For writing project 2, our group chose to analyze proposals for public projects. As proposals is a very broad genre that includes proposals for experimental design, construction bids and proposals for a change in laws, our group decided to focus on public initiative proposals. Public Initiative Proposals are those projects that aim to serve the community by improving some aspect of life, whether by solving a current problem or introducing something new that will better the quality of life.
The genre of a public proposals interact with many other assemblages of texts that occur both prior to and after the generation of the proposal. Public proposals can either be generated by a city/town or submitted to the town for consideration. The governing body of the town may identify a project that they wish to implement and generate a proposal to present to the public to persuade the town’s population to support their project. Before generating the proposal, the town will often ask the public for their insight to understand their needs, concerns and ideas about project. Once this data has been collected, the town generates the proposal with this feedback in mind and often submits it for a vote of public approval. Once approved, the project commences based on the criteria established in the proposals. Throughout this process, a representative body of the town will frequently communicate with the public, to convey updates on the project and to alleviate any concerns that arise.
Alternatively, a town may recognize a problem that must be addressed, but lacks the resources to solve it on their own. Often a town will produce a Request for Proposals (RFPs), which outlines the problem and asks for outside companies to submit proposals to address their concerns. An RFB is a common text that will prompt the generation of a proposal, and will always come before a proposal sequentially. Any proposals that the town receives are often discussed and voted upon at a Town council meeting, where both the Town Officials and the general public can voice their opinions and vote on the various proposals.
When a public initiative proposal is viewed under Spinuzzi’s genre ecology framework, it is easy to see the complexity of the genre. Their is some sequential activity such that a RFP will always come before the generation of a proposal as it prompts the generation of that genre, but many other texts occur in a overlapping fashion. Public opinion is collect both prior to the generation of a proposal and after work begins. The recognition of a problem or a potential improvement will mediate a discussion among the town’s population as to how to best approach it, and result in an interaction between the town and outside companies. The town may submit a RFB (request for bids) to various companies to perform that work, which will result in some companies submitting a detailed outline of the cost of their services. In addition, a proposal will often result in the generation of genres unrelated to the actual work detailed in them, as marketing campaigns are generated alongside proposals by those promoting them in order to sway public opinion. These could include flyers, commercials, or speeches in favor of the change and highlighting the benefits of project.
