So you have to write a proposal .

So you have to write a proposal . . .Welcome to Research!

Science Research WorkshopsJanuary 14, 2010

Prof. Penny HirschThe Writing Program

Northwestern University

SRW Communication Workshop 1/14/10 *

Writing isn’t usually a science student’s favorite activity . . .

You would rather be inthe lab . . .

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But scientists do a lot of writing!• Lab reports• Research reports• Grant proposals• Policies, procedures, protocols • White papers• Professional journal articles• Textbooks• Conference papers• Speeches • Articles for the popular press and company newsletters


Today’s focus: to help you get started by thinking of writing as problem-solving

• Presentation topics– About me– What constitutes “good writing”?– Why you should follow a “writing process”

• Brief look at SRW tools for proposal writing• Time to get started


We want you to move from . . .

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My experience: 30 years of communication teaching and consulting• At Northwestern

– Professor & Assoc. Director, Weinberg Writing Program

– Joint appointment in the McCormick School Faculty co-chair & a founder of Engineering Design and Communication

(EDC) Faculty Fellow in the Segal Design Institute Researcher in science and engineering writing pedagogy and assessment

– NCEER, VaNTH

• Principal in my own communication consulting firm– Communication Partners (www.communipartners.com)

Many scientists as clients – at Baxter Healthcare, Amgen, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Familiar with many types of science writing:– policies & procedures, internal audits, progress reports, presentation

slide decks, etc.


Why I believe you can write a good proposal

You’re smart & logical.

You’re writing about something you like.

Other people will help you!

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Writing isn’t just editing; it’s a complex way of thinking and communicating

PROPOSAL

If you can communicate clearly, that means you really know your

science!


Experts approach writing as problem-solving, not rules

Novices (students) do too much “school” writing; they think too much about rules• What’s the “right” way to begin my proposal?• How long should my lit. review be?• Can I use personal pronouns?

Experts--practicing scientists--think about strategy• Purpose: Who do I have to convince & why?• Audience: - What questions will they have? - What evidence will they respect?• Genre: What format should I follow?


Have a conceptual framework in mind when you write – like this “communication square”

audience

purpose

contentor message

persona or tone

PROPOSAL


A framework can be adapted to different purposes and audiences• People who have different ideas about “good writing”• Why? Because they work in different discourse communities

– Members share the same discipline, background, professional goals– Good writing differs from field to field

Science writing is different from journalism, literature, law

• “Good” is also defined by genre– Type of writing: instructions v. proposal v. poem – Readers in a specific field come to a document type with specific

expectations

“Good writing” fulfills the expectations of peoplewithin a specific discourse community


What will your readers want?• Substantive content

– clear purpose– knowledge of the field– Etc. -- (see the proposal template)

• Organization that makes key information easy to find• A professional finish (good grammar, correct punctuation, neat

appearance, correct citations)

One research study at NU showed that profs mainlywant to see:– Clear explanations of technical subjects– Compelling evidence for argumentsAll readers expect correct grammar and mechanics


For funding, you need an A+ proposal, so consider what makes an A paper

“A” paper “B” paper “C” paperPurpose(thesis)

Has a clear purpose (strongthesis) that is⇒ consistent from beg inning

to end⇒ very well suited to the

assignme nt

Has a clear purpose that is⇒ consistent from

beginning to end⇒ well suited to the

assignme nt⇒ ma y be a little

“m echanical” orschoolish

⇒ Has a thesis thatfocuses on a centralidea, although paperma y occasionally trailoff into anotherdirection.

⇒ Although the topic m aybe unoriginal, the paperfollows the assignm ent.

Conten t ⇒ Develops its conten t withimp ressive supportingdetails or evide nce

⇒ Explores the im plicationsof ide as

⇒ Demo nstrates insight intothe com plexities of theissue

⇒ R easons logically &persuasively

⇒ Include s we ll chosenoutside sources that aresynthesized , no t justsumma rized

⇒ Develops its conten twith supporting detailsor eviden ce

⇒ Explores theimp lications of ideas

⇒ Uses logical reasoning;is persuasive



⇒ May som etim es confusedevelopm ent withrep etition .

