English

English 1302 Grant Proposal Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview

The final project is the creation of a grant proposal.

The assessment for this course will be the construction of a grant proposal that targets a current need. The overall assessment will

demonstrate your ability not only to conduct research, but to think critically. Specifically, through your writing you must demonstrate

your ability to address the following:

 Explanation of issues: Issue/problem to be considered critically is stated clearly and described comprehensively, delivering all relevant information necessary for full understanding

 Evidence: Information is taken from source(s) with enough interpretation/evaluation to develop a comprehensive analysis or synthesis. Viewpoints of experts are questioned thoroughly.

 Influence of context and assumptions: Thoroughly analyzes own and others’ assumptions and carefully evaluates the relevance of contexts when presenting a position.

 Your position: Specific position is imaginative, taking into account the complexities of an issue. Limits of position are acknowledged. Others’ points of view are synthesized within position.

 Conclusions and related outcomes: Conclusions and related outcomes are logical and reflect your informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Additionally, your essay must demonstrate the components of written composition:

 Context of and Purpose for Writing: Demonstrate a thorough understanding of context, audience, and purpose of a textual analysis.

 Content Development: Use appropriate, relevant, and compelling content to illustrate mastery of the idea of critical thinking.

 Genre and Disciplinary Conventions: Properly format and organize the essay in MLA style.

 Sources and Evidence: Incorporate at least two citations in each paragraph from at least two library database sources.

 Control of Syntax and Mechanics: Use graceful language that skillfully communicates meaning to readers with clarity and fluency, making almost no errors.

The project will be broken up into different sections throughout the semester and at the end you will combine each section into one

complete paper.

Some examples of grant proposal ideas have included:

 An elementary school has over 50 at-risk-students with behavior issues who are at risk with learning. This directly affects their ability for future success in school. A grant was submitted to support the development of a music program directly targeting

the lessons being taught to improve memory.

 The implementation of logotherapy with failing high school students to improve behavior and help change the attitude of these students.

This project is divided into four parts, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure

quality final submissions. These different parts are: Problem Identification, Intervention Strategy, Closing Statement, and the creation

of a PowerPoint Presentation to be submitted during finals week.

Prompt The grant proposal will contain the critical elements listed below.

I. Problem Identification: Research and identify resources for a specific issue that needs to be corrected (5-7 pages – at least two pages per subpoint). The issue/problem to be considered critically is stated clearly and described comprehensively,

delivering all relevant information necessary for full understanding.

a. Prevalence: Determine a necessary program or service by examining current needs. i. What is the issue you have chosen to address? Who is affected? What data do you have that points to the

prevalence of this issue?

b. Assessment of Resources: Evaluate available and needed resources in your community. i. Evaluate the resources available for providing a program or service such as the one you have identified.

c. Impact of the problem: Describe the impact of the problem on individuals, families, and the community. Construct an impact statement on the prevalence of the identified issue and the lack of community resources.

i. Articulate how the prevalence of the problem has an impact on the community. ii. How is the lack of available resources exacerbating the issue?

II. Intervention Strategy: This section examines why your proposal will address the problem discussed. It should use various rhetorical techniques to convince and persuade the audience that what you are proposing will address the issue (3-5 pages).

In your submission, be sure to include the critical elements listed below:

 Research and justify the selection of a theoretically supported and effective intervention strategy for addressing the target issue.

 Efficacy: Analyze and critique at least two established intervention strategies for inconsistencies and effectiveness.

i. Critically examine intervention strategies for consistency. ii. How effective were these strategies in addressing their respective issues? To what extent would

these intervention strategies address the issue identified in your community?

 Selection: Select a strategy and justify your selection based on its effectiveness and the individual, familial, environmental, cultural, and political factors.

III. Closing Statement: Conclude your grant proposal with careful attention to the audience you must convince.

Part II

Presentation

For this component, you will develop a presentation that articulates a convincing need for the proposal you have developed. The

presentation should be engaging and appealing to your target audience(s). You should envision yourself giving this presentation before

your target audience(s).

This is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the problem you have identified and the need to address and alleviate

the problem. Remember you are seeking support of the proposal, so knowing your audience and tailoring your message to them is

crucial.

Since you will not actually deliver this presentation, you must create a self-sustaining presentation. The presentation should adhere to

the principles of an effective presentation, and all your sources should be cited properly. There is no minimum or maximum number of

slides required. You should use your judgement to create a presentation of appropriate length that will convey all of the necessary

information while keeping the attention of your audience.

Final Project Rubric

Guidelines for submission: Your grant proposal must be 8-12 pages in length (plus your works cited page) and must be written in

MLA format. Include at least 8 academic journal sources cited in MLA format.

Critical Elements Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not evident

Problem Identification:

Prevalence

Submission defines with

comprehensive research

evidence of the

existence and

prevalence of the

identified problem/need

and provides examples

to support argument.

