Writing Style That Mentors Respect
Your proposal's tone matters as much as content.
Tone Guidelines
❌ Avoid
- Overly formal or stiff
- Arrogant or presumptuous
- Vague or wishy-washy
- Exclamation marks everywhere!!!
- ALL CAPS FOR EMPHASIS
✅ Aim For
- Professional yet conversational
- Confident but humble
- Clear and specific
- Respectful of time
Structure for Readability
# Clear Title
## Concise Introduction (2-3 sentences)
Set context briefly.
## Well-Organized Sections
Use headings liberally.
- Use bullet points for lists
- Not paragraph form with commas
### Sub-sections when needed
Break up large topics.
## Conclusion (1 paragraph)
Summarize key points.Example Comparison
❌ Weak Style
The project would benefit from a new feature related to caching.
I think that Redis might be useful for this purpose. I would
implement this feature if selected and I am pretty confident
I can do it. The timeline would be approximately a few weeks
and deliverables would include the new caching system.✅ Strong Style
## Proposal: Redis Caching Layer
### Problem
Post queries currently hit the database every time, causing
high load during peak usage.
### Solution
Implement Redis caching with:
- TTL-based expiration (5 minutes default)
- Cache invalidation on post updates
- Fallback to DB for cache misses
### Timeline
Weeks 1-2: Setup and integration tests
Weeks 3-4: Core implementation and unit tests
Week 5: Performance testing and optimization
Week 6: Buffer for reviews and refinement
### Success Metrics
- 70%+ cache hit rate in production
- 50% reduction in average query latency
- Zero data inconsistency issuesWriting Tips
-
Be Specific
- "During X months" not "eventually"
- "Component Y will do Z" not "things will improve"
-
Use Active Voice
- "I will implement" not "The feature will be implemented"
-
Show Confidence
- "I will" not "I might"
- But not overconfidence
-
Proofread
- Grammar and spelling matter
- One typo suggests carelessness
-
Read Aloud
- Does it flow naturally?
- Would you say it this way?
Your proposal is your voice. Make it sound like someone competent and professional, not a marketing brochure.