Part III: Beginning the Project
Experience has shown that carefully prepared project proposals and thorough literature reviews are virtually essential to successful project outcomes. Consequently, it has become the norm for work on projects at WPI to focus initially on those important phases of project development. Proposals and even literature reviews for off-campus projects are largely completed during a 1/6 or 1/3 unit PQP prior to going abroad while the entire first term of work on on-campus projects is normally devoted to their preparation. This section of the IQP Handbook contains two chapters providing advice to students on how to write project proposals (Chapter 5) and how to conduct literature reviews (Chapter 6).
Chapter 5: How to Write a Project Proposal
Lance E. Schachterle
Why a Project Proposal?
Writing a good proposal is a very important tool for organizing time and resources to complete a project which fully realizes its objectives. Whether the proposal is done as a PQP for credit separate from the one-unit project, or as the first fraction of credit towards the one-unit requirement, a project proposal will be invaluable in structuring the students' ideas about carrying out their research and writing their conclusions. Some faculty use it as an informal "Contract" to establish an agreement about the content and limits of the final project report. Also, since the project proposal is a widely used communications tool in the professional world, students will have the advantage of learning what goes into a proposal as part of their undergraduate education.
At WPI, only those students who present budgets in conjunction with a project proposal will be considered for funding toward IQP expenses. Students should consult with their advisors in framing a proposal and a budget, and some modification of these guidelines may be needed to accommodate their subject. But since money for proposed budgets will be allocated competitively, they should be sure to cover the basic points outlined here.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: November 15, 2006 12:28:03