PROPOSAL
INTRODUCTION
- The aims of this proposal are to...
- This proposal evaluates....
- This proposal is intended to present the...
CURRENT SITUATION
- Many students/local residents/pensioners/members of the local community have commented that...
- There is a strong feeling among all concerned that...
- Following a survey of local residents it was found that...
SUGGESTIONS
- It is recommended that...
- There should be...
- It would be advantageous to...
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS
- If the above suggestions are implemented there would be...
- Unless the recommendations are taken seriously, it is unlikely that...
- Implementation of the above ideas would result in.
RELATED WORDS AND PHRASES
Agreement
- A great number of people share the view that tourism will have a negative impact on the island.
- Today there is general / widespread agreement that pollution from cars and planes is threatening the future of our planet.
- It is now widely accepted that the universe began with the so-called 'big bang'.
Disagreement
- Opinions differ about the proper relationship between the mass media and society.
- There is considerable disagreement among experts about the usefulness of these tests.
- There has been a great deal of controversy over abortion in the US.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Regular exercise has many benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease.
- Despite a few problems with the design, the car's advantages clearly outweigh its disadvantages.
- The major drawback of this method is that it can be very time-consuming.
- The downside of running your own business is that you are responsible if anything goes wrong.
Cause
- lead to: The research could lead to a cure for many serious illnesses.
- result in: The fire resulted in damage to their property.
- be responsible for: He was responsible for the accident.
- bring about:The war brought about enormous social change.
- give rise to: Poor performance in exams can give rise to depression and even thoughts of suicide.
- trigger:to make something suddenly start to happen, especially a bad situation such as a crisis or a war, or a medical condition: Certain foods can trigger allergies.
- contribute to: Passive smoking could contribute to the development of respiratory diseases among nonsmokers.
- factor: Cost is often the deciding factor when choosing any product.
Effect
- impact on: His work has had an enormous impact on the study of genetics.
- influence on: In his book, he examines the influence of the media on our society.
- affect: (v) The disease affects women more than men.
- influence: (v) She has influenced him a lot.
- implications: The results of the study could have important implications for future educational policy.
Emphasizing
- I would like to stress that the research is still at an early stage.
- It should be noted that there are a number of alternative methods available.
- It is worth bearing in mind that 90% of the scientists researching herbicides in the US are employed by chemical companies.
- Factors such as temperature and acidity play a crucial role in determining how well the process works.
- These insects play a vital part in the food chain.
- It is essential that the work is carried out as soon as possible.
- The climate is much colder, especially in the far north.
Problems
- issue: Issue is used especially about problems that affect a lot of people in society: International terrorism is the biggest issue (=the most important issue) facing the world today. Previous governments failed to address (=try to deal with) social issues such as unemployment and homelessness.
- challenge: something difficult that you must do or deal with, which needs a lot of skill, effort, and determination: She said she was looking forward to the challenge of starting up a new business on her own.
- difficulty: The company has managed to overcome (=deal with) its recent financial difficulties. Many people experience difficulty in sleeping at some time in their lives.
- trouble: a problem or several problems that make something difficult, spoil your plans etc: Students of English often have trouble with phrasal verbs. The company ran into trouble (=started to have problems) when it tried to expand too quickly.
- setback: something that happens which stops you making progress or which makes things worse than they were before: Despite some early setbacks, his campaign for the presidency was successful.
- obstacle: Criminal gangs are the biggest obstacle to democratic reform.
- dilemma: The doctors were faced with a moral dilemma.
- vicious circle: Some developing countries get caught in a vicious circle. They cannot afford to pay their debt repayments, and so the debts get even bigger.
- complication
Increase
- increase by (percent): Last year, the number of burglaries increased by 15 percent.
- go up: Last month unemployment went up from 1.6 million to just over 1.7 million.
- grow: The volume of traffic on our roads continues to grow.
- expand: After two years of no growth, the economy started to expand again in 2003.
- double/triple/quadruple: Since 1950, the number of people dying from cancer has almost doubled.
- growth: (n) There has been a huge growth in sales of big 4-wheel-drive vehicles.
Decrease
- decrease by (percent): The average rainfall has decreased by around 30 percent.
- go down: The percentage of fat in our diets has gone down.
- fall: The number of tigers in the wild has fallen to just over 10,000.
- drop: At night, the temperature drops to minus 20 degrees.
- decline: decline is used about numbers or amounts, and also about the level or standard of something: In rural areas, the standard of living continued to decline.
ADMIRE
- respect / look up to: look up to: The children need someone they can look up to.
- think highly of / have a high opinion of: Most of the students and staff think very highly of Dr. Smith.
