Writing Proposals

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Writing Proposals

• Fellowship Advising
• Denison University
• Honors Program

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Its never too soon to get an early start!
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Scholarship and fellowship applications ask you
to write several essays.
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The most common essays requested are the Course
of Study or Research Proposal and the Personal
Statement
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The Course of Study or Research Proposal
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Research the fellowship!

• Who created the fellowship?
• What is the focus?
• What activities does it support?

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Lets consider the Fulbright Fellowship as an
example.
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The United States Congress created the program in
1946, immediately after World War II. Senator J.
William Fulbright, sponsor of the legislation,
saw it as a step toward building international
cooperation. The Fulbright Program aims to
increase mutual understanding between the people
of the United States and other countries, through
the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills.
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Fulbright Fellowships provide one full year of
support for

• Teaching English as a second language
• University Study
• Research
• Creative writing or art and performance.

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The Key steps in developing a proposal
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Think about what you want to do that excites
you and that is consistent with the goals of the
fellowship.
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Think about how you will accomplish your
project.
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Get some feedback from others on your idea, a
faculty mentor or advisor. Talk to the staff in
Gilpatrick thats what we do.
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Proposal Structure

• What are you going to do?
• Why does it need to be done?
• Why does it need to be done there?
• Why should they think you can do it?
• Why should they fund this project?
• How are you going to accomplish the project?
• What resources have you investigated?

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Teaching

• Requires interest in teaching and working with
  younger students.
• A project that can be addressed in your free
  time.
• Competence in the host countrys language.
• A desire to improve your language competency,
  learn more about the culture and be a positive
  representative of the United States.

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Research and Study

• An exciting yet realistic plan of study or
  research that is tractable in a year.
• State your hypothesis, research design methods.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the field and evidence
  of previous successful research projects.
• Knowledge of the resources and literature
  required for the project.
• Contact with the institution or laboratory where
  you hope to work. Show you are familiar with
  their work.
• Obtain correspondence indicating you would be
  welcome to study or work there.
• Knowledge of, or a plan to learn, the host
  countrys language.

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Creative/Performance Proposals require all of
the above, and documented evidence of your
artistic achievements.
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The Personal Statement
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Personal statements are really intellectual
biographies
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Your personal statement should look at your past
to show the committee you can complete your
proposed project successfully.
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It should also show how your proposal fits with
your future academic and career plans.
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Establishing the link between what youve done
and what you want to do.
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Give the scholarship committee pragmatic details
when discussing your past experience. What have
you already done to prepare you for what you want
to do?
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If you want to teach abroad, what teaching
experience have you had?
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If you want to do research, what, summer scholar
awards, senior honors research, etc. have you
done?
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If you want to earn a graduate degree, show how
your work at Denison will help you do that.
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Do not simply repeat your curriculum vitae or
resume. Use your past experience to help make
your case.
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Establishing the link between the proposed
project and your future career.
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Give a best case scenario of what you want to do
professionally, and in graduate school.How does
it fit with or grow out of what you want to do
during your scholarship?
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Dont be narrowly careerist Most scholarships
are concerned about moral character, about giving
to the community. Address these issues.
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Dont engage in sweeping statements about
changing the world. Be as specific as
possible.
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You must do all this briefly and clearly.
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On the use of language.
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Use topic sentences dont bury the good stuff,
get it up front.
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Always look for a hook, something that shows
how distinctive you and your proposal are.
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Avoid passive voice, This project will be
carried out. Use declarative sentences and
dont be afraid to say I.
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Avoid connectors unless absolutely necessary,
e.g., however, yet, thus.
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Write in short, crisp sentences, and avoid
unnecessary jargon.
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A good rule of thumb isOne idea, one sentence.
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Avoid trite phrases and tired imagery, Thinking
outside the box. or I am well-rounded.
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Show dont tell!
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Happy Writing!