Always keep the following questions in mind
- Why is this project important?
- Why is it an interesting/difficult/unique question?
- Are there ongoing or earlier research efforts that influence the outcomes of the proposed project? What might be duplicative?
Goals/Outcomes: The purpose of your project or program (i.e. the final impact or outcome). A goal is an overarching, long-term statement of achievement for a project or program. It’s a brief, general statement outlining the long-term effect of your work. Goals should be only one sentence.
- Make sure they are directly related to solving the problem addressed by the sponsor
- Use words such as decrease, deliver, develop, establish, improve, increase, produce, and provide.
Objective: The objective represents a step toward accomplishing a goal. Use the S.M.A.R.T. method of writing your objectives. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound.
- Target 3 – 5 objectives per goal (most proposals should have only 1 overarching goal but some of the larger, more complex interdisciplinary projects may have multiple goals)