Project Plan

The project plan is a 750-1000 word long narrative. References are not required, but if included they must remain within the word count. The grant reviewers can be from any university department, so write your project plan in a way that a general audience can understand.

Group project applications must have an additional 250 words per member describing their specific role in the project, how they will contribute.

Project Goals

In this section, clearly articulate the primary objective of your proposed project. If your project is research-based, state the specific research question(s) you aim to answer. If it's a creative project, clearly define the creative work you intend to develop. Ensure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Project Background and Context

Provide the necessary background and context for your proposed project. Demonstrate your familiarity with the existing literature, theories, or previous work in your field that is relevant to your project. Explain how your project builds upon, extends, or contributes to this existing body of knowledge or creative practice. Cite any key works or influences.

Methods

Describe in detail how you will execute your project.

  • For research projects: Explain your data collection methods, identify all data sources you will analyze, and outline your plan of analysis or the measurement instruments you will use.
  • For creative projects: Provide a comprehensive description of how the project will be developed, including the processes, materials, tools, and techniques you intend to employ.
  • Ensure your methodology is clear and comprehensive enough for someone outside your specific area to understand.

Group Member Addendums

In addition to the main project proposal, each member of a group application must include a 250-word statement as part of the project plan. This section should clearly explain the specific role in the project and the member's expected contributions. Describe what you will be responsible for and how your unique skills or interests will benefit the team's project. This statements as a whole should demonstrate a clear division of labor and a comprehensive understanding of each team member's part in the overall effort.

A Note on Clarity and Grant Priorities

Your proposal should be written with clarity and accessibility in mind. Use language that is appropriate for both the technical aspects of your project and a non-specialist academic audience. Define any specialized jargon or technical terms that might not be universally understood. The overall writing should be clear, concise, and easy to follow. Ensure you proofread carefully for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

The proposed project must be student-initiated and this should be evident throughout your entire proposal. Use "I" or your last name and singular pronouns consistently when referring to yourself and your contributions. Avoid using "we" unless you are explicitly referring to multiple clearly identified individuals who are part of the project team (e.g., a faculty advisor and yourself, or specific collaborators). Write in the active voice to clearly convey your agency in the project.

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From Our Workshops

To go from a project idea to a proposal, your goal is to explain the problem you want to address, why it matters, the solutions you're proposing, and the benefits. The central issue and benefits can be as big or small as you like, but your writing will have to convince the audience that it makes a valuable contribution to knowledge, science, culture, or community. You can use our Proposalfy worksheet to help organize these thoughts as you prepare to write your project plan.

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Self-Assessment

Here's a self-assessment guide to help you review your project plan. Go through each section and honestly evaluate your proposal based on the questions provided.

Project Goals

  • Have I clearly stated my project's primary goal, whether it's a specific research question or a defined creative work?
  • Are my project goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)?

Project Background and Context

  • Have I situated my project within its academic/creative context?
  • Does my proposal demonstrate familiarity with relevant literature and existing work?
  • Have I cited key influences and shown how my project builds upon or contributes to the field?

Methods

  • Have I comprehensively described my data collection methods, data sources, and analysis plan/measurement instruments?
  • For creative projects, have I detailed the development process, materials, and techniques?
  • Is my methodology clear to a non-specialist?
  • Is it clear how expense listed in my budget are critical to my methods?

Student Initiated

  • Is it evident throughout that this project is student-initiated?
  • Do I use active voice and "I" or my last name consistently?
  • Have I avoided "we" unless referring to clearly identified team members?
  • If working with others, like faculty or grad students, is it clear how this is specifically my work and not a continuation of their ongoing projects?

Clarity

  • Does my proposal use appropriate technical and non-technical language accessible to a non-specialist academic audience?
  • Have I defined jargon?
  • Is my writing clear, concise, and error-free?