Module 8 - Putting It All Together

Overview | Project Description | Proposal Section | Project Summary | Proposal Steps | Resources

Project Description

Project Description Checklist

Your Project Description will have nine components. These can appear in any order, but should read as a continuous narrative where one section flows into the other. All components need to appear in your proposal under a separate heading (with the exception of “Intellectual Merit”). The table below indicates where you’ve worked on each of these sections throughout this course. These nine components will all need to be compiled into a single document no longer than 15 pages in length.

Project Description Section Where you worked on this...
Project Overview, Rationale, and Importance

Activity 3.02 Module 3 Assignment

Results from prior NSF support

Module 3 Assignment

High Quality Research Plan

Module 4

Project Evaluation

Module 5

Dissemination

Module 6

Expertise and Management Activity 3.10 Module 3 Assignment
Intellectual Merit Activity 3.02 Module 3 Assignment
Broader Impacts Activity 3.02 Module 3 Assignment
ITEST Pillars Module 3: Writing
Solicitation Specific Review Criteria Activities 3.06, 3.07, and 3.08

Take stock of what you’ve written so far. What parts of the Project Description have you finished? What parts do you still need to work on? Start thinking about what order the sections will appear in your final Project Description (the ITEST Project Solicitation states that the sections can appear in any order in the proposal’s Project Description section). Keep in mind that while it is essential for your proposal to include all the required technical components, it is also recommended that your proposal be assembled in an intentional and cogent order. Put yourself in the shoes of your proposal reviewer - does your program unfold for the reader in a way that is compelling and comprehensive?

Create an outline below of the remaining elements of your Project Description. Using the checklist above for reference, what writing tasks do you still need to complete before you have a final, 15-page version, of your Project Description? Who will be responsible for completing these tasks? By when do you hope to have these tasks completed? Enter the task details in the table below. This information will be part of your final assignment for the course, where you’ll be asked to write a paragraph describing your plan for finalizing your entire proposal.

  • Description of writing task to be completed __________
  • Assigned to __________
  • Deadline __________
Body

 

Course Homepage

This course is being preserved for historical purposes. While the project has ended, the materials remain highly relevant for proposal development and can still serve as a valuable resource for NSF proposal writers. The course is no longer maintained, and some content may reference past initiatives or deadlines.