IV. Project Description: Detailed Explanation

The organization of a proposal's Project Description can vary considerably from funding agency to agency. Despite this variability, each proposal should have the essential elements, regardless of the subheadings used (see below). This is the organization required for this course; you must include each of the following sections in your proposal. You will see that many of the subheadings and their content mirror the structure of a scientific journal article. The two types of writing, however, have very different purposes. While a primary journal article provides data to evaluate a hypothesis and is intended to convince the reader that the work was sound, a proposal is designed to entice the reader and demonstrate the feasibility of the work.

A proposal must NOT bore the reviewer. It is of great importance, no matter how technical the section you're writing, to relate your enthusiasm for the project. However, relating this enthusiasm and maintaining a professional tone to your writing is an art form that takes practice to develop. You may also find that reading past successful proposals from colleagues or advisors gives you insight into this delicate balancing act.

A scientific proposal is a tool in science. However, the skills that you will develop in this exercise are critical to any professional field. You will learn how to construct and communicate an argument that will help you throughout life.

A. Abstract: (Summarize the study.)
The abstract summarizes the entire entire proposal briefly. Make sure that you introduce your study, highlight your methods, and identify the significance of the study.

(Max 100 words)

B. Introduction: (Why is this important?)

This section introduces the research problem, its significance, and importance. The introduction is meant to build your case that this project is important enough to be funded. You will want to cast your project that presents the context of your study beyond the narrow focus of your specific quesition. For example, what are the potential scientific or societal justifications for your study. Make sure that you identify the work previously done in the field that helps illustrate the uniqueness of your research question. Be careful, do not add methods into this sections. You will have the opportunity to discuss the methods in the next section. Usually, though not always, this section concludes identifies the hypotheses to be tested and your predictions near the end of the section.

(Max 500 words) 

C. Research Objectives: (What you intend to do?)

The author explicitly defines what the project's objectives within this section. The author will specifically identify the questions and/ or hypotheses that will be examined in the study. The specific methods used to accomplish the objectives, however, are left for the next section.

(Max 100 words) 

D. Methods: (How you will conduct the study?)

This is where you detail how the work will be accomplished from a practical standpoint. This section will describe the study design, data collection, and data analyses. Authors may also want to include such things as a description of the facilities or study area and specialized equipment. This should be more than a simple description of your methods. You will need to explain/ justify each component of your study. Do not recreate the wheel. You will want to develop methods based on accepted procedures and equipment. Make sure that you cite where appropriate.

(Max 700 words - statistical analyses for 2nd submission)

E. Broader Implications: (Besides the persons identified in your introduction, who else would be interested in the proposed study?)

In your introduction, you designed a line of thinking to justify your project. What are some other possible justifications of your work. How might your work have applied significance, or how might your study have broader implications of your study to basic science."What is the broader significance of this research?"

(Max 100 words - for second submission)

F. Literature Cited

This needs to be complete.There is no minimum or maximum number of citation. You must adequately support your proposal.

G. Curriculum Vitae: (Biographical Information)

You will want to develop a curriculum vitae describing your professional career to date. You will be provided supplementary guidance for this section.

(As long as you need.)

First Submission:
Will include all sections, expect for the statistical analyses in the Methods and the Broader Implications.

Second Submission:
Will include the revised first submission proposal as well as the statistical analyses within the Methods and the Broader Implications.

© Meers, Savarese, Demers, Barreto, Kakareka, Volety, Everham, Cruz-Alvarez, Loh, Goebel, Fugate, Bovard, Hartley, Mujtaba, & Gunnels 2009.

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