B1 · Module 02 · Class 08 — The Proposal, Complete

Submission Day

It is 11 p.m. Santiago and Marco are in the Altius conference room. The Vantage Capital proposal is 24 pages. Elena Durán stops by on her way out.

"Send it tomorrow at 9 a.m.," she says. "Not tonight. Claire reads everything first thing. You want her to read it fresh." She picks up the last printed page and scans it. "The register is clean. I can feel your thinking, Santiago, and I can feel Marco's work behind it. That's what a proposal should feel like."

Marco saves the final version. Santiago closes his laptop.

"Module one was about listening and reporting what others say," Santiago tells Marco. "This module was about writing so the document speaks for itself. No personality. No uncertainty. Just evidence, structure, and logic."

"It sounds cold when you say it like that," Marco says.

"No," says Santiago. "It sounds professional."

Vocabulary — Professional Document Submission

submission

/səbˈmɪʃən/

The act of formally presenting a document or proposal to a client or authority

register

/ˈredʒɪstə/

The appropriate level of formality for a given context, audience, and purpose

revision

/rɪˈvɪʒən/

The process of reviewing and improving a document before it is finalised

iterate

/ˈɪtəreɪt/

To go through a process multiple times, improving each time

final draft

/ˈfaɪnəl drɑːft/

The last version of a document before it is submitted or published

HEDGING

Modal hedges

may / might / could / should / would

"Growth may reach 12% by Q4."

Adverbial hedges

approximately / broadly / typically / relatively

"Costs increased by approximately 15%."

Lexical hedges

suggest / indicate / appear to / tend to

"The data suggests a moderate recovery."

NOMINALIZATION

Verb → Noun

analyse → analysis  |  implement → implementation

"The analysis of three markets was conducted."

Adj → Noun

stable → stability  |  complex → complexity

"The stability of the regulatory environment was confirmed."

Combined effect

removes personal subject + adds formality

"An assessment of risks was carried out." (not: "We assessed risks.")

IMPERSONAL

It + passive

It is recommended / It was found / It is noted

"It is recommended that due diligence begin within 90 days."

Subject + passive

Three risks were identified / Growth is projected

"Two priority markets were identified."

Appear / seem / prove

removes certainty claim

"The approach appears to be commercially viable."

DISCOURSE MARKERS

ADDITION

furthermore / moreover / in addition / additionally

Adds a supporting point

CONTRAST

however / nevertheless / in contrast / while

Introduces an opposing or limiting point

RESULT

consequently / as a result / therefore / thus

Shows what follows from something

CONCESSION

although / admittedly / despite / while it is true that

Acknowledges a limitation before countering

EMPHASIS

in particular / it should be stressed / above all

Highlights the most important point

EXEMPLIFICATION

for instance / as evidenced by / such as

Introduces evidence or illustration

Standard Consulting Proposal — Section Map

Cover Page  —  title, client name, date, consulting firm, confidentiality notice

Table of Contents  —  numbered sections with page references

Executive Summary  —  findings + recommendations in 200–300 words; impersonal + nominalized

Scope & Methodology  —  what was investigated and how; passive voice predominates

Market / Situation Analysis  —  hedged claims; data with sources; all three hedge types

Key Findings  —  numbered; nominalized headings; discourse markers between points

Recommendations  —  numbered; formal markers; impersonal; conditional hedging where needed

Risk Considerations  —  concession + contrast markers; admittedly, nevertheless

Timeline & Next Steps  —  above all, consequently, it is recommended that + timelines

Appendices  —  raw data, interview logs, references — cited formally

Phrasal Verbs

build on  —  to develop or extend something that already exists

"Section 5 builds on the risk analysis set out in Section 4."

lay out  —  to present or arrange information in a clear, structured way

"The following section lays out three recommendations in order of priority."

tie in with  —  to be consistent with or connected to something else

"These projections tie in with the sector data presented in the appendix."

SECTION 6 — RISK CONSIDERATIONS

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While the recommended portfolio is considered broadly viable, it is important

that the associated risks be assessed with equal rigour. Three categories of

risk were identified during the engagement.

6.1  REGULATORY RISK

Regulatory frameworks in the target markets are subject to change. In particular,

the energy transition legislation in Colombia may be revised before the end of

2026. Admittedly, such revision could affect projected returns; nevertheless,

the structural fundamentals of the sector are unlikely to be materially disrupted.

6.2  CURRENCY EXPOSURE

All three markets present currency exposure against GBP and USD. It is

recommended that hedging instruments be considered for any positions exceeding

$20 million. Furthermore, it should be noted that comparable funds have

successfully mitigated this risk through forward contracts.

6.3  EXECUTION RISK

The implementation of the proposed timeline requires confirmation of internal

resources at Vantage by end of Q2. Consequently, any delay in this confirmation

will affect the recommended market entry window. Above all, early engagement

with the local due diligence team is considered the single most effective

risk-mitigation measure available.

Altius Consulting Group  |  April 2026  |  STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL