Writing Dissertation Proposals in the Natural and Biomedical Sciences November 1, 2007 Libby O’Hare Ph.D. Candidate, Neuroscience UCLA GWC Writing Consultant

Outline 1.) Discussion of the Components of Proposals: -NRSA grant format -exercise with a funded NRSA grant 2.) Developing a Writing Practice: -time management -project management -general and specific writing strategies 3.) Writing the Background & Significance Section: -tips and strategies for literature reviews

Part 1: NRSA Grant Proposals Have specific and standard format: (1) Specific Aims and Hypotheses (2) Background and Significance (3) Methods and Experimental Design (4) Conclusions and Interpretations We will add components to this format slightly to make your proposal even more compelling and hopefully more successful

(1) Broad Summary Statement of Project 1-2 paragraphs Place the overall research question in perspective Attention grabbing Use lay language and avoid references when possible

(2) Specific Aims and Hypotheses Usually 2-5 specific aims are listed Identify the project goals and main hypotheses to be tested Should list aims using numbers and simple, specific sentences Helpful to use different formatting tools (boldface, italics) to identify specific aims and hypotheses

(3) Background and Significance Review of the current literature relevant to the proposed project Putting the research question into perspective Explicit explanation of the potential scientific impact of the project How does your research question address a hole in the literature (how is your question novel)? What progression of experiments that led to your project? Clear and well organized--use subheadings where possible

(4) Preliminary Data If applicable and available If included, should be brief Use images, graphs, tables Main goal is to demonstrate that you can perform the technique/analysis/procedure you are proposing Secondary goal is to indicate that your initial data is coming out as expected

(5) Methods and Experimental Design Description of research design Include information on: -Materials -Subjects -Instruments -data collection procedures -data analysis methods How will you address possible experimental confounds in your design? Look at previous grant proposals from your lab to get a sense of the scope and details needed

(6) Expected Results and Possible Caveats What are your expected results? Given these results, what is your interpretation? How does this interpretation fit with the concepts you have developed in the background and significance section? What are potential confounds or caveats in your experimental design? Discuss alternative approaches that may be used to address this confounds and caveats If included, this section should set your application apart from others

(7) Broad Conclusions and Implications 1-2 paragraphs Place the overall research question in perspective (yes, again!) Spell out exactly how the proposed research will advance the field Use lay language and avoid references when possible

(8) Timeline or Work Plan Chart format is helpful Include information on the duration of experiments, activities that will be conducted Optional for NRSA grants, but extremely helpful to have for yourself

Exercise 1 Identify the components we just discussed in previously successful NRSA grant (handout) Was anything missing? What sections could have been expanded upon? What sections could have been reduced or cut?

Organization is the key to productive writing Time and project management, motivational strategies Questionnaire exercise Part 2: Developing a Writing Practice

Exercise 2 Creating your own Structure” questionnaire (handout)

Organizing information and materials (references, other grants, conference abstracts, raw data figures) Make use of file systems Create a method for tracking your writing: at the end of each writing session, make notes on what you have accomplished and where you will start tomorrow Balancing research and writing Setting deadlines (external accountability) Organization: Project Management

Balancing research and writing Setting deadlines (external accountability) Create a method for tracking your writing: at the end of each writing session, make notes on what you have accomplished and where you will start tomorrow Construct a dedicated writing time and space Devise a writing schedule you can follow Organization: Time Management

General Writing Strategies Find and review examples of prior proposals in your lab/department Make communication with your advisor a high priority Make use of peers and other faculty mentors for discussion/editing Make use of GWC writing consultants WORKING OUTLINE: critical to organization Staying Organized with Strategies

Writing Strategies: Psychology of the Writing Practice Think and write in subheadings/sections, not chapters (break into manageable pieces) Revise in the same way (fight the urge to “edit at the sentence level”) Devise a writing schedule and stick to it--include means for external accountability Staying Organized with Strategies

Definitions Function Types and Styles Tips and Strategies Level of Detail Issues Part 3: Writing the Background and Significance Section

(3) Background and Significance Review of the current literature relevant to the proposed project Putting the research question into perspective Explicit explanation of the potential scientific impact of the project How does your research question address a hole in the literature (how is your question novel)? What progression of experiments that led to your project? Clear and well organized--use subheadings where possible

What is a Literature Review? “a critical look at the existing research that is significant to the proposed studies” “an account of what has been published on a topic by previous researchers” “presents the justification for your proposed studies/experiments”

Functions of Literature Reviews Placing the current study within the wider disciplinary conversation Illustrates the novelty and importance of the project Explains how your research questions and/or research approach is different from those previously published Justifies your methodology Demonstrates your familiarity with the topic and your ability to study it successfully

Types of Literature Reviews Exhaustive history: chronological review of previous studies that lead to the current project Replication: description of current state of knowledge, or methodology; also argues for additional verification or possible variation (i.e. different sample population) Missing pieces: description of current state of knowledge with identification of gaps in the field; argues how current research will address these gaps Positional: identification of various arguments, trends, and debates in field; situates the proposed research within that context and then stakes out the study’s position **some lit reviews include aspects of all of these**

Tips and Strategies Categorize your sources into topic clusters Look for trends and themes and synthesize related information: Develop the positions that are relevant for your project Build on conclusions that have led to your project Identify holes due to flawed assumptions or improper methods Include a certain amount of simple reporting of previous results, but remember You are writing discursive prose Your primary goal is to critique

Tips and Strategies (Cont.) You can’t include every single study that has ever been published on your topic! Avoid polemics, praise, and blame Focus on justifying your research questions and methodology

Level of Detail Issues Rudestam’s “Long Shots and Close-Ups” The long-shot: Background material and contextual development Needs to be acknowledged, but not treated in extensive detail The medium-shot: Requires short descriptions Typically covers sources that address the relationship of 2 variables or topics The close-up: Detailed analysis of those studies with direct relevance for the proposed research Critically examined to illustrate what is already know about a topic/variable, and how the proposed research will deal with previous limitations and move the field in new directions

Exercise 3 Working with content exercise, literature review (handout) -classifying your bibliography Critical analysis checklist for reading papers (handout) -things to think about when reading articles and references

Exercise 4 Getting Ready to Write: Critical Questions 1.) Why does the proposed research need to be conducted? 2.) How is it different from other studies? 3.) Where does the proposed research fit within the current knowledge? 4.) What will the proposed research contribute to the field?

1.) Components of NRSA grant proposals as a proxy for a dissertation prospectus 2.) Devising ways to -develop a writing practice -getting and staying organized -general writing strategies 3.) Literature Reviews and the Background & Significance Section -principles -formats -writing strategies -level of detail concerns Session 1 Summary

UCLA Grant Writing Resources Graduate Writing Center (GWC) Individual Writing Consultation Appointments Grad Division’s Extramural Fellowship Proposal Consultants Dr. Chuck Olmstead (physical and life sciences)

Writing Dissertation Proposals in the Natural and Biomedical Sciences Thursday, November 1, 2007, 4-5:30pm Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 4-5:30pm Future Grant Writing Workshops Fall Quarter, 2007

Acknowledgements UCLA Graduate Writing Center Marilyn Gray Christine Wilson UCLA Academic Technology Services Christine Wells