Extra Exercises Online

The goal of this exercise is to help you learn how to use a superstructure to help you determine the content for a reader-centered communication.

You are an employee of a wastewater treatment plant in town. You were just assigned the task of writing a report to be submitted to the state. One copy remains on file at the state, and one copy is on file in the plant after being reviewed by the plant supervisor. This report is what will allow the plant to remain operating during the following year, since it reports that the plant is falling within state regulations regarding the chemical content of the water after treatment.

The wastewater, after treatment, is used to irrigate farmland in the local area. It is used to irrigate alfalfa, wheat to feed horses and other livestock, and some cotton.

During your research and data collection, you discover that the plant is not falling within state regulations. There seems to be a higher amount of nitrogen in the treated wastewater than the state allows. The amount is barely over the limit, but it is over the limit nonetheless.

You decide that you are going to write a proposal to management. This proposal is going to reflect a substantial amount of research that you have completed in order to inform management of ways in which they can improve the quality of the treated wastewater. This new treatment process just might be able to save their permit in time for next year's treatment schedule.

You discovered in your research that there is a way to treat the wastewater with a different combination of chemicals and strength that will be only 2% over their current cost. Use your imagination, and complete the table below, which reflects the superstructure for proposals.

You can use this Exercise to prepare for all of your proposals to help you get started. Keep in mind that you should identify your target audience, and this will help you structure your answers as you fill in the blank under "Writers' Persuasive Point."

Topic	Readers' Question	Writers' Persuasive Point
Introduction	What is this proposal about?
Problem	Why is this proposal needed?
Objectives	What features will a solution to our wastewater treatment problem need in order to be successful?
Product or Outcome	How do you propose to improve our wastewater treatment process?
Method	Are you going to be able to deliver what you describe here?
Costs	What will it cost us to implement your plans to improve our wastewater treatment process?