Hersfold
17-08-2004, 13:22
Looking through the proposal list, there are many proposals that do not deserve to be there - to put it politely. Many are very stupid, some needed an editor to look over them, and some (which I find the most appalling) have both problems. If you are really trying to get a proposal passed into a resolution, and thereby make your mark in NationStates, you should at least attempt to make it look good, so that you don't have nations jeering at you later because you can't spell, etc.
So, I have compiled a few proposal writing tips for all who are hoping to draft up a proposal for submission - and also for those Delegates who need to know what a good one looks like :).
I may use some examples from past proposals below. I have removed the author's names from these proposals for their own secrecy, but if you recognize a work that is yours and you do not want it posted, DO NOT POST! That lets others know it is yours. Just send me a telegram, and I will try to discreetly edit it out. Now, on with the guide:
Tip Number 1: They taught you spelling and grammar in elementary/primary school FOR A REASON! Please, try to spell as well as you can in all proposals, as this is a formal document you are sending in. An easy way to check for mistakes is to type it up, or cut and paste the proposal into a word proccessor such as Microsoft Word, Wordperfect, etc. Run a spell check. This will weed out all of the spelling errors, and fix most of the obvious grammatical stuff. Listen to the computer. On the spelling at least, it knows what it is talking about.
Tip Number 2: Post a draft in a forum for editing. If you have access to an off-site forum, post it there first. You can get tips from the locals who probably know you better, and can therefore not only provide more help in drafting, but help to support it later. Then, (or first if you have no other forums), post a draft HERE, in the NationStates UN forum. You will get tips for making the draft better, and be able to defend weak areas in your proposal, while building a base of support and campaigning for your proposal. The more you advertise, the more approvals you will get.
Tip Number 3: Make your proposal be something worthwhile and sensible. And even if they are sensible in spirit, explain and follow through.
Observe below some who did not follow this tip:
We must keep out natural parks
Description: Stop destroying vital green areas
Yes, that was it. Not even a period, which actually falls into tip 1. Second of all, the title doesn't really match the, uh, description, as it were, as natural parks protect "vital green areas." In any case, this needed a LOT of work.
Free speech for the dumb!
Description:Free speech, free speech for the dumb
Free speech, free speech for the dumb
Free speech, free speech for the dumb
Free f-cking speech
Wow. First of all, free speech I believe is already covered in one of the Universal Bills of Rights, and second of all, this is why it could probably be limited in some cases.
This is one that is pointless, or a joke proposal, which is illegal (covered below (edit=eventually)). I have thrown in a few comments here:
NoResolution Currently at Vote
Category: The Furtherment of Democracy (HA!)
Description:
RECOGNISING: That the current waves of Resolutions passing through the United Nations have been gradually decaying national soveriegnty.
UNDERSTANDING: That national ecnomies have been devasted by poorly though our Proposals that passed quarum by some kind of fluke.
KNOWING: That capitals make a resolution look cool. (Point? And, who cares?)
IN COMPLAIANCE WITH: The Freedom of Humour Act allowing for the passing of basless Proposals. (A proposal that should not have been passed, btw)
LET IT BE RESOLVED:
That as of the passing of this resolution the following Artciles are to be enacted upon all UN Nations immediatly and without delay.
Article One: The Act is to be refered to as --- No Resolution Currently At Vote ---.
Article Two: All nations shall immediatly enact a policy of nothing.
Article Three: A charge of $0.00 is to be enforced upon all nations to establish a nothing.
Article Four: A policy of nothing is to be adopted by all UN Nations. (Yes, we know that...)
Article Five: There is to be no Article Five. (Um...)
Article Six: Article Six is to be refered to as Article Twelve. (?!?!?!?)
Article Seven: All UN Nation's economies are to increase for no logical reason.
(This is the only reason why this proposal got as many approvals as it did, and would not have happened anyway under that category)
That probably violated all three tips above.
Now, if you do not want your proposal thrown in the eternal Hall of Shame, PLEASE keep it sensible!
