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1. How to Write 421s (Annual Reports) and 115s (Manuscript Interpretive Summaries)
3. Eight Questions in the 421 Describe your major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact?
What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years? [NOTE: Relate this to the milestones in your CRIS project plan.]
4. Eight Questions in the 421 What technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the technology likely to become available to the end user (industry, farmer other scientist)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption durability of the technology?
List your most important publications and presentations, and articles written about your work (NOTE: this does not replace your review publications which are listed below)
5. Uses of the Annual Research Project Report (AD-421) National Program Annual Reports - Highlights Research Accomplishments by NP
Green sheets - Supports ARS budget request to Congress
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) - Reports Accomplishments against the ARS Strategic Plan
Enables NPS to respond to countless other requests for information throughout the year
Used by NPS as part of assessing the project’s mid-term progress towards meeting the Goals of the NP. The evaluation and assessment will be used as input to the next NP Workshop
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6. The Key Questions to a Good 421 or 115 What is the problem you are trying to solve, or the decision you are trying to support?
How important is this problem or decision?
How does the work you are describing here get you closer to that goal?
What did you do? BE BRIEF ON THIS PART.
7. The Key Questions to a Good 421 or 115 What did you find? Numbers are useful, but don’t overload. Phrases such as “half as much” or “three times as many” are good to use.
Does your work solve the problem or support the decision making process? Are there other steps to be taken before you get to that point?
Who cares?
8. Some considerations Write for an intelligent lay person or a member of Congress.
DO NOT just “dumb down” the Technical Abstract.
Place emphasis on why the work needed to be done, and what its impact is.
Minimize descriptions of the experiments.
Tell what you found without going into too many numbers.
9. A great resource: www.plainlanguage.gov
10. Think about what you’re writing Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
War Dims Hope for Peace
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
11. Proofread carefully