writing proposals fellowship advising denison university honors program
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The most common essays requested are the Course of Study or Research Proposal and the Personal Statement
Research the fellowship!
Who created the fellowship? What is the focus? What activities does it support?
The United States Congress created the program in 1946, immediately after World
War II. Senator J. William Fulbright, sponsor of the legislation, saw it as a step toward building international cooperation. The Fulbright Program aims to increase
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries,
through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills.
Fulbright Fellowships provide one full year of support for
Teaching English as a second language
University Study
Research
Creative writing or art and performance.
Think about what
you want to do that excites you and that is consistent with the
goals of the fellowship.
Get some feedback from others on your idea, a
faculty mentor or advisor. Talk to the staff in
Gilpatrick; that’s what we do.
Proposal Structure
What are you going to do? Why does it need to be done? Why does it need to be done there? Why should they think you can do it? Why should they fund this project? How are you going to accomplish the
project? What resources have you investigated?
Teaching
Requires interest in teaching and working with younger students.
A project that can be addressed in your free time.
Competence in the host country’s language. A desire to improve your language
competency, learn more about the culture and be a positive representative of the United States.
Research and Study An exciting yet realistic plan of study or research
that is tractable in a year. State your hypothesis, research design & methods. Demonstrate knowledge of the field and evidence of
previous successful research projects. Knowledge of the resources and literature required
for the project. Contact with the institution or laboratory where you
hope to work. Show you are familiar with their work. Obtain correspondence indicating you would be
welcome to study or work there. Knowledge of, or a plan to learn, the host country’s
language.
Creative/Performance Proposals require all of
the above, and documented evidence of
your artistic achievements.
Your personal statement should look at your past to show the committee you
can complete your proposed project
successfully.
Give the scholarship committee pragmatic details when discussing your past
experience. What have you already done to prepare you for what you
want to do?
If you want to do research, what, summer scholar awards, senior honors
research, etc. have you done?
Do not simply repeat your curriculum vitae
or resume. Use your past
experience to help make your case.
Give a best case scenario of what you want to do
professionally, and in graduate school.
How does it fit with or grow out of what you want to do during
your scholarship?
Don’t be narrowly careerist: Most scholarships are concerned about moral character, about giving to the community. Address these issues.
Avoid passive voice, “This project will be carried out….”
Use declarative sentences and don’t be afraid to say “I.”