Proposal

The proposal: The proposal (la proposition) is a testable Paper 1 text type. You write it to put forward a plan and convince a person in authority (a head teacher, a council, an organisation) to approve it.

The whole point is to persuade, but in a formal, respectful tone: you present an idea, justify it with clear benefits and ask for approval. That persuasive-yet-formal balance — plus a title, an aim and a final request — is exactly what Criterion C (conceptual understanding) rewards.

Don't confuse it with a BLOG or a complaint: A blog or a diary tells your personal experience with feelings (« J'ai adoré… »). A complaint protests about a problem. A proposal is constructive: it presents a plan, justifies it with benefits and asks an authority to approve it, all in a formal, persuasive tone. Choosing an informal or merely critical register is the fastest way to lose Criterion C — decide your purpose before you start writing.

Persuasive, but formal: A proposal points to one register: formal and persuasive. You address the reader with vous, stay polite and convince with reasons and benefits — never with slang, pressure or personal complaints. A single « Salut ! » or « c'est trop nul » breaks the formal tone — and the marks.

Persuade politely — that's the test: Examiners look for a consistent formal, persuasive register. Replace « Tu dois changer ça ! » with « Il serait souhaitable de… ». A proposal that slips into slang, a complaint or an order loses Criterion C even if the French is otherwise correct.

Title → Objet/Aim → Context → Proposal + benefits → Final request: A proposal follows a fixed, reliable shape. Hit each part and you secure the conventions marks (Criterion C); the title, the aim, the justified proposal and the final request for approval are the parts examiners check first.

The final request is non-negotiable: Unlike a blog, a proposal asks for action. The polite final request (« Je vous serais reconnaissant de bien vouloir… ») plus a formal sign-off is what turns an idea into a proposal — and scores easy Criterion C marks. Even when you run short on time, keep the title and a clear request for approval at the end.

See it all in one short proposal: Here is a complete proposal — short, but with every part in place. Read it once (tap Voir la traduction if you get stuck), then notice the labelled features below: that's exactly what an examiner ticks off.

Une proposition — modèle: « Proposition : ouvrir la bibliothèque le week-end. Objet : améliorer les conditions de révision des élèves. Madame la Directrice, je me permets de vous adresser cette proposition afin que la bibliothèque du lycée ouvre le samedi matin. En effet, à l'approche des examens, de nombreux élèves ne disposent pas d'un endroit calme pour étudier chez eux. Je propose donc que deux enseignants se relaient pour la surveillance, ce qui offrirait à chacun un espace de travail serein et favoriserait la réussite. Pour ces raisons, je vous serais reconnaissant de bien vouloir étudier cette proposition. Je vous remercie par avance de votre attention. Veuillez agréer, Madame la Directrice, mes salutations distinguées. Marc Lefèvre »

How to analyse a model: To analyse any proposal, look at three things: the title + aim (Proposition…, je me permets de vous adresser…), the persuasive phrasing (je propose que…, ce qui permettrait de…), and the final request for approval at the end. Those three reveal the register instantly — and they're the parts you must reproduce in your own answer.

A toolkit for each part: Keep a small bank of phrases for each part of the proposal. Reusing them accurately is straight Criterion A (Language) — and it stops you freezing on the opening or the final request.

Polite, not pushy: Persuade with benefits, not pressure: « Je propose que…, ce qui permettrait de… » convinces far better than « Tu dois… ! ». A couple of persuasive connectors lift you from a list into a real, convincing proposal — and that's rewarded in Criterion A.