1. If the authors of Hometown Baghdad did a proposal. . .

“I want to write about young people’s lives in Iraq.”

—or—

“I want to write about three young Iraqi men–Adel, Ausama, and Saif–who are trying to attend college in the midst of war-torn Baghdad.”

Which proposal is better? Why?

2. If James Agee did a proposal. . .

“I want to write about southern tenant farmers.”

—or—-

“I want to write about three poor families of tenant farmers in the south who try to make good lives for themselves, though they are actually quite broken.”

Which one is better? Why

3. If This American Life had written a proposal. . .

“I want to write about how spokespeople often experience bad effects from their positions in the spotlight.”

—or—

“I want to write about three different people who all served, in some capacity, as spokespeople. In different ways, each of the three experienced some bad effects from their positions in the spotlight.”

Which proposal is better? Why

4. If the authors of Folk Songs for Five Points did a proposal. . .

“I want to write about how New York City has such ethnic and cultural diversity.”

—Or—

“I want to recreate the diverse sounds of New York’s streets, which are filled with diverse languages, musics, calls, and noise.”

Which one is better? Why?

Now, how would you suggest “fixing” this proposal?

“I want to write about how college life is very expensive for average people.”