Prpsal 101: S, Yu Want t Change the Wrld AND Receive Funding t d s? Pamela Mitzelfeld Sherry Wynn Perdue Oakland University Writing Center 212 Kresge Library
The Nature f Prpsals There is n such thing as ne size fits all : Cntent varies by purpse and cntext, and Situatin dictates prtcl and frmat. With that said, all prpsals must attend t: Audience, Situatin, Purpse, Subject, and Tne.
Anticipate Yur Audience What cnstitutes its membership? What are its standards and values? What des it knw/need t knw? What are its expectatins? What are its inclinatins? What are its mtivatins?
Understand Yur Purpse Exhibit the authr s expertise and cmpetency, Demnstrate a suitable respnse t an identified prblem and dcument its viability, Explain prject specificatins, Infrm audience, Persuade reviewers that the research is wrth undertaking, Functin as a cntract with/prmise t the researcher s benefactrs and beneficiaries, and Serve as a planning tl fr the researcher.
The AIDA Apprach Attentin: slicit it Interest: sustain it Desire: mtivate it Actin: prmte it
Accmplish Yur Task Shwcase knwledge, Emply specific language, Offer cncrete and audience apprpriate examples and evidence, Cnfrm t disciplinary r reviewing agent cnventins, Demnstrate prject viability, and Plish Presentatin.
Prpsal Organizatin Intrductin: Pse a research wrthy/funding wrthy questin, Explre a prblem that precipitated the prpsal, Offer backgrund and cntext, Overview the current cnversatin abut the issue, Define the prject s purpse and scpe, and Offer an rganizatinal frame.
Prpsal Organizatin Methds: Frmulate a plan, Identify primary/secndary research requirements, Demnstrate prject efficacy (D the reviewers expect quantitative supprt?), and Designate Oversight Prtcl.
Prpsal Organizatin Outcmes/Deliverables: What is the intended prduct? Hw will its success be gauged? What will it cntribute t future research r t the targeted cmmunity?
Prpsal Organizatin Cnclusin: Summarize purpse, Restate bjectives, and Clarify benefits.
A Few Additinal Thughts Effective Prpsals are: Infrmative, Priritized, Cnsistent, and Persuasive.
Persistent Prblem Almst since the beginning f time, male births have been disprprtinately rewarded. As such disreputable cultural practices--such as euthanizing unwanted female babies, especially in cultures where resurces are scarce and where lder generatins rely n the yunger--have develped. Feminists seek in the lng term t change mindsets and in the shrt term t alter practice, but the prblem remains, always dwngrading the value f wmen, ften straining sibling and familial relatinships, and smetimes creating a shrtfall f females in a culture, which temprarily reduces the practice, etc.
Prpsal: Yu Are What Yur Mther Eats Sme researchers have attempted t prvide parents with a better way t predict r tip the scale. ( We wn t discuss the ptentially prblematic eths, here). Unfrtunately, thse in infrmatics have reminded them that male partner s input determine sex. Mre recently, researchers at Exeter and Oxfrd have prpsed that, Yu are what yur mther eats. Were these researchers asking different questins? Why d thse in infrmatics still dismiss the mther s pre-pregnancy diet as a ptential factr? Hw was such research funded? Wh wuld ptentially benefit frm its findings?
Other Examples A prpsal t mandate paid breastfeeding breaks via revised Canadian Labur Cde. Here the authrs sught a tangible utcme, ne that wuld be put int practice and directly benefit lactating mthers. A critique f antifeminist biases in epidemilgical research n wmen s health and a subsequent prpsal t define an emancipatry epidemilgy within an alternative feminist framewrk. Here the prduct is mre theretical in nature and serves t prduce an extended academic cnversatin abut the discipline.
Getting Started: Yur Turn What persistent questins abut the glbal health status f wmen nag at yur cnscience? What discipline addresses such questins/tpics? In what publicatins are yu mst likely t find relevant literature that addresses them? What is the state f existing knwledge? What wuld yu like t accmplish? D yu want t draw attentin t a neglected questin r phenmenn by advcating additinal research? D yu want t advcate a paradigm shift? D yu want t prpse a plan f actin and secure funding fr it?
Thank Yu!! We appreciate the pprtunity t speak with yur class. Please feel free t visit the Writing Center fr assistance with yur writing needs and challenges.