Grant Writing Session #1 SSHRC OISE Student Success Centre (OSSC)

1. Grant Writing Session #1SSHRCOISE Student Success Centre (OSSC) James Corcoran (CTL); Gary Fogal (CTL); Steven Leigh (CTL); Pamela Osmond (LHAE); Chloe Shantz-Hilkes (LHAE) Lisa Chinchamie (APHD); Michelle Pon (CTL) September 16, 2014

2. Overview • Participant backgrounds • Awards available • Eligibility • Evaluation criteria • Writing a program or plan of study letter • Application tips • Departmental contacts and other resources • Testimonials and tips • Q & A

3. SSHRC Overview • Doctoral Fellowships • CGS Bombardier Doctoral • CGS Master’s

4. CGS Bombardier Doctoral • $35,000 a year for 36 months • SSHRC selection committee only considers the top-ranked SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship applicants. • Must be in Year 1 or 2 when taking up the award

5. Doctoral Fellowships • 12-48 months duration • Annual value: $20,000 • Quotas are based on previous success rates • Each department has a different quota

6. CGS Master’s • $17,500 for 12 months, non-renewable • Quotas are based on enrolment • Each department has a different quota based on success rate and master’s population

7. SSHRC Doctoral Eligibility • Full-time student • Canadian citizen or resident • Pursuing a first doctoral degree • Overall average of at least A-, 80%, or a GPA of 3.7/4.0 (calculations differ depending on what year you are currently in). • Applicants can be in Years 1 through 4

8. CGS Master’s Eligibility • Applicants must have completed, as of December 31 of the year of application, between zero and 12 months of full-time studies (or full-time equivalent) in: • The master’s program for which you are requesting funding • Not have previously held a CGS M • Overall average of at least A-, 80%, or a GPA of 3.7/4.0 in the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent) - calculations differ depending on what year you are currently in. • Applicants (prospective students) to the program are now ranked at the Department level. • Submit online • An eligible graduate program must have a significant research component.

9. SSHRC Doctoral Evaluation criteria • past academic results, as demonstrated by transcripts, awards and distinctions; • the program of study and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge; • relevant professional and academic experience, including research training, as demonstrated by conference presentations and scholarly publications; • two written evaluations from referees

10. CGS Master’s Evaluation Criteria • Academic Excellence:As demonstrated by past academic results, transcripts, awards and distinctions. • Research Potential: As demonstrated by the applicant’s research history, his/her interest in discovery, the proposed research, its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field, and any anticipated outcomes • Personal characteristics & interpersonal skills:As demonstrated by the applicant’s past professional and relevant extracurricular interactions and collaborations

11. Application Tips CGS-M • Write down User ID and a password to access your application • Complete and submit your application using the ResearchPortal. Doctoral • Write down User ID and a password to access your application • Remember to “verify” your application when you are done. The watermark should not appear. • Complete and sign your checklist. • Remember to sign your application!

12. Considerations When Crafting (or re-crafting) Program or Plan of Study • Audience (Generalist vs Specialist) • Outlining • Structure: content by section • Style: conciseness; format (APA & SSHRC specs.) • Revision

13. Tips – Program or Plan of Study • Clearly state your research purpose and questions. • Make a strong case for the significance of your research to theory and practice • Use language that scholars who are not in your field will understand. • Select elements of your larger literature review that clearly support your purpose and your research methods. • Present a workable research design in as much detail as possible.

14. Further considerations:Program or Plan of study • Introduction: background and lit review (displaying broad and specific knowledge) • Problem: where is the gap? • Positioning: how may my research contribute to advancement of knowledge in this area?; how am I uniquely qualified to carry out this research in a timely and effective manner? • Impact: so what? Why is this potential research important and to whom? How will I disseminate my findings to important stakeholders following completion?

15. The need for revision • Part of writing process • Should include multiple attempts • Should include multiple stakeholders

16. Departmental contacts • CTL: Michelle Pon • LHAE: SezenAtacan; Karen Palma • SJE: Ann-Kristine Pearson • APHD: Lisa Chinchamie

17. Resources School of Graduate Studies: Scholarships and Awards http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/currentstudents/Pages/Scholarships-and-Awards.aspx SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/fellowships/doctoral-doctorat-eng.aspx Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) – Masters http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/CGSM-BESCM_eng.asp OISE Student Success Centre (OSSC) http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/ss/OISE_Student_Success_Centre_(OSSC)/ School of Graduate Studies English Language Writing Support Centre (ELWS) http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/currentstudents/Pages/English-Language-and-Writing-Support.aspx

18. Suggestions for “best” practice • Use multiple editors • Consider taking ELWS courses • Use OISE OSSC advisors and departmental advisors • Attention to detail – departmental liaison • Carefully consider clarity and feasibility of proposed research • Edit, edit, re-edit

19. Gary Fogal (Doctoral SSHRC) • Work the system – or not e.g. Strengthening Centres of Creativity, Innovation and Knowledge • Precise, Organized & Clear • Tap into available resources • (writing centres, online resources, etc.) • Tap into your supervisor (once) • Sound confident (& avoid modesty) • Present a project as being in motion

20. Pamela Osmond (Doctoral SSHRC) See handout

21. Steven Leigh (CGS-M) See handout

22. Chloe Shantz-Hilkes (CGS-M)

23. Michelle Pon (CTL) & Lisa Chinchamie (APHD)

24. Q&A • Feel free to pose questions to one particular panelist or the panel as a whole