Friday, March 12, 2010

What Makes A Good Project Description Writeup

Organization is important to any project write-up.


Many of the world's most ambitious and influential projects started with nothing more than an idea. However, in order to take an idea to the next level, to receive funding, to win a scholarship or even to successfully pitch an idea to an employer or instructor, you need to know present your idea in a way that will make others excited about the project.


Appearance


While the content is ultimately more important than appearance, making sure that your project write-up gives the correct impression is critical. This means taking enough time to make your paper neat, organized and without grammatical or spelling errors. Including titles and a table of contents is a nice organizational touch, especially for large write-ups. Have somebody proofread your paper to ensure that everything makes sense and is presented in a way that others can understand. Showing pride in the way your paper looks and reads is further evidence that you'll be able to accomplish the project you set forth.


Components


While specific expectations vary according to project and audience, there are certain elements you should include in any good project description write-up. Include a firm mission statement, explaining succinctly your reasons for choosing the project and what you hope to accomplish. Specify particular goals, objectives and methods, or how you plan to get there. Consider including research into similar projects to lend credibility to your project. Another important component of any project write-up is a proposal that states how the success of your project can be evaluated when it's completed. Any grant organization, school or employer will want to know the outcome of a project chosen for endorsement. Finally, stress the necessity of your project, what it will do for the community or for individuals involved, to give your audience another reason to support your project.


Additional Attachments


In addition to the content of your proposal or write-up, there are certain extras or attachments that you and others need that can improve your chances of being noticed. You must include a bibliography if you've referenced other projects or publications. Attach your resume in order to give your audience a chance to get to know what else you've done. If allowed and if you have one available, also include a write-up or publication regarding previous projects in which you've participated. Finally, attach any letters of support from relevant experts or organizations in your field to give your project more validity.


Tips


There are some other tips that can help a good project write-up become a great one. Doing research about the program, grant or scholarship that you're applying for is one of the most important ways to ensure your write-up is successful. If possible, meet with a program officer or research for yourself what the exact expectations and specifications are for the project and for the paper, and tailor your ideas to this. Be flexible, get started as soon as you can, and turn to peer review to ensure that write-up content is sound. Finally, have fun and show confidence in your ideas if you expect others to put faith in you.

Tags: your project, project write-up, give your, your paper, ensure that, give your audience