English Essay

For this assignment you are going to write a grant, but not just any old grant: your grant should attempt to serve the needs of a heretofore underserved community. The first step is to do research: what types of grants are out there that interest you? How are they written? Secondly, you’ve got to define the community you will be serving: who are they and what are their needs? Finally, you have to put together a convincing argument as to what the grant will do and how it will address the needs of that community.

For example, let’s say I want to write a grant that would provide better computer access to a community: I’ve got to find a location and a community. Well it just so happens that I know of a migrant worker community in Elwood, Indiana. I’ve got to situate my writing and begin detailing what ways I plan to address the lack of access to computers: the Pew Internet research has shown that rural and Spanish-speaking communities are much less likely to have access to the Internet than the rest of us (“Internet Divide”), so I have a justification. Should I ask for more computers? Where would I put them? Perhaps the community would be better served by asking for money for a computer center in the community?

The final document will be a grant that could be actually turned in. I expect a minimum of 6 pages double spaced. You are to provide an overview of the project, what the funds are for, and a justification as to why you think the project will be effective.