- highly regarded/respected: a highly respected surgeon
ADVANCED
- sophisticated / high-tech (equipment) / state-of-the-art (technology)
SURPRISING (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)
- amazing / unbelievable / incredible / astonishing / staggering
- come as a surprise / come as a shock / amaze / astonish
SURPRISED (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)
- amazed / astonished / speechless / be taken aback (He was taken aback by the news)
EXCITING (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)
- thrilling / gripping / exhilarating / action-packed
BORING
- dull / tedious / monotonous / uninspiring
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)
- attractive / good-looking / gorgeous / striking / stunning
BEAUTIFUL PLACES (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)
- breathtaking / stunning / awe-inspiring / striking / spectacular
- spotless: very clean
UGLY PLACES / PEOPLE (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)
- unattractive / unpleasant / unsightly / hideous (=extremely ugly)
- filthy: very dirty
IN BAD CONDITION (PLACES)
- in bad condition / dilapidated / run-down
NEW
- latest / brand-new / innovative (idea or system)
OLD
- old-fashioned / outdated / obsolete
VERY
- absolutely / extremely / highly / incredibly / remarkably
GOOD PERFORMANCE / PIECE OF WORK
- excellent / outstanding / impressive / exceptional
GOOD FOR A PARTICULAR JOB, PURPOSE, ETC
- suitable / right / proper / appropriate / be suited to
WRONG INFORMATION / NUMBERS
- incorrect / inaccurate / misleading
NOT REASONABLE / NECESSARY
- unjustified / unreasonable / without good reason
RELAX
- unwind / wind down: Set in spectacular countryside, the Shiga Hotel is the perfect place to unwind.
- make someone feel at ease
- relaxed / feel at ease / laid-back (not easily worried or annoyed) /
NERVOUS
- tense / uneasy / anxious / be under stress
PUBLIC SERVICES
- facilities: The facilities at the hotel were excellent -- tennis courts, swimming pool, several bars and a good restaurant.
- amenities: things such as shops, parks, or restaurants that make living or working in a place more pleasant
I prefer this part of the city because there are plenty of good amenities.
COMPARISONS
- a great deal / far / much + comparative (cheaper / more economical than)
- a bit / slightly / barely + comparative (cheaper / more economical than)
- by far / easily the + superlative (This is easily the best solution we can think of)
VERY MUCH / NOT VERY MUCH
- dramatically / significantly / slightly
And
- As well (as) / in addition to: Over 600 people will lose their jobs, in addition to the 400 people who left the company last year.
- In addition: A fifth of the world's population lives on less than $1 a day. In addition, over 100 million children are living on the streets.
- Furthermore / Moreover: used at the beginning of a sentence when adding an important fact that is connected with what you have just said: The drug has strong side effects. Furthermore, it can be addictive.
If
- as long as / on condition that / provided that
Or
- alternatively: You can go up into the mountains. Alternatively, you can stroll around one of Switzerland's delightful cities where the old mixes with the new.
- on THE one hand ... on the other (hand)
Because
- As / since: As it was a hot day, they decided to leave all the windows open. Since it is difficult to predict how the climate will change, it is not possible to say which countries will suffer the most.
- thanks to
- due to/owing to + NOUN
The delay was due to a problem with the ship's engines.
- due to/owing to + THE FACT THAT + subject + verb
The men did most of the work in the fields. This was partly due to the fact that the men were stronger.
But/although
- While / whereas / by contrast
- However: However is usually used in the middle of a sentence, separated from the rest of the sentence by commas: Jack and his family managed to escape before the soldiers arrived. Other families in the village, however, were less lucky.
Or it comes at the beginning of a sentence: He began his academic career as a mathematician. However, his main achievements were in the field of nuclear physics.
- Nevertheless: Nevertheless is usually used at the beginning of a sentence, or at the end.
- in spite of/despite + NOUN
Despite his lack of formal education, he became one of the world's leading mathematicians.
- in spite of/despite + verb + ING
This was a dinosaur that weighed only 10 tons, in spite of being some 28 metres long.
- in spite of/despite + THE FACT THAT + subject + verb
Many people are worried that cellphones may be dangerous to health, despite the fact that most of the research suggests that there is little risk.
Exercise 1: Find the right order concerning the structure of the proposal!
Exercise 2: Fill out the gaps with the missing expressions!
Exercise 3: Find the extra words!
Exercise 4: Choose the best alternative for each gap!
Exercise 5: Decide whether to use –ing or / to infinitive form!
Exercise 6: Fill in the gaps with the missing words!
Exercise 7: Fill in the gaps with the missing expressions!
WRITING EXERCISES:
- Company strategy: Helsingor Foods entering the Chinese market
Nestlé expands ice-cream lines in China
Suppliers of ingredients to the developing ice-cream market in China will welcome news that Nestlé, the world’s number-one food maker, will deepen penetration and sharpen competitiveness in this burgeoning market through new launches.
Ken Donaldson, head of Nestlé’s ice-cream business unit in China, announced the firm will launch 29 new ice-cream products onto the market, targeted at consumers of all ages. Nestlé hopes to attract new consumers with ’low-priced products as well as take-home items, which are specially designed for kids, teens and adults.’
Foreign giants Wall’s, Nestlé and Meadow Gold have 30% of the Chinese ice-cream market, while the two domestic brands, Yili and Mengniu, hold 27%.
Growing affluence in China is transforming the landscape for food: industry sales took off in the mid 1990s, rising from under 100 million yuan (9.2 bn EUR) in 1991 to well over 400 billion yuan (37 billion EUR) just ten years later. Driving the market is the increased spending power and changing eating habits of China’s 1.3 billion people.
