2. Presentation Tips
Careful formatting of the page assists the reader. Page after page of solid text with margins at the edge of the paper are difficult to read. Long paragraphs are difficult to read. White space on the page makes the proposal look less formidable.
Think about alternative ways of presenting information. If you are presenting a list of items, perhaps you should indent and number them. If you are making a minor point which is not central for the argument, but nonetheless important for demonstrating your familiarity with the scientific or technical area, perhaps you should put the point in a footnote.
In today's computerized world, you should consider using a word processor or computer with word processing software in preparing your proposal. A good word processor (or software) enables you to quickly make corrections and to easily explore alternative formats. You can underline doublestrike, or bold passages or words, depending on the emphasis you want to place on items. However, you should not get carried away with the technological options. You are preparing a R&D proposal, not a newsletter.
Above all, be consistent. The same format should be used throughout. If you are bolding section headings and underlining subsection headings - do it everywhere. If you doublestrike for major emphasis and underline for minor emphasis - do it everywhere. If you skip two lines between paragraphs and three between text and headings - do it everywhere. Once you adopt a footnote or bibliographic format - use it everywhere. A consistent format enables your reader to easily grasp the significance you place on information.
Graphics and other proposal art can provide highly effective means for communicating complicated information in a minimal amount of space. Properly and sparingly used, they can give your proposal a polished, professional look.
A handy aid for determining where to use graphics is to ask yourself two questions:
1) "How would I best grasp this information - through graphics?"
2) "By using graphics will I cut down the length of my proposal?"
Some common types of graphics helpful in SBIR proposals are:
Project Scheduling Charts
(what tasks will be conducted when),
Project Staff Activities Charts
(who will spend what time on what tasks),
Diagrams and Flow Charts,
Data Tables, Graphs, and Photographs
In order to ensure that your graphics strengthen your proposal, make sure that they are tightly integrated into the proposal. After you prepare your outline, examine it to decide what information can most efficaciously be presented through graphics. Then determine precisely what type of graphic should be used.
Graphics must appeal to the eye. If you attempt to present too much information in a chart, table, or graph, you are likely to find that your reader's eyes will glaze over and your effort is wasted.
It is vital that the final draft look professional. The type should be clear and readable. The graphics should be clean and professional looking. Check to make sure that all the pages are included in the proposal and that they are correctly numbered.
