Try filling out this template to make sure you’re on track:
Key Elements of a Proposal       Example

The Topic
1. Ideally, the proposal should take advantage of fundamental principles from a graduate course(s) you are taking this quarter:  e.g., Chem 201 Organic Reaction Mechanisms, Chem   215  Inorganic Chemistry, Chem 216 Organometallic Chemistry, Chem 223 Biomacromolecules.
2. Don’t propose things that others are already working on.
3. Don’t propose things you’ve already done, like your undergraduate research project. Proposals in related areas of research would be OK.

Your Proposal
Proposals are due in class on Friday, October 21. Feel free to use your proposal for grant applications such as the NSF Graduate Fellowship (due October 28).
• maximum length of two pages, including all references, citations, charts, figures, and images.
• standard 8.5″ x 11″ page size, 1″ margins on all sides
•12-point, Times New Roman font, single spaced.
• Only references and footnotes may be a smaller font, no less than 10- point Times New Roman.
• Chemdraw structures should be ACS standard settings, pasted at 75% size (not smaller!)

Take advantage of Dr. Lori Greene’s workshops:
Drop-in essay editing with past awardees. Tuesday from 4-6 pm

Other Resources:
Chemistry conventions, use of italics, referencing, etc:  ACS style guide
Grammar, paragraph structure, etc:  Strunk and White
Scientific writing:  http://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Writing-Communication-Proposals-Presentations/dp/0199947562