There has been an increase in per-capita income levels, and the consequent increase in disposable incomes has brought about a shift in favour of branded and packaged food. Changing lifestyles and growing urbanisation in larger cities have also contributed, bringing a wider acceptance of newer products and driving sales for foods like ready meals, pasta and frozen food.
Helsingor Foods
Headquarters: Copenhagen
Established: 1977
Manufacturers: High-quality ice-creams and desserts
Annual turnover: 950 m EUR
Main markets: Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand
Ambition: to become a global brand
Positioning of brands in existing markets: Helsingor Foods signals the quality of its products by price
and by selling in delicatessens and upmarket restaurants. However, brand quality and ingredients can vary according to
the market.
Budget available for new ventures: 100 m EUR over 5 years.
Write a proposal (about 250 words) for how to break into the Chinese market.
Include the following points:
- what price you should set
- whether to market the product nationally or in one or two selected cities
- whether you need a local joint-venture partner for marketing, storage and distribution
- how you will advertise
- Company strategy: CSR
Your manager has asked you to investigate CSR and in general how your company can generate a more ethical image. Write a proposal in which you:
- suggest some ways in which your your company can operate ethically (you can consider employment policies, environmental policies, treatment of suppliers and customers)
- give reasons for a more ethical policy
- recommen a plan of action.
- Operations management: Use of technology
Your company has decided to conduct an investigation into the possibility of increasing the number of ways in which technology is used throughout the organisation. You have been asked to write a proposal concerning the use of technology in your department for the Managing Director. Write your proposal, including the following:
- a brief outline of the current uses of technology in your department
- a description of what technological improvements could be made
- an explanation of the benefits these changes might bring
- recommendations for the kind of training that would be necessary
- Marketing: Sponsorship
Your CEO is interested in using sponsorship as a way of promoting your company and its products. He has asked you to make a recommendation about how this can be done. He would be interested in sponsoring either an arts or a sports event.
Write a proposal for the CEO including the following information:
- the type of activities which might be suitable
- the benefits of this type of sponsorship for your company
- the costs involved
- your recommendation.
REPORT
Introducing the report
- The aim / purpose of this report is to examine / evaluate / describe / outline / assess (the positive and negative features of two different forms of ….) (the various options open to people …).
- The following report describes / deals with / evaluates / outlines / presents / provides an account of (…).
- This report aims to provide an overall view of the situation below.
- It will also include / consider / suggest / recommend (…)
- The report is based on a survey conducted among (e.g. college students).
Presenting facts
- It is generally accepted that (…)
- The vast majority of (…)
- This is probably due to the fact that (…)
- While / although data is hard to come by, it is thought that …
Predicting the future
- The outlook for young people / jobs / the country is (far from) bright / optimistic / depressing (…)
- The future looks bleak / remains uncertain / is promising (…)
Making recommendations
- One measure which may improve the situation would be to introduce (…)
- I would (strongly) recommend that the (company / college ) should (…)
- In the light of the results of the survey, I would (strongly) advise against (…)
- I feel it would be to our advantage if (…)
- It might be advisable to (…)
- It might be preferable to (…)
- I have no hesitation in recommending (…)
- I am of the opinion that (…) / It is my view that (…)
- It appears that (…)
- In conclusion / On balance / To sum up (…)
Exercise 1: Find the right order of the passages!
Exercise 2: Fill in the gaps with the missing words!
Exercise 3: Correct the mistakes!
Exercise 4: Read the report and choose the best word for each gap!
Exercise 5: In most lines of the report, there is one extra word. However, some lines are correct. Find the extra word!
Exericse 6: Fill in the gaps with the missing words!
WRITING EXERCISES:
HR
(1) You have recently returned from a two-day training course which you were sent on by your company. Your human resources manager has asked you to write a report, evaluating how useful the course has been.
Write the report including the following information:
- what the course consisted of
- how useful the course was for you
- how your training will benefit from courses like these.
Write 200-250 words.
Management
(2) Your manager would like to improve the level of staff motivation in the company and has asked you to write a report giving details of current levels of motivation and suggesting ways to improve it. Write the report for your manager, including the following information:
- explaining how you assessed current motivation levels
- stating the reasons for the current levels
- suggesting ways to improve the situation.
Management
(3) Your manager would like to improve the administration system in your company and has asked you to write a proposal which includes details of two systems you would suggest adopting. Write the report for your manager, including the following information:
- explaining what each system does
- saying which system would be most suitable for your company
- describing how your company would benefit.
Sales
(4) The company you work for has recently held a sales event to launch a new product. Your managing director has asked you to write a report on the effectiveness of the event, including the following points:
- wo was invited to the event
- what guests’ reactions were
- how successful the wvent was
- what recommendations you would make for future sales events of this kind.
Production
(5) The division of the company where you work has recently made changes which have resulted in spectacular gains in productivity. Your manager has asked you to write a report for the board of directors of your company so that they can implement similar changes in other divisions of the company.
Write the report for the board of directors and include the following information:
- what changes you made and the reasons for them
- the results of your changes
- your recommendations for other divisions in the company