Writing for Funding Part 1: General Writing and Writing for - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Part 1: General Writing and Writing for Specific Review

Writing for Funding

Alicia J. Knoedler, Ph.D. Grant Writing for the Social Sciences Summer, 2003

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Writing Discussions

Part 1: Getting Started

General writing comments and suggestions Knowing what you need to write Planning your time

Part 2: Writing Grants in Sections

Cover letters Abstracts Research Plans/Project Descriptions Letters of Support Other items

Part 3: Everything else

What not to do when writing Looking ahead: Budget justifications, responses to

reviews

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Stuff I just have to say first….

You have to READ carefully to WRITE

carefully

Instructions Review Criteria Guidelines Reviewer comments

You have to KNOW your topic to WRITE

convincingly

Logic is very important Professional enthusiasm is a must

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Two biggest problems I see…

LACK OF LOGICAL

THOUGHT AND COMMUNICATION

NOT FOLLOWING THE

INSTRUCTIONS

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Hurdles to Jump in Writing

Your level of skill in writing Your level of motivation Your level of understanding Your ability to edit your own writing Your colleagues willingness to read (and your

willingness to let them read) your writing

Emphasis is on you

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Writing Skill

No minor errors – spelling, grammar, subject/verb

agreement, number agreement

Word choice – do not be redundant, use synonyms;

no contractions

Try to avoid passive verb tense Avoid jargon – write for a knowledgeable audience

but define terminology essential for your topic

Scientific Sponsor (NIH, NSF) – jargon is ok Private Foundation – jargon is not appropriate

First vs third person – which is better? Be aware of what you have already written – repeat

yourself only to emphasize important points

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Motivation

Write when you are motivated; don’t write if

you are dreading it

If you are not motivated to write, you probably

won’t write with enthusiasm (which could then hurt your proposal)

Try to write one hour per day (at least) System of rewards to enhance motivation Develop a set of writing goals Set aside your writing for a while before

editing

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Knowledge of your Topic

Believe that you are the EXPERT on your topic – and

write like you are

Make sure that you have thoroughly thought about

the various views on your topic

Be familiar with opposing views and consider

/address them in your writing

Develop the logical progression of thought on your

topic BEFORE you start writing (i.e., create an

• utline)

Theory – introduce your theory at the outset, discuss

the prior research, your current research, this research project and wrap back around to consider the theory again.

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Editing and Revising

Time is your ally in editing your own work Start early to allow yourself time to edit and

revise

Determine the best way to edit your own work

Print a hard copy, read from beginning to end,

mark your comments in an ink color other than black

Read your draft on the computer and make

changes as you go

Edit in sections*

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Constructive Criticism from Others

Mutual favor exchange Select a range of reasonable critics Realize the amount of work you are asking

someone to do

Be suspicious of anyone who returns your

work without any negative comments

Hand over your work with instructions,

context, background

Give a deadline if possible

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If I were writing a grant proposal...

1.

Complete the forms – as many as possible without having to ask for help

2.

Create a checklist of items I must consider in the research plan/project description

3.

Create an outline blending my approach with what is required

4.

Write the research plan/project description section by section

5.

Put writing aside for 2-3 days; go back to forms or ask someone for help with budget and other items

6.

Read the research plan/project description, making notes for improvement and placement of transitions

7.

Revise research plan/project description and give to two colleagues for comments

8.

Discuss colleagues’ comments with them and make appropriate changes

9.

Pull entire grant proposal together and run through for final changes, additions, etc.

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Knowing what you need to write

• NIH – Form instructions and program announcements (example given in class –

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-108.html)

• Significance
• Approach
• Innovation
• Investigator
• Environment
• NSF – Review Criteria
• Intellectual Merit
• Broader Impacts
• NEH
• Questions to address (9 questions read in class;

http://www.neh.fed.us/grants/guidelines/fellowships.html#howto)

• Review Criteria
• Significance of the contribution that the project will make to knowledge in the

specific field and to humanities generally

• Quality or promise of quality of the applicant’s work as an interpreter of the

humanities

• Quality of the conception, definition, organization, and description of the project
• Likelihood that the applicant will complete the project

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Planning your Time

Always have a plan Your plan will probably take twice as long to

implement than you expect

Having practiced skills (forms, writing, math, knowing

your limits) will cut down on frustration and time wasted

Work backwards from the deadline (also think about

deadline and review time relative to when you need the money)

Remember other items that take a while –

departmental approval, college approval, university approval

Whatever you do, DO NOT LEAVE THINGS UNTIL

THE LAST MINUTE