Overview

This proposal will define the project you wish to undertake, provide background information on the project's domain, explain why you are well positioned to complete this project, and outline your plan of action for the semester. I will provide feedback on this as will your fellow students. While things might need to be refined during the semester, the goal here is to start strong on a path to success.

Specifications

When defining the project you wish to undertake, please explain the project itself as well as your motivation in pursuing this project, and how you see this project as part of the DCC theme. Why is this an important endeavor in your opinion? Why should others see it as important?

When providing background information about the project's domain be sure to present information about similar projects or problems and how they relate to your upcoming work.

When discussing why and how you are well positioned to complete the project, consider the skills and tools that will be required. If there are skills that you do not yet have, explain how you will gain them quickly enough to be able to move forward with your project. If there are any tools (digital or physical) required, or any materials, explain from where you will obtain them, and when. Include a budget statement if applicable.

Your plan of action should outline the stages of your project with an estimated timeline and benchmarks you hope to reach as you progress through the semester. The final outcome is important, but so are the intermediary stages. If you are proposing a team project you will need to identify the roles of all team members, and expand on your role in particular.

Deliverables

You will turn in your proposal document as a PDF file via e-mail to me at egolubUMD@gmail.com by the above dates. The document will be at least 500 words though I expect that many proposals will be closer to 1000 words. For ease of reading, please have paragraphs single-spaced but have an extra blank line between paragraphs. If you quote or paraphrase any sources, make sure you cite them. You may use any style with which you are comfortable, but you must cite sources.

For the in-class presentation of your proposal, I'd like you to focus on the idea of what I will call the "tall building elevator pitch" style. Imagine you are waiting for an elevator on the ground floor of a tall building with someone and will ride to the top of the building with them. You have the waiting time and the riding time to explain your project. You might have a few pictures or sketches on paper to show, but you're not going to have a fancy PowerPoint slide show.