 13

25–30

N/A

a Memo Report (Unit 04

Reports, Proposals, and

* These activities appear before the student will begin the course.

** This activity appears at the beginning of Unit 4.

*** This activity appears at the end of Unit 4.

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Key Terms

Abstract: A brief summary (typically one page) of a proposal’s highlights intended for

specialists or technical readers.

Budget: The section of a proposal that lists the proposed project costs; can also be called a

statement of costs.

Business plan: A type of proposal that is necessary to obtain financing if budding

entrepreneurs wish to start their own business or expand an existing business; provides a

description of a proposed company that explains how it expects to achieve its marketing,

financial, and operational goals.

Cognitive webbing: A technique to combat writer’s block and arrive at a proposal writing

plan: (a) identify the client’s objectives, (b) brainstorm every idea to help the client achieve

that objective, and (c) prioritize by focusing on the client’s most pressing needs.

Formal report: A document in which a writer analyzes findings, draws conclusions, and

makes recommendations intended to solve a problem; is the product of thorough

investigation or analysis and presents organized information to decision makers in

business, industry, government, and education.

Letter proposal: A proposal presented in manuscript format (usually no more than ten

pages) or in short (two- to four-page) letter; sometimes called informal proposal.

List of illustrations: A list of the tables and figures included in a formal proposal or formal

business report.

Memorandum of transmittal: A memo written to the recipient of an internal formal

business report and delivered with the document; announces the topic of the report, tells

how it was authorized, briefly describes the project, highlights the report’s findings,

conclusions, and recommendations, and expresses appreciation.

Proposal, plan, and schedule: The section of a proposal that discusses the specific plan

for solving a problem, tells how the projects will be managed, specifies how its progress will

be audited, and provides a schedule of activities or timetable of activities showing the

proposal’s benchmarks for completion.

References/Works Cited: Lists all sources consulted in the research project; called Works

Cited if using MLA style and References if using APA style.

Works Cited/References: Lists all sources consulted in the research project; called Works

Cited if using MLA style and References if using APA style.

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What’s New in This Chapter

The following elements are improvements in this chapter from the previous edition:

• Adapted the chapter opening scenario to the latest news about aerospace company

SpaceX, whose most recent success illustrates the advantages of writing winning

proposals.

• Added Reality Check highlighting the writing of successful business plans.

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Chapter Outline

In the outline below, each element includes references (in parentheses) to related content.

“CH.##” refers to the chapter objective; “PPT Slide #” refers to the slide number in the

I. Writing Informal Proposals (13-1, PPT Slides 3–11, DISC: Patterns; Purpose;

Audience; Theory application)

a. A proposal is a written offer to solve a problem, provide a service, or sell

equipment.

i. Proposals can mean life or death for an organization.

b. Informal and formal proposals contain six basic parts (Figure 13.1 and Model

Document 13.1):

i. Introduction

c. To overcome writer’s block, consider the method recommended by expert

Dr. Tom Sant known as cognitive webbing:

i. Identify the outcome the client seeks.

d. A proposal should promise specific deliverables—tangible items your project

will produce for the customer (if applicable).

e. Proposals should also include a list of proposed project costs (budget).

f. Use the conclusion and authorization portion of a proposal to:

i. Remind the reader of the proposal’s key benefits.

g. Writing Improvement Activity: 30 minutes total. Activity 13.11—Unsolicited

Proposal: Cash Infusion Needed

Have students complete the activity found at the end of the chapter.

• Students are to write an unsolicited letter or memo proposal to an

II. Preparing Formal Proposals (13-2, PPT Slides 12–16, DISC: Patterns; Purpose;

Audience; Theory application)

a. A formal proposal is one that responds to a big project and may range from

5 to 200 or more pages.

b. Formal proposals contain the six basic parts described for informal proposals

and may also contain some or all of the following front matter and back

matter components:

i. Copy of the RFP

c. A formal proposal submitted to a government or civilian organization that

explains a project, outlines its budget, and requests money in the form of a

grant is called a grant proposal.

i. The U.S. government, private foundations, and public corporations

provide billions of dollars a year in funding to charities, educational

d. Successful grant proposals do the following:

i. Include an abstract and needs statement that explains the problem

or situation

ii. Explain the significance of the problem and how funding would

solve the problem

e. Writing Improvement Activity: 45 minutes total. Activity 13.4—Proposal:

Helping a Friend Find Examples to Study

Have students complete the activity found at the end of the chapter.

• This activity encourages students to search the Internet to locate

III. Creating Effective Business Plans (13-3, PPT Slides 17–21, DISC: Patterns; Purpose;

Audience; Theory application)

a. A business plan is a description of a proposed company that explains how it

expects to achieve its marketing, financial, and operational goals.

b. Successful business plans include the following components:

a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

c. Business plans may be written from scratch or may follow a sample business

plan found on the Internet.

d. Small Group Activity: 60 minutes total. Activity 13.8—Business Plans:

Examining Mission Statements

Break class into groups of three to five students and have them complete the

activity found at the end of the chapter. Detailed feedback for this activity

can be found in the Solutions Manual.

• What are four goals of mission statements?

IV. Writing Formal Business Reports (13-4, PPT Slides 22–30, DISC: Patterns; Purpose;

Audience; Theory application)

b. Front matter (or preliminaries) includes the segments in the front of a report.

(Model Document 13.2)

c. Front matter components include the following:

i. Cover

d. Writing Improvement Activity: 60 minutes total. Activity 13.10—Executive

Summary: In a Nutshell, Boil it Down 10 Percent

Have students complete the activity found at the end of the chapter.

• Responses will vary. Being able to identify the main idea of an article

and learning how to write a succinct yet complete summary are

important skills. Students often struggle with this assignment, and

• A variation of this assignment is giving students an article you select.

After all students have submitted their summaries of that piece, it’s

useful to discuss your observations with them, for example, if you

notice that students are leaning on the original too heavily and have

V. Body and Back Matter Components of Formal Business Reports (13-5, PPT Slides 31–

38, DISC: Patterns; Purpose; Audience; Conclusion; Theory application)

a. The body of a formal report is the “meat” of the document, where the author

or team discusses the problems and findings before reaching conclusions

and making recommendations.

i. Present your solution to the initial problem.

b. Use the conclusions section to explain what the findings mean in terms of

solving the original problem.

i. Draw conclusions based on the findings.

c. Use the recommendations section to make precise suggestions for actions to

solve the report problems.

i. Strive for practical, reasonable, feasible, and ethical

recommendations that evolve from the findings and conclusions.

d. Appendixes are placed at the end of a formal report and include incidental or

supporting materials not relevant to all readers.

i. Include items such as survey forms, copies of other reports, tables

of data, large graphics, and related correspondence.

ii. Multiple appendixes are labeled Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.

e. Sources of information should be identified using Works Cited or References.

(Model Document 13.2)

i. When using the MLA (Modern Language Association) citation format,

list all sources alphabetically in a section titled Works Cited.

f. Small Group Discussion Activity: 30 minutes total. The Ethics of Reusing

Another Team’s Work

Break class into groups of three to five students and have them discuss the

questions posed on the PPT slide. Teams should be prepared to share their

thoughts with the larger group.