Writing Proposals

Fellowship AdvisingDenison University

Honors Program

It’s never too soon to get an early start!

Scholarship and fellowship applications ask you to write

several essays.

The most common essays requested are the Course of Study or Research Proposal and the Personal Statement

The Course of Study or Research Proposal

Research the fellowship!

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

Let’s consider the Fulbright Fellowship as an example.

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.

Fulbright Fellowships provide one full year of support for

Teaching English as a second language

University Study

Research

Creative writing or art and performance.

The Key steps in developing a proposal

Think about what

you want to do that excites you and that is consistent with the

goals of the fellowship.

Think about how you will accomplish your project.

Get some feedback from others on your idea, a

faculty mentor or advisor. Talk to the staff in

Gilpatrick; that’s what we do.

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?

Teaching

Requires interest in teaching and working with younger students.

A project that can be addressed in your free time.

Competence in the host country’s language. A desire to improve your language

competency, learn more about the culture and be a positive representative of the United States.

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 country’s

language.

Creative/Performance Proposals require all of

the above, and documented evidence of

your artistic achievements.

The Personal Statement

Personal statements are really intellectual biographies

Your personal statement should look at your past to show the committee you

can complete your proposed project

successfully.

It should also show how your proposal fits with your future academic and career plans.

Establishing the link between what you’ve done and what

you want to do.

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?

If you want to teach abroad, what teaching experience

have you had?

If you want to do research, what, summer scholar awards, senior honors

research, etc. have you done?

If you want to earn a graduate degree, show

how your work at Denison will help you

do that.

Do not simply repeat your curriculum vitae

or resume. Use your past

experience to help make your case.

Establishing the link between the proposed project and

your future career.

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?

Don’t be narrowly careerist: Most scholarships are concerned about moral character, about giving to the community. Address these issues.

Don’t engage in sweeping statements about changing the world.

Be as specific as possible.

You must do all this briefly and clearly.

On the use of language.

Use topic sentences; don’t bury the good stuff, get it up front.

Always look for a “hook,” something that shows how

distinctive you and your proposal are.

Avoid passive voice, “This project will be carried out….”

Use declarative sentences and don’t be afraid to say “I.”

Avoid connectors unless absolutely necessary, e.g.,

however, yet, thus.

Write in short, crisp sentences, and avoid unnecessary jargon.

A good rule of thumb is:One idea, one sentence.

Avoid trite phrases and tired imagery, “Thinking outside the box.” or “I am well-rounded.”

Show don’t tell!

Happy Writing!