Proposal Mini-Workshop

1. Proposal Mini-Workshop CPSC599.81

2. ROSS from Dragon’s Den • What do they do well? • Steady voice, and confident • Motivated the problem well – “this many people die, and they need to this to get it, etc.” • Concisely describe the project (right at the top), and then in the “main body” • Specific figures for expenses, market value, km travelled per person, how much it can carry, etc. • Describing what the money making model • Up-front about not being a huge money maker • Provided a hook-”because others are interested” • What dothey not address well? • How does the gov’t have a role? • No working protoype • Interest was in the NGO rather than the users • Unclear why we were on the show • The dude is boring sounding • Didn’t hear a price of each unit • Did not explain what minimum distance for cleaning water • How do they valuate themselves • Long-term feasibility • Some things are unclear • Didn’t actually use the pictures

3. What is a proposal? • Decision makers who need to decide whether a project lives or dies • For scholarship/thesis committee (acceptable or not: understandable, articulated well enough, sound method) • Company RFP; • Is the solution/approach reasonable • Are you capable of carrying out the solution/approach – with the resources they have, or the resources they’re asking for

4. Imagine yourself reading a proposal; what do you care about? • Idea: what it’s going to be, and how you’re going to do it • Different paradigms that you may use [technical details] • Visuals/sketches of the imagined thing/prototype • Show an existing prototype (prior work that you have done to prove the idea) • Explain the methods • Why will the idea work? • What’s the problem? • Why is it interesting? • Is the idea feasible within the scope/timeframe of the class • Timeline/schedule • Cost – hours and materials • Compare to previous work and expertise • Planned iterations • How well do you understand your own project • Has it been done before? (Shouldn’t be copying others’ ideas/work) Are you doing it better or differently? • How does it benefit me, Canada or society? • What will come out of this project? What will you do? • Who will be involved? • What are your credentials? • What resources will you need?

5. Imagine yourself reading a proposal; what do you care about? • Who is this going to address? • Innovation/uniquness • It should have flow • Clearly articulated problem and approach • Is there a real need for something – motiviation • Relatable and practical – writing in readable language (avoiding jargon) • Is it actually a problem? • A quick roadmap—what are your next steps – clearly articulated approach • Contribuion clearly articulated • Is the problem addressed by others, what are the limitations of the approach • Who cares? Who can benefit

6. What are you trying to do in the proposal? • Convincing the people reading this that it’s a good idea • Clearly explain the problem and provide a problem statement • Provide a summary of the method to address the problem • Show how the method is novel/unique • Identify your research contribution • Convince whoever’s reading it buy into your idea and solution • Convince people that there is a problem (worth solving) • Convince them that your approach is reasonable • Convince them that you are capable of carrying it out

7. What are you trying to do in the proposal? • Goal • What problem am I going to solve? • Who will benefit? • Challenge • Why is the problem hard? • What approaches have others tried? • Why did those previous approaches not work? • Approach • What approach am I going to try? • Why do I think it will work well? • Methodology • What steps (task list) are required? • Which of these steps is particularly hard? • What to do if the hard steps don't work out? • Metrics • How will I know when I am done? • How will I know whether I have succeeded? • Summary • What will I learn by doing this project? • Will this lead to

8. What sections should be in a proposal? • Abstract • Introduction • Motivations • Contribution • Related Work • Findings • Methods/Approach • Planned evaluation • Timeline • Conclusion • References

9. What sections should be in a proposal? • Abstract • Introduction • Realted to real life problem • Benefits? • Related Work • Proposed Approach • Problem Definition? • Assumptions? • Method • Experiments? • Timeline • Conclusion/Summary • Expected Results • References

10. Introduction Context of game: obtaining interest pinpoint topic concise overview [Abstract] What’s inside description of background what is the problem, why is it important to solve how will you solve it Describe how the paper will flow

11. Related Work Goal Convince people that you are knowledgable, and that you have done the appropriate researh Convince people that what we’re doing is different than what has been done in the past (showing novelty and benefit) What’s inside Related work Cover previous findings that provide a basis for your work Show that what you’re doing is different from prior work (compare and contrast, critique previous work) – shortcomings

12. Methods/Approach • Goal • Tell the reader that we’re going to do this and that it is doable (feasible) • You have this plan • What’s inside • [Describe your work in phases; logical groupings of work] • Implementation details • Possible timeline • Tie it back to the real world • Pronblem overall

13. Timeline • Why is it here? • Establish that you have a sense of how much time you need • Convince the reader that you knows what it takes to complete  defines chunks to complete for a high level • What’s in here • Concrete dates and deliveables • Demonstrate understanding of effort required and feasibility • Framing capabilities within context o project • Knowing what’s required to complete it

14. Grading Rubric

15. What is the role of the introduction? • Abstract: Bird’s eye-view (overview of project) • What is the problem (in real life) • Eye-catching thing: who benefits (attractive) • Motivation • What is the approach • How you evaluate your approach • Expected contribution • Business aspect?

16. What is the role of the related work? • To explore problem space of what people have done • What are the limitations of prior work, and what can be improved • Foundation work-specific related work • Work that is: addressing same problem • Work that uses a similar approach • Prepare the reader (background) • Ensure that you know what has happened (you don’t replicate) • Prove that you know what you’re talking about

17. What is the role of the proposed work section? • Evolutionary vs. revolutionary • How is it going to contribute • Problem definition • Main idea • Proposed approach • Reseason you chose I • Evaluation plan