Proposal checklist
SMART
- Specific and Reproducible
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Timeline
Writing Quality
- Grammatically correct
- Sentences flow from one to the next
- Each paragraph has an appropriate topic and concluding sentence
- Sections are clearly laid out and content within sections remain relevant to that section
Style
- Equations typeset, quantities explained
- In-text content appropriately type-set
- Figures/tables referenced in text and appropriately captioned
- Appropriate use of sections, subsections, etc., and content respects corresponding structure
References
- Equations and in-text citations formatted and used appropriately
- bibliography formatted correctly and consistently
Formatting
- Written in LaTeX (if appropriate).
- 5–10 pages
Introduction
- Begins with an appropriate overview and introduces the purpose of project
- Introduces major concepts with the data
- Introduces major concepts of methodology
Lit review
- All relevant methods explained only in this section
- Appropriate level of math explained
- Describes algorithmic details
- Avoids implementation details
Methodology
- Clearly outlines all steps in the proposal
- Has plans for appropriate contingencies in analysis
- Likely that two other students could read the document, follow it, and come up with the same results in a month.
- Any required resources are outlined (e.g., access to certain data, computing, etc.)
Timeline
- At least 4 appropriate checkpoints
- Timeline leaves at least 1 month per draft
Undesirable considerations
- Statement acknowledging ending supervisory relationship for unacceptable progress
- Statement acknowledging ending supervisory relationship for suspected integrity violation such as plagiarism
- Statement acknowledging that poor quality work/writing will be returned, delaying timelines