ABSTRACT
Preparation of a grant proposal, an essential component of the investigator-educator’s life today, need not be as painful as many applicants consider it. The principles apply equally to the preparation of a grant proposal and to that of a scientific or technical report, despite several differences in the two forms. The temporal relation between the writing and the research, for example, differs. The result is a diffuse, rambling, confused proposal that lays bare the incertitude and chaotic thinking of the applicant. Write a synopsis of the proposal, in which succinctly define the purpose, describe the methods of procedure and their rationale, summarize the expected new knowledge to be gained, and indicate its anticipated significance. A table of contents is welcomed by most readers who wish to review the scope of the proposal before reading it or who, after having completed the first reading, wish to review certain parts of the application.