Submission defines the

problem with published

data that evidences the

identified problem is a

prevalent problem/need

Submission provides

limited data to support

that the identified

problem is a prevalent

problem/need

Submission lacks

credible research data to

support that the

identified problem is a

prevalent issue

Problem Identification:

Assessment of

Resources

Submission contains an

extensive and

comprehensive list of

community resources

that may be related to

the services necessary

for addressing the

identified problem/need,

as well as a detailed

description of the

Submission provides

evidence in the form of

links, citations, and a

description of local

resources for their

limited capacity to

address the identified

problem.

Submission provides

evidence in the form of

links, citations, and a

description of local

resources without

addressing the capacity

of the resources to

address the identified

problem

Submission provides

limited evidence in the

form of links, citations

and a description of

local resources without

addressing the capacity

of the resources to

address the identified

problem.

Critical Elements Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not evident

limited capacity to

address the identified

problem and real-world

examples to support

claims.

Problem Identification:

Impact of the Problem

Submission research

supported evidence in a

highly detailed and

professional manner that

demonstrates the

comprehensive impact

that the identified

problem has been

proven to have on

individuals, families,

and the community and

grounds claims in actual

examples and relevant

theory

Submission provides

research supported

evidence of how the

identified problem will

have an impact on

individuals, families,

and the community if

the problem is not

addressed proactively

Submission provides

research evidence of the

general impact of the

problem without

considering the specific

community

Submission discusses

the general impact of

the problem without

considering the specific

community or without

providing research

evidence to support the

impact of the identified

problem

Intervention Strategy:

Efficacy

Submission evidences a

comprehensive review

of the strategies used for

the identified problem

(considers at least two)

and uses examples to

illustrate claims

Submission

demonstrates

consideration of

evidence based

strategies for the

identified problem

(considers a minimum

of two strategies)

Submission

demonstrates

consideration of

evidence based

intervention strategies

for the identified

problem; submission

may consider only a

single intervention

strategy

Submission

demonstrates minimal

consideration of

evidence based

intervention strategies

for the problem/need,

and the submission

considers only a single

strategy

Intervention Strategy:

Selection

Submission evidences a

clear selection to

address the

Submission evidences a

clear selection of an

intervention strategy.

Submission has a clear

strategy to address the

need but it may lack a

Submission evidences a

selection that lacks a

clear basis in research

Critical Elements Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not evident

need/problem that has

strong support from the

research. In addition,

the conclusions and

related outcomes are

logical and reflect an

informed evaluation and

ability to place evidence

and perspectives

discussed in priority

order.

The conclusion is

logically tied to a range

of information,

including opposing

viewpoints, related

outcomes are identified

clearly.

clear basis. The

conclusion is logically

tied to information;

some related outcomes

are identified clearly.

support, and conclusion

is inconsistently tied to

some of the information

discussed; related

outcomes are

oversimplified.

Closing Statement Submission evidences a

closing statement which

comprises the main

points of the grant in a

logical fashion.

Submission evidences a

closing statement which

comprises the main

points of the grant

Submission evidences a

closing statement, but

fails to comprise all of

the main points of the

grant

Submission does not

evidence a closing

statement

Articulation of

Response

Submission is free of

errors related to MLA,

citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, and

organization and is

presented in a

professional and easy to

read format

Submission has no

major errors related to

MLA, citations,

grammar, spelling,

syntax, or organization

Submission has major

errors related to MLA,

citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, or

organization that

negatively impact

readability and

articulation of main

ideas

Submission has critical

errors related to MLA,

citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, or

organization that

prevent understanding

of ideas

Presentation Rubric

Critical Element Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not evidence

Presentation Submission clearly

articulates a convincing

need for the proposal.

The presentation is

engaging and appealing

to target audience. It

clearly demonstrates

your understanding of

the problem and the

need to address and

alleviate it.

Submission articulates a

convincing need for the

proposal. The

presentation uses

attempts to use

techniques to engage

and appeal to the target

audience. It

demonstrates an

understanding of the

problem and the need to

alleviate it.

Submission states the

need for the proposal.

There is a lack of

engagement and appeal

to the target audience. It

lacks in showing an

understanding of the

problem and the need to

alleviate it.

Submission was put

together at last minute.

There is no attempt to

engage the audience.

Articulation of

Response

Submission is free of

errors related to MLA,

citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, and

organization and is

presented in a

professional and easy to

read format

Submission has no

major errors related to

MLA, citations,

grammar, spelling,

syntax, or organization

Submission has major

errors related to MLA,

citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, or

organization that

negatively impact

readability and

articulation of main

ideas

Submission has critical

errors related to MLA,

citations, grammar,

spelling, syntax, or

organization that

prevent understanding

of ideas