Practical Proposal Preparation

1. A M Y R I C K E T T S A N D K I M E K A C A M P B E L L
E D T H P 5 8 0
PRACTICAL PROPOSAL
PREPARATION:
A GENERAL OVERVIEW

2. WHAT IS THE FUNCTION?
• What is the function of a
proposal?
• “A proposal may
function in at least 3
ways: as a means of
communication, as a
plan, and as a contract.
(pg 3)

3. WHAT IS THE FUNCTION?
• a means of
communication
• reaches a wide audience:
to communicate work in
progress, or proposed work.
• a plan
• tells what is going to
happen, how it is going to
happen, and when.
• may include documents
outlining financials, gaining
access, and MOU’s and
obtaining consent

4. WHAT IS THE FUNCTION?
• a contract
• agreement between the
writer of the proposal and
and potential sponsor or
research group.
• all proposals have specific
components depending
on the institution. Follow all
of their rules!

5. TYPES OF PROPOSALS
• Academic Program
Proposals
• Program and Committee
Specific
• Qualifiers
• Candidacy
• Comprehensive Exams
• Dissertation/Thesis
Proposal

6. TYPES OF PROPOSALS
• Pre-Proposals
• White Papers
• Working Papers
• Example: NBER

7. TYPES OF PROPOSALS
• Formal Proposal
• Unsolicited Proposals
• Solicited Proposals
• BAA, RFP, RFQ
• Continuation or not-
competing proposals
• Supplemental Proposal

8. TYPES OF PROPOSALS
• Grant Proposals
• Conference Proposals
• IRB Proposal

9. PROPOSAL ANTICIPATION
• Group Activity:
• Anticipate what types
of proposals you will
write throughout your
graduate school and
professional career.
• What type, and at what
points?
• Graduate Career?
• Professional Career?
• Other proposals?
• Format?

10. COMMON COMPONENTS OF A
PROPOSAL/PUBLICATION*
Remember, there is no ONE format for all
proposals/publications*!
• Introduction/Problem Statement
• Literature Review/Theoretical
Framework/Conceptual Framework
• Methods
• Expected Findings/Findings*
• Discussion*

11. COMPONENTS OF THE PROBLEM
STATEMENT
• Social Significance of the TOPIC
• General discussion of the topic; what is its
social value?
• Problem Statement
• We do not know enough about…
• Purpose Statement
• What do you want to accomplish by doing
this study?
• To describe, explain, predict
• Significance of the STUDY
• How might the findings be applied?

12. CLASS ACTIVITY: OUTLINE 4
COMPONENTS
• Social Significance:
• Teacher is #1 variable in student learning
• Teachers need learning support (professional development)
across their careers
• Teacher Learning Communities have been shown to be more
effective than “traditional” models of professional
development
• Not all “groups” are “communities”
• Problem Statement
• We do not know enough about how “community” develops
among teacher learning groups.
• Purpose Statement
• to describe the development of community in one TLC over
time
• to explain how/why this community developed
• Significance
• Informs the design and facilitation of teacher learning groups
that support the development of community

13. SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY
• Share your outline with your
group/partner
• Kindly press your group members
for clarification
• Discuss which parts are
harder/easier than others
• Raise remaining questions that you
have about writing an introduction

14. WHOLE CLASS DISCUSSION
• What parts are harder or easier to
write than others?
• What other parts might go in the
intro? WHY?
• What questions remain about the
introduction or the components of
the introduction?

15. PROPOSAL PREPARATION TIPS
Substantive & Epistemic
Interests- Know what they
are.
• Substantive Interests: What
do you want to study?
• Epistemic Interests: How do
you want to study it? Why?
• Write two short statements
about these ideas
• Keep in a place where you
can easily refer to them
• Revise as needed

16. PROPOSAL PREPARATION TIPS
Define, Refine, and Redefine
• Be willing to rework your concepts,
definitions and methods to answer your
research questions
• Keep drafts of your research questions,
definitions, and terms. Refer to them as
needed in your refining process.
• Don’t be afraid to redefine a term that
no longer suits your purpose.
• Date each version of your entire
proposal writing process. You will have
many drafts!

17. PROPOSAL CHECKLIST
Proposal Checklist
 Have you explicitly stated your
epistemic and substantive interests?
 Have you clearly stated the social
significance of your topic?
 Have you clearly stated the
significance of your study?
 Does your lit review align with the social
significance of the topic, the purpose
of the study, and your research
question?
 Is there a “tight fit” between the
research question, the data collection
methods, the data analysis methods
and the claims you make?