⇒ May lack sufficientsources or may fail tosynthesize sourcessufficiently

⇒ R easoning may be weakin spots or paper m aynot be sufficientlypersuasive

Excerpt from Good Writing Standards handout used by WP faculty


For funding, you need an A+ proposal, so consider what makes an A paper

“A” paper “B” paper “C” paperPurpose(thesis)

Has a clear purpose (strongthesis) that is⇒ consistent from beg inning

to end⇒ very well suited to the

assignme nt

Has a clear purpose that is⇒ consistent from

beginning to end⇒ well suited to the

assignme nt⇒ ma y be a little

“m echanical” orschoolish

⇒ Has a thesis thatfocuses on a centralidea, although paperma y occasionally trailoff into anotherdirec tion.

⇒ Although the topic m aybe unoriginal, the paperfollows the assignm ent.

Conten t ⇒ Develops its conten t withimp ressive supportingdetails or evide nce

⇒ Explores the im plicationsof ide as

⇒ Demo nstrates insight intothe com plexities of theissue

⇒ R easons logically &persuasively



⇒ Explores theimp lications of ideas

⇒ Uses logical reasoning;is persuasive



⇒ May som etim es confusedevelopm ent withrep etition .

⇒ May lack sufficientsources or may fail tosynthesize sourcessufficiently

⇒ R easoning may be weakin spots or paper m aynot be sufficientlypersuasive

Excerpt from Good Writing Standards handout used by WP faculty


Rule #1: Get started!

Bad idea!

Writing is a process that requires planning, feedback, & iteration.

As you write, you get smarter!

Procrastination is common:

“I’ll do my research first and then later just ‘write it up’”


Writing starts with rough ideas and evolves as you get material, get feedback, & revise

You’re hereplanning/

getting / draftingmaterial

writing &organizing

getting feedback

rewriting

revising for style & final editing


Step 1: reviewing purpose and audience• Purpose

• Audience– Who are ALL of your readers?– What are their backgrounds?– What does that imply for your writing?


Step 2 = writing down notes• Take a concept from your lab and define it so a general reader can

understand what the lab does and why• Start writing sections that are easy

– Review the template– Look at an annotated proposal for your field– Write your preparation section

Look at the preparation section in the biology proposal (see handout)


Step 3: What other writing decisions can you make now?• Formatting:

– Headings or not? Good for 1st draft Later, replace with strong topic sentences?

– Font style and size Using the right style and size for your draft will help you judge length

• Citations: what style should you use?• Writing style: anything you should be watching for?


Common writing problems to avoid• Common usage errors

– Affects vs effects– Amount vs number– Because vs as– Data is. . . vs. Data are . . . – Compliment vs. complement

• Hyperbolic adverbs to avoid: incredibly, unbelievably• Unnecessary qualifiers: truly, really, very• Imprecise words for measurements: “about 10 grams”

Later – for editing –go to the Writing Place for help


You can write a winning proposal! • Very high success rate from students who take these workshops• Think positively!

– Every draft -- even notes -- will take you forward– A proposal is short– Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from peers– Don’t feel stupid asking questions

• When reviewing others’ work, be “gentle”!– Okay to criticize – But be nice!

• Use the SRW facilitators for help and other campus resources– The Writing Place– Librarians– Faculty


Today’s exercises -- to do with facilitators 1. Use the Research Process Checklist: check what have you already

done2. Group discussion: go over the Proposal Template

• Begin reading (your lit. review)• Start using the databases for research (facilitators demo) -- read about

what your lab does • Notice the lit review tip sheets on Blackboard

3. Start writing your preparation section• List research courses / experiences you’ve had -- or will have• Make notes: what did you learn from these experiences that

prepares you to do research?• Exchange with a partner

4. Using the style advice on slide #20, correct the errors in the practice sentences on the writing handout

SRW Communication Workshop 1/14/10

And if you become discouraged . . .

Just take a break!

*

Documents

So you have to write a proposal .