CONA Proposal Writing
START WITH Y
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Proposal Overview
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Must be on a national or international topic.
Choose a topic you are passionate and excited about!
Keep in mind proposals are ranked on: national/international importance, evidence of author research, feasibility, preparation and presentation, and originality
Think about: why are you writing this proposal? What problem do you want to fix?
No longer than 1 page.
Proposal Idea Activities
Most difficult part of the process is getting the idea out of your head and onto the paper/screen. If you can’t think of something you want to write about, try these:
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BRAINSTORM ACTIVITY
Take 3 minutes as a table to brainstorm some proposal ideas on a sheet of paper.
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Narrow Down Your Topic
Use a mind map our upside down pyramid to get more specific ideas from your general topic!
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Research Overview
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Research
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Summary
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Anatomy of a Proposal
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AUTHOR (Who is presenting this proposal): YOUR NAME
TITLE (What this proposal will do): This should be no longer than a sentence and sum up the gist of your proposal. Consider the wording to make it interesting.
MAJOR AREAS TO BE AFFECTED (Tell what people, places or institutions your proposal will affect): This should be no longer than a sentence listing the groups of people, institutions, etc. that your proposal will affect.
JUSTIFICATION (In paragraph form, tell why there is a need for your proposal. Include any information that will make a compelling case for your issue): Make sure to explain what the problem is and why it is vital that it be addressed.
PROPOSAL FOR ACTION (This is where you state the “nuts and bolts” of your proposal): I propose….explain exactly what your proposal will do.
RESULTS TO BE EXPECTED (If your proposal is passed, what will be affected?): How will the world be a better place as a result of your proposal? Who will benefit?
Sample Proposal
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Title: A bill to amend the Bayh-Dole Act
Major Areas to be Affected: Universities, pharmaceutical companies, medicine, and patients
Justification: The Bayh-Dole Act currently allows universities and pharmaceutical companies to patent inventions that were made using federal NIH funding. These inventions are later used to develop live-saving drugs that are marked up considerably by pharmaceutical companies. The justification for this high price is the significant amount of money needed to research and develop these drugs, but in reality many were developed using taxpayer dollars. As a result, consumers are forced to pay unreasonable sums to access life-saving medical care that was funded in part by their own money. The ability for the contractor, in this case research universities and pharmaceutical companies, to be given patent rights on any invention which can later be used for profit means that these institutions are patenting any new invention, no matter how small. This impedes the R&D of important life-saving drugs since a contractor is unable to use another’s invention to aid in their own research without paying exorbitant licensing fees. The implications of the Bayh-Dole Act in stalling advancement in medicine are far-reaching and deadly, yet still not fully appreciated.
Proposal for Action: Congress should pass an amendment to the Bayh-Dole Act, repealing the section of the law in question that allows government contractors to patent medical and pharmacological research funded by taxpayer dollars. The federal government would be given the rights to these inventions which would be available to any university or pharmaceutical company to use, for research or commercial purposes.
Results to be Expected: Consumers and patients can expect to see lower drug prices, making it more accessible to those who need it, and an increase in medical research which could lead to the development of groundbreaking therapeutics. Excessive licensing fees would no longer be a barrier to innovation for universities and pharmaceutical companies.
Sample Proposal
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Title: A Proposal to ban all known carcinogens in personal care products.
Major Areas to be Affected: Cosmetic companies and private businesses.
Justification: According to the National Cancer Institute, a carcinogen is “any substance that causes cancer”. Many of the products we use, and encounter on a daily basis, contain carcinogens. Sunscreen, lotion, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, perfume, chapstick, makeup, and convenience foods are just a small sample of the products that frequently contain carcinogens. The human digestive system is able to riddle out many toxicities through its natural filtration process, but the skin cannot do the same. Carcinogens pose greater risks when added into personal care products than food because they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the skin. Currently, about 22% of all cosmetics contain known carcinogens. To put this in perspective, around one in every five products you use in your daily routine may have the ability to cause cancer. This needs to change. If something is proven to cause a disease, especially one that we do not have a cure for, there is no reason we should allow it to be sold in our country. The government should be protecting its citizens, not poisoning them.
Proposal for Action: The use of all known carcinogens in personal care products shall be outlawed in all 50 states and US territories. Businesses will be required to swap out toxic ingredients currently being used for more natural ingredients or discontinue items altogether. Carcinogens to be banned include: formaldehyde, phenacetin, coal tar, benzene, mineral oil, ethylene oxide, heavy metals, aluminum, cadmium and its compounds, arsenic, chromium, crystalline silica or quartz.
Results to be Expected: Toxic carcinogens will be replaced with more holistic materials. Ideally, this will result in a decreased amount of cancer in the country.
Drafting & Editing Your Proposal
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QUESTIONS?
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THANK YOU