Writing Proposals Fellowship Advising Denison 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! l Who created the fellowship? l What is the focus? l 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 l What are you going to do? l Why does it need to be done? l Why does it need to be done there? l Why should they think you can do it? l Why should they fund this project? l How are you going to accomplish the project? l What resources have you investigated?

Teaching l Requires interest in teaching and working with younger students. l A project that can be addressed in your free time. l Competence in the host country’s language. l A desire to improve your language competency, learn more about the culture and be a positive representative of the United States.

Research and Study l An exciting yet realistic plan of study or research that is tractable in a year. l State your hypothesis, research design & methods. l Demonstrate knowledge of the field and evidence of previous successful research projects. l Knowledge of the resources and literature required for the project. l Contact with the institution or laboratory where you hope to work. Show you are familiar with their work. l Obtain correspondence indicating you would be welcome to study or work there. l 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!