English 5314. Proposal Writing

Proposal Writing is an online writing workshop. In this workshop, students will write a group proposal and, if appropriate, submit it as an application for an actual grant. Our course goals are to learn to:

• Analyze audiences for grant proposals;

• Find appropriate funding sources;

• Learn to write a compelling needs statement, project objectives, project description, budget, and evaluation section; and

• Use technology and negotiation skills to write collaboratively.

By the end of the course, students will know how to answer the following questions:

• Is my organization eligible to apply for a grant?

• How do I identify audiences that might be interested in funding a proposed project?

• How do I collect the research needed to write a persuasive proposal?

• What criteria should I use to write a grant proposal?

• What rhetorical choices should I make to write a successful proposal?

• What steps can I take to rewrite a denied grant proposal?

Textbook:  Grant Seeking in an Electronic Age by Victoria Mikelonis, Signe T. Betsinger, and Constance E. Kampf.