The resources in this library were extracted from a copyrighted source, available to you in a password protected iSchool site. They are well written, targeted articles providing realistic, specific guidance for proposal preparation. They are all extracted from Research Development and Grantwriting News, published by Academic Research Funding Strategies, LLC. Full issues are available on SU Share in the Virtual Faculty Center (sushare.syr.edu).
- Ambiguity in Narratives (August 2012) - It's insidious and creeps in - get rid of it!
- The Background Researcher on Proposals (February 2013) - Why you should read the literature cited in proposal solicitations.
Big Changes in STEM Education Funding (June 2013) – a description of the NSTC’s 5-year Strategic Plan and potential impacts on funding opportunities.
- The Dictionary of Common NSF Usage (February 2013) - Shows you how to refine your proposal language to edge out the competition.
- From Silos To Synergy: The Yellow Brick Road of Grant Writing (December 2012) – Writing the successful collaborative proposal.
- Getting the Writing Right (April 2013) - Get fresh eyes to read and critique your proposals.
- Going From Research Ideas to Research Dollars (June 2013) – Critical touchstones that will transform your ideas into funded projects.
- Grant Writer’s Checklist (September 2013) – A checklist for good writing and good content.
How Proposals are Reviewed by NSF, NIH, DoED, and DOE (June 2013) – When you understand the review process, you write a better proposal!
- Importance of the Practice Proposal (July 2013) – Practice, practice, practice – you get better.
- Interviewing Schrödinger’s Cat (August 2012) – the role of Ambiguity in proposal narratives.
- No Squishy Commitments or Weasel Clauses (March 2013) - Guidance for writing the most compelling letters of support or commitment.
- No Tweaking, No Nudging, No Band-Aids, Please (November 2012) – Resubmitting your proposal? Revise thoughtfully!
- NSF Ferrets Out and Punishes Research Misconduct - (June 2014) - Why does OSP and Sponsored Accounting always question everything?? Or, how stupid can people be?? This article will give you a glimpse of the work of the Office of the Inspector General, and the processes universities have in place to ensure the ethical and intelligent conduct of research.
- An Overview of IARPA (June 2012) – the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity funder.
- Proportionality and Sequence in the Project Narrative (March 2013) - Writing the narrative is tricky – how to make the most of your proposal real estate.
- Quantifying the Project Narrative (April 2013) – Give your proposal punch with well placed data!
- Red Teaming: Scalable, Adaptable, and Versatile (May 2013) – Tap your colleagues to better understand a solicitation and create a better proposal.
- Red Teaming the Solicitation (July 2012) - Use the face-to-face crowd to help focus the call for proposals!
- The Role of Context in a Successful Proposal (November 2012) – Addressing the impact of your project on your discipline and to the agency’s mission.
- Time to Get Started on Your NSF CAREER Proposal (March 2013) - Do it now! Advice for the CAREER writer.
- The Too Kind Program Officer (February 2013) - Program officers want to encourage; proposers are eager to be funded - A caution to listen critically to the careful language of program officers and hear what they cannot say.
- Too Much Data? (September 2012) – Data is good, but don’t obscure your message.
- Update on Funding for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences at NSF - The SBE total budget is not large, so it pays to know what the agency’s priorities, goals, and strategies are for the immediate future.
- Why Formatting Matters, Part 1 (November 2012) – Sage advice on how to convey more information using formatting and graphics.
- Why Formatting Matters, Part 2 (December 2012) – More sage advice on how to convey more information using formatting and graphics.
- Why Halloween is Bad for Proposals, Part 3 (June 2012) – Make sure your research ideas are not disguised by these masks.
- Why Halloween is Bad for Proposals, Part 4 (July 2012) - More disguises.
- Why Halloween is Bad for Proposals, Part 5 (August 2012) - More disguises.
- Why Halloween is Bad for Proposals, Part 6 (September 2012) - More disguises.