California Student Sustainability Convergence April 27, 2013
Katherine Walsh, TGIF Coordinator UC Berkeley
Danielle Lauber, PowerSave Green Campus
• Proven writing approaches and resources
• Writing resources
• VERY brief intro to CBSM
• Grant application components
• Techniques to write a winning grant application Grant writing resources
• Questions & Discussion
•Writing is the primary basis upon which your work,
your learning and your intellect will be judged – in
college, in the workplace, and your larger community.
• SIGNIFICANCE of message to convey
•Writing is the EXPRESSION of your thinking
• IDENTIFICATION as an asset
•Many TYPES of writing
• Essential skill for professional development
• 5 Tips to improve your writing
1. Write everyday
2. Take your time
3. Quality is ALWAYS better than quantity
4. Ask for help
5. Practice proofreading
• Prewriting or graphic organizing
• PLAN -> REVISE -> EDIT
• Read -> Summarize text
• Collaborative writing (this is one is a doozy!)
• Set Goals
• Model writing
• Writing in college (or for your internship) is different
than writing in high school – academic writing
• By a scholar (YOU!) for other scholars
• Be informed
• Analytical Writing
• Summarize > Evaluate > Analyze > Synthesize
• Always consider your audience
• Structure
• Introduction > Thesis > Support Paragraphs > Conclusions
• Tone and style
• Grammar Resources
•Grammar Handbook
•Grammar and Style Notes
• Science & Technical Writing guides
• Technical report writing
•Writing for engineering and science students
• Guides for ‘English as a Second Language’ students
•On-line writing lab
• Commonly used phrases
• Use captivating information
• Know your audience
• Use credible sources
• Frame your message
• Clearly communicate for desired behavior
• Social diffusion
• For more information: Doug McKenzie-Mohr; www.cbsm.com
How do I win GRANT$ with these writing tips?
• A grant is an award given to a recipient for an
approved purpose.
• Abstract Submission Form
• Application Submission Form
• Do no get stuck on the summary and history of the
project.
• Avoid non-specific, cliché, gimmicky, and flowery language.
• PROVE what you can accomplish with the requested funding.
• Lay-out your project implementation steps.
• Provide a detailed and accurate budget.
• Talk qualitative and quantitative metrics.
• Show how you will measure and report success.
• Have a plan for education and outreach.
• Know the process- how to apply and when.
• Do not wait until the last minute to start the application.
• Read all the directions first. Follow all the directions.
• Stick to the required length and font size.
• Answer all the questions.
• Proofread. Have someone else also proofread.
• Submit by the deadline.
• To what funder are you applying? What is the
funder’s mission? What are its goals?
• Are there any buzzwords or stand-out language
the funder uses in its program that you could
incorporate into your application?
•What are some buzzwords?
• Know what a winning grant proposal contains.
• Read past examples of grant proposals that have
been selected by the funder.
• Know the funder’s expectations of selected
grant winners.
• Will you and your project be able to meet
those expectations?
• But wait- where IS the money?
• Start at your own school- administrative grants, department
grants or sponsorships, vendor sponsorships, career center
• Look locally- town/city government grants, local officials’
sponsorships, local centers’ grants, state government funding,
local non-profit, utilities, businesses
• Look nationally- faculty connections and networks, federal
government grants, educational awards, regional utilities
• Look globally- corporations, global governing agencies,
global non-profits
• Fellowships