You have spent the last couple of years in a committed relationship�with writing. Love them or hate them, essays have been by you through thick and thin.

So when you walk into class and your professor says you�re going to do something new today, your heart starts beating faster, and it feels like there are butterflies in your stomach.

Then, your instructor pops the question��Will you write a proposal essay?

You might not think you�re ready to take the plunge into proposal essays just yet, but don�t get cold feet! This type of essay can be super easy (and also pretty fun) to write.

All you need is the right topic.

The right topic involves planning, research, and passion. Below, I�ll show you how to choose the right topic and give you some example proposal essay topics that you can either use as is or use as inspiration to come up with your own topic.

But First, What Is a Proposal Essay?

Before you try to find that perfect topic from the sea of potential proposal essay topics (and certainly before you try to write one), it�s important to understand exactly what a proposal essay is.

Simply put, a proposal essay identifies a problem and suggests a solution to that problem. It�s a type of argumentative essay, but with a slightly different format and more research.

Proposal essays are common in business and science classes and professions, but are also useful for a number of different disciplines.

Typically, these types of essays are not a timed, in-class writing assignment where you�re trying to beat the clock. Instead, they require more time and research in order to formulate arguments and find supporting evidence.

Ultimately, your goal is to persuade the reader that your proposal is not only viable but one worth pursuing. For a more in-depth overview, check out this awesome SlideShare.

What to Consider When Selecting Proposal Essay Topics

The number of different proposal essay topics out there is pretty vast, so naturally, the essays themselves will differ. However, here are a few common components (and some dos and don�ts! ) to consider when you�re narrowing down proposal essay topics to find the perfect match.

Choose something that interests you

For many types of essays, you can fake it till you make it. But for proposal essays, it will be a huge advantage for you to select a topic you actually care about. You�re most likely going to be spending a significant portion of time researching and writing this essay.

It�ll be much more enjoyable if you have some passion for the subject matter. Your reader will be able to tell too. Passion comes through in writing�picking a proposal essay topic that�s interesting to you makes your essay more interesting to the reader.

DON�T: Write about how to get your hair untangled or an effective way to clean a litter box. These topics are boring�and much too simple.

DO: Write about something that could influence you or someone you know. If you have siblings in grade school, write about education. For example, how can children get a good physical education in elementary school?

Spend a lot of time on social media? http://www.mglarm.se/2020/01/30/uw-biology/ Use your time productively while you�re there, and mine social media for a topic that interests you.

Choose a proposal essay topic that has support

As I said before, you�re going to be doing a lot of research in order to write your essay properly, so it helps if the topic already has existing literature.

Choosing a proposal essay topic that has both supporting and dissenting research is usually best. Then you can choose which side of the argument you want to tackle.

DON�T: Write about something that�s purely opinion with no facts to back it up. For example, how to make the most out of your Saturday afternoon is not a good topic (although we all know the answer is �sleeping in and watching cartoons�).

DO: Choose a topic with some big, juicy facts you can sink your teeth into. For example, how to fund more educational television like Sesame Street, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and the Magic School Bus lets you still talk about television, but in a structured, fact-based way.

Bonus Tip: When you�re researching, make sure to take good notes. Include the bibliographic information and the page number you found the information on. This will make citations much easier, especially if you�re referencing books and articles from the library.

Pick something that�s actually an argument

Because proposal essays are a type of argumentative essay, you want to be sure the essay is worthy of an argument. Choosing a topic that is too one-sided is, frankly, really boring and doesn�t serve your purpose well.

When writing your essay, you�ll want to address opposing viewpoints. That way you can present a well-rounded proposal. This lets your reader know you have considered all sides of a given topic and have constructed the best proposal given all the variables at work.

You�ll be able to tell if an argument has one side because you won�t actually be able to write a proposal essay about it. It would turn into either a process essay or an argumentative essay (and not a very good