Writing the Proposal
Briefly,
a proposal is a plan that: states a problem, offers strategies for solving the
problem, asks for resources to do the work, justifies the request for funds by
demonstrating the probabilities for success, and explains how the effectiveness
of the plan will be measured. While writing proposal, the following items
should be taken into consideration: significance of the problems being
addressed, the quality of the proposed solution in comparison with similar past
work.
The
proposal usually consists of the following items:
o Cover sheet
o Table of contents
o Abstract
o Problem statement
o Related research
o Objectives
o Procedures
o Personnel data
o Facilities available
o Budget and budget narrative
o Appendices
you may already be familiar with most of these terms, but some of them
have specific requirements. Use this
checklist to ensure all criteria are properly met.
Abstract
This
will appear at the beginning of the proposal but should be written last. In most cases, it should include the major
objectives and procedures of the proposal condensed to one page. The abstract
is important because it is usually what the reviewers read to get a perspective
on the study.
Problem Statement
This
section of a proposal is crucial in convincing the reviewers that the project
is important. In this portion, be as
realistic as possible in terms of personnel, time, and potential of resources
needed. Be specific and identify the
portion or area that will be investigated.
Describe the merit of specific applications, of the knowledge to be
earned, and the potential importance of these applications. Do not
dedicate too much space trying to convince the reviewers that the research is
necessary. It is important to
balance completeness and brevity. Try to
keep paragraphs short, and use headings or subheadings where appropriate.
Related Research
Your
familiarity with previous work related to the problem you are studying is
important. The reviewers will want to
know how your work will either expand on or benefit from previous or concurrent
studies. Try to show how your project
will advance the field in significant ways.
Make
sure the studies discussed bring the subject up-to-date. Do a summary of the relevant information
needed for the reviewers to understand the correlation between existing work
and the reference to the work you are proposing. This is the perfect spot for
you to indicate your scholarly competence.
Point out the limitations of any technical flaws in the studies you
discuss and indicate how you would advance the field through your work. If your project is new, cite the closest
research and show how it falls short.
Objectives
Be
specific in the objectives you plan to achieve as a result of the proposed
project. Be brief and to the point.
Enumerate objectives in order of importance.
The objectives in a research proposal can be phrased either as questions
or as hypotheses. Questions are normally
used when the research is exploratory or when the study is a survey seeking
certain facts. Hypotheses should be
stated in such a way that the proposal suggests a procedure for testing. Your objective can be to test or seek an
answer by means of the test. The
objectives in a training or service proposal usually will respond to a special
need. Documentation of the need is a
critical aspect of the proposal.
Procedures
In
this section, you will state how you intend to do your project. You need to convince the reviewer that you know what you are doing, that the
work is novel, and that it is worth supporting.
You
should clearly state:
o What you intend to do with
what supplies
o Techniques and methods you
plan to use
o How you intend to collect
the data
o How you intend to analyze
and evaluate data
o Time schedule for project
o End product expected
Make
sure your start date is realistic in light of available personnel, equipment,
and facilities. Allow enough time to
collect, analyze and interpret data, and write the final report. Also allow time for secretarial, editorial,
and duplication efforts needed to produce the report.
Personnel List
Include
only those who have consented to take part in the project. Indicate the
experience and competence of all involved.
It is sometimes advantageous for a new researcher to secure the services
of an established researcher as a consultant.
When this is the case, make the nature of the cooperation clear.
Facilities
List
all special facilities available that are relevant to the project. Specify
computer facilities, any special equipment, library, testing, or research
collections available. Make sure to get permission from the appropriate
authority for the use of any of these special facilities.
Budget Preparation
The proposed budget is an estimate of
the costs necessary to satisfy the project’s objectives. While preparing the
technical proposal, the Principal Investigator should begin to estimate the
costs of the various components of the budget.
Proposal Writing Traps
Try to avoid these shortcomings, which are typical
of many initial proposals.
o Application forms and other
items requested are incomplete
o Length of proposal exceeds
the amount specified in the guidelines
o Typeface does not meet
agency minimum size requirement
o Proposal is not well
organized
o Proposal lacks professional
appearance
o Program guidelines,
priorities, and literature have not been reviewed
o Objectives are incomplete
o Target group is not clearly
identified
o Inadequate documentation of
the significance of the project or program
o Excessive jargon is used
o Continuance of program is
not explained
o Inadequate plans for
evaluating the effectiveness of the project
o Budget does not show
institutional commitment
o Budget does not total
correctly
o Budget items are not
explained or referred to in the budget narrative
o Curriculum vitae is not
current and/or is too long
o Appendices are excessive