I will offer more tips later, but unfortunately I need to leave right now. I will return later with more pointers. Thank you!
The United Federation of Hersfold
Author, UN Educational Committee
UN Member
Founder, Part123
So, I have compiled a few proposal writing tips for all who are hoping to draft up a proposal for submission - and also for those Delegates who need to know what a good one looks like :).
I may use some examples from past proposals below. I have removed the author's names from these proposals for their own secrecy, but if you recognize a work that is yours and you do not want it posted, DO NOT POST! That lets others know it is yours. Just send me a telegram, and I will try to discreetly edit it out. Now, on with the guide:
Tip Number 1: They taught you spelling and grammar in elementary/primary school FOR A REASON! Please, try to spell as well as you can in all proposals, as this is a formal document you are sending in. An easy way to check for mistakes is to type it up, or cut and paste the proposal into a word proccessor such as Microsoft Word, Wordperfect, etc. Run a spell check. This will weed out all of the spelling errors, and fix most of the obvious grammatical stuff. Listen to the computer. On the spelling at least, it knows what it is talking about.
Tip Number 2: Post a draft in a forum for editing. If you have access to an off-site forum, post it there first. You can get tips from the locals who probably know you better, and can therefore not only provide more help in drafting, but help to support it later. Then, (or first if you have no other forums), post a draft HERE, in the NationStates UN forum. You will get tips for making the draft better, and be able to defend weak areas in your proposal, while building a base of support and campaigning for your proposal. The more you advertise, the more approvals you will get.
Tip Number 3: Make your proposal be something worthwhile and sensible. And even if they are sensible in spirit, explain and follow through.
Observe below some who did not follow this tip:
We must keep out natural parks
Description: Stop destroying vital green areas
Yes, that was it. Not even a period, which actually falls into tip 1. Second of all, the title doesn't really match the, uh, description, as it were, as natural parks protect "vital green areas." In any case, this needed a LOT of work.
Free speech for the dumb!
Description:Free speech, free speech for the dumb
Free speech, free speech for the dumb
Free speech, free speech for the dumb
Free f-cking speech
Wow. First of all, free speech I believe is already covered in one of the Universal Bills of Rights, and second of all, this is why it could probably be limited in some cases.
This is one that is pointless, or a joke proposal, which is illegal (covered below (edit=eventually)). I have thrown in a few comments here:
NoResolution Currently at Vote
Category: The Furtherment of Democracy (HA!)
Description:
RECOGNISING: That the current waves of Resolutions passing through the United Nations have been gradually decaying national soveriegnty.
UNDERSTANDING: That national ecnomies have been devasted by poorly though our Proposals that passed quarum by some kind of fluke.
KNOWING: That capitals make a resolution look cool. (Point? And, who cares?)
IN COMPLAIANCE WITH: The Freedom of Humour Act allowing for the passing of basless Proposals. (A proposal that should not have been passed, btw)
LET IT BE RESOLVED:
That as of the passing of this resolution the following Artciles are to be enacted upon all UN Nations immediatly and without delay.
Article One: The Act is to be refered to as --- No Resolution Currently At Vote ---.
Article Two: All nations shall immediatly enact a policy of nothing.
Article Three: A charge of $0.00 is to be enforced upon all nations to establish a nothing.
Article Four: A policy of nothing is to be adopted by all UN Nations. (Yes, we know that...)
Article Five: There is to be no Article Five. (Um...)
Article Six: Article Six is to be refered to as Article Twelve. (?!?!?!?)
Article Seven: All UN Nation's economies are to increase for no logical reason.
(This is the only reason why this proposal got as many approvals as it did, and would not have happened anyway under that category)
That probably violated all three tips above.
Now, if you do not want your proposal thrown in the eternal Hall of Shame, PLEASE keep it sensible!
I will offer more tips later, but unfortunately I need to leave right now. I will return later with more pointers. Thank you!
The United Federation of Hersfold
Author, UN Educational Committee
UN Member
Founder, Part123