This document discusses how to write effective background and significance sections for scientific proposals. It recommends that these sections: 1) awaken interest in the topic, provide context, and explain the importance and potential impact of the research; 2) be organized logically with subsections that follow a funnel structure; and 3) clearly signal the background, what is unknown or needed, the research objective/aim, and potential significance. It provides examples of language to effectively convey these various components in a concise yet compelling manner.