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    NSERC Tips To Writing The Outline of Proposed Research

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    Rochamukti Rizcanofana
    The document provides tips for writing the Outline of Proposed Research (OPR) component of an NSERC application. It recommends doing a thorough literature review, allowing plenty of time to write and rewrite the OPR, and having referees review it. The OPR should follow formatting guidelines, be well-organized with headings and paragraphs, and carefully edited. It should include the research question, goals and objectives, literature review, methodology, and significance of the proposed research. The goals should impact various levels, while the objectives must be specific, consistent, and achievable.

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    NSERC Tips To Writing The Outline of Proposed Research

    Uploaded by

    Rochamukti Rizcanofana
    372 views3 pages
    The document provides tips for writing the Outline of Proposed Research (OPR) component of an NSERC application. It recommends doing a thorough literature review, allowing plenty of time to write and rewrite the OPR, and having referees review it. The OPR should follow formatting guidelines, be well-organized with headings and paragraphs, and carefully edited. It should include the research question, goals and objectives, literature review, methodology, and significance of the proposed research. The goals should impact various levels, while the objectives must be specific, consistent, and achievable.

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    NSERC Tips to Writing the Outline of Proposed Research

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    The document provides tips for writing the Outline of Proposed Research (OPR) component of an NSERC application. It recommends doing a thorough literature review, allowing plenty of time to write and rewrite the OPR, and having referees review it. The OPR should follow formatting guidelines, be well-organized with headings and paragraphs, and carefully edited. It should include the research question, goals and objectives, literature review, methodology, and significance of the proposed research. The goals should impact various levels, while the objectives must be specific, consistent, and achievable.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    372 views3 pages

    NSERC Tips To Writing The Outline of Proposed Research

    Uploaded by

    Rochamukti Rizcanofana
    The document provides tips for writing the Outline of Proposed Research (OPR) component of an NSERC application. It recommends doing a thorough literature review, allowing plenty of time to write and rewrite the OPR, and having referees review it. The OPR should follow formatting guidelines, be well-organized with headings and paragraphs, and carefully edited. It should include the research question, goals and objectives, literature review, methodology, and significance of the proposed research. The goals should impact various levels, while the objectives must be specific, consistent, and achievable.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Updated August 2009

    TIPS TO WRITING THE OUTLINE OF PROPOSED RESEARCH


    The Outline of Proposed Research (OPR) is one of the most important components of your
    NSERC application. This section is where you provide evidence that you have the potential to
    be a good researcher with excellent written communication skills. These tips are provided in
    place of a template so as not to affect personal style and jeopardize the purpose of the OPR.
    If you have not yet decided on a specific project, you must still provide a detailed description of
    a research project that interests you. You are not bound by this project. You may change your
    research direction or activities during the course of the award with permission of the Associate
    Vice-President, Research.
    Preparation

    Do the ground work by completing a literature review. Plan to refer to at least four.
    Give yourself plenty of time to think, write and re-write.
    Forward your OPR to your referees who are writing your Appendix 1 Report on the
    Applicant and request their feedback on the content.
    If you submit your OPR before October 13th the Office of Research can provide feedback
    on style.
    Remember, NSERC is looking for evidence of your ability to create new knowledge
    through your research and your potential to disseminate it.

    Presentation

    Follow formatting guidelines (see NSERC Form 200 instructions)


    o Insert your name in the top right margin
    Optimize readability headings, paragraphing, sentence length, white space
    Use the space allotted (e.g. one page includes citations)
    Carefully edit for fact, grammar, spelling, redundancy, clarity

    Writing Style

    Follow the basic Rules of Writing (below)


    Apply the KISS (Keep It Simple Sam!) principle avoid academese and disciplinary
    jargon; define terms and concepts
    Use active sentence construction
    Convey your ideas with confidence
    Be concise AND explain

    Key Proposal Content


    1. Research question
    2. Goal(s) and Objectives
    3. Context/Literature Review
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    Updated August 2009

    4. Methodology
    5. Significance of Proposed Research
    Goal(s) and Objectives
    A goal statement indicates what the proposal seeks to achieve in a broader sense. Consider the
    impact at level of:
    Individual, organization, community, national, international level
    Environment, social, cultural, economic, political
    Scholarly/intellectual
    Objectives are specific and concrete what are you going to do in the timeframe of the research.
    Can be articulated in the form of research questions
    Lead directly to outcomes that support the overall goal
    Need to be consistent throughout the proposal
    Need to be doable/realistic
    Context
    Three elements:
    1. Rational significance
    2. Lit review situate where your research fits in the field
    3. Theoretical approach(es)/framework that you will use
    Literature Review
    Identify the niche for the proposed project how does it fit into previous scholarship?
    Make sure your lit review is thorough, includes recent citations, peer-reviewed journals.
    Methodology
    State the objectives and outline the experimental or theoretical approach to be taken (citing
    literature pertinent to the proposal), and the methods and procedures to be used.
    Significance of Proposed Research
    This is where you grab the reviewers attention and get them excited and interested.
    Address the so what? question: why is this important/original/significant/relevant?
    o Will it create new knowledge or advance knowledge in some manner?
    o What identified problem(s) will be addressed?
    o What impact will it have?
    o Who will benefit?
    o Who is interested in this research?
    o What gap does it fill in this field of research?
    Indicate the overall proposal goal(s), objectives, key outcomes, innovations, benefits

    2 of 3

    Updated August 2009

    Rules of Writing
    1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
    2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
    3. And dont start a sentence with a conjunction.
    4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
    5. Avoid clichs like the plague (theyre old hat).
    6. Comparisons are as bad as clichs.
    7. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
    8. Be more or less specific.
    9. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
    10. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
    11. No sentence fragments.
    12. Contractions arent necessary and shouldnt be used.
    13. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
    14. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; its highly superfluous.
    15. One should NEVER generalize.
    16. Dont use no double negatives.
    17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
    18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
    19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
    20. The passive voice is to be ignored.
    21. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be
    enclosed in commas.
    22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
    23. Kill all exclamation points!!
    24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
    25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas.
    26. Use the apostrophe in its proper place and omit it when its not needed.
    27. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, I hate quotations. Tell me what
    you know.
    28. If youve hear it once, youve heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole, not one writer
    in a million can use it correctly.
    29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.
    30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
    31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
    32. Who needs rhetorical questions?
    33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
    34. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

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