Grants are a difficult genre for anyone to learn. A straightforward technical description of the proposed project simply won’t do the trick. The resources below will help you consider how to tailor your project to a request for proposals (RFP), consider your audience, and manage the process. 

Materials designed by Christopher Basgier  

This handout compiles common tips and advice related to grant writing 

• Tips and Advice for Grant Writing Handout Word Document 

• Tips and Advice for Grant Writing Handout PDF  

This worksheet helps you reflect on what you already know about grant writing and begin by analyzing a model excerpt from a grant 

• What Is Grant Writing? Worksheet Word Document 

• What Is Grant Writing? Worksheet PDF 

To conduct human-based research, you need approval from Auburn’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). These resources will help you learn about IRB applications and offer tips for creating clear, effective IRB materials.  

Materials designed by Lucus Adelino, Christopher Basgier, Amy Cicchino, and Niki Johnson

This handout will define terms that appear in the IRB application form.  

• IRB Key Terms Handout Word Document 

• IRB Key Terms Handout PDF 

Writing a successful IRB protocol is more than just filling out the form; it requires dutiful attention to your audience and your purpose. This handout has tips to help you write your IRB protocols more effectively 

• Tips for Writing a Successful IRB Handout Word Document  

• Tips for Writing a Successful IRB Handout PDF 

These practice worksheets help you review and give feedback on a sample IRB scenario. By analyzing these samples, we hope you learn strategies for writing and revising your own application and protocols

• 2018 Responding to a Practice IRB Application Scenario Word Document  

• 2018 Responding to a Practice IRB Application Scenario PDF 

• 2021 Responding to a Practice IRB Application Scenario Word Document 

• 2021 Responding to a Practice IRB Application Scenario PDF 

This worksheet will help you give feedback to someone else’s IRB protocol

• IRB Peer Review Worksheet Word Document

• IRB Peer Review Worksheet PDF 

Learn more about Auburn’s IRB by visiting their website, which contains guidelines, application forms, sample information letters and consent documents, and more. 

Applying for a job can be difficult, and it is important to know how to effectively present yourself in a job application process. Use these resources to help you develop crucial job materials, such as personal brand statements, resumes, and cover letters. As you are developing your job materials, you may want to consider your personal brand, or the story that you are telling through your materials. 

Materials designed by Amy Cicchino, Autumn Frederick, and Megan Haskins 

These worksheets will help you locate and analyze a job ad in your field 

• Locate a Job Post Activity Word Document 

• Locate a Job Post Activity PDF 

• Analyzing Job Ads Word Document 

• Analyzing Job Ads PDF 

This handout provides an overview for resumes and curriculum vitaes (CVs) 

• Creating Effective Resumes and CVs Handout Word Document 

• Creating Effective Resumes and CVs Handout PDF 

This worksheet provides an overview for and helps you begin to draft a cover letter 

• Writing Effective Cover Letters Word Document 

• Writing Effective Cover Letters PDF 

This brief handout provides an overview of professional bias 

• Professional Bias Word Document 

• Professional Bias PDF 

Personal statements are often part of the application process for prestigious scholarships and graduate or professional school applications. Use these resources to identify your goals and the expectations of your audience so that you can craft an effective personal statement. If you are applying for a Fulbright grant, please also see our resources specific to Fulbright.  

Materials designed by Katharine Brown, Emily Cosgrove, Annie Small, and James Truman  

This toolkit introduces personal statements and offers step for producing an effective personal statement 

• Personal Statements Toolkit Handout Word Document  

• Personal Statements Toolkit Handout PDF 

This worksheet will guide you in analyzing an example personal statement 

• Personal Statement Example Activity Worksheet Word Document 

• Personal Statement Example Activity Worksheet PDF 

These open response questions will help you brainstorm and pre-write for your personal statement 

• Getting Started on Your Personal Statement Worksheet Word Document 

• Getting Started on Your Personal Statement Worksheet PDF 

Once you have brainstormed, this worksheet will help you outline your personal statement 

• Outline Your Personal Statement Worksheet Word Document 

• Outline Your Personal Statement Worksheet PDF 

This worksheet will help you reflect and self-assess a personal statement draft to consider opportunities for revision 

• “Author’s Note”: Crafting Powerful Personal Statements Word Document 

• “Author’s Note”: Crafting Powerful Personal Statements PDF 

Writing an application for a Fulbright is a particular writing situation. To meet the expectations of this audience and context, you need to adjust your writing strategies based on the Fulbright organization and its mission. Written components include the Abstract, Host Country Engagement, Plans upon Return, Statement of Grant Purpose, and Personal Statement. If you would like additional information on the Fulbright process as an Auburn student, please contact the Honors College. 

Materials designed by Amy Cicchino and Annie Small  

Personal Statements 

This handout provides an overview for the Fulbright personal statement 

• Fulbright Personal Statement Overview Handout Word Document  

• Fulbright Personal Statement Overview Handout PDF  

This brief handout has brainstorming questions to help you start your Fulbright personal statement draft 

• Brainstorming Questions: Fulbright Personal Statement Handout Word Document  

• Brainstorming Questions: Fulbright Personal Statement Handout PDF 

This worksheet has open response questions that can help you consider your personal brand in your personal statement 

• Reflective Writing Prompts: Fulbright Personal Statement Handout Word Document  

• Reflective Writing Prompts: Fulbright Personal Statement Handout PDF 

Once you have a draft, this worksheet will help you peer review or self-assess your personal statement to identify potential areas for revision 

• Fulbright Personal Statement Peer Review Worksheet Word Document  

• Fulbright Personal Statement Peer Review Worksheet PDF 

Statement of Grant Purpose 

This handout provides an overview for the Fulbright Statement of Grant Purpose and includes prompts to help you begin your Statement of Grant Purpose draft 

• Fulbright Statement of Grant Purpose Overview Handout Word Document  

• Fulbright Statement of Grant Purpose Overview Handout PDF 

Once you have a draft, this worksheet will help you peer review or self-assess your Statement of Grant Purpose to identify potential areas for revision 

• Fulbright Statement of Grant Purpose Peer Review Worksheet Word Document  

• Fulbright Statement of Grant Purpose Peer Review Worksheet PDF 

Open Responses 

In addition to the formal written documents, Fulbright applicants have to complete three open response prompts: the abstract, host country engagement, and plans upon return. This handout provides an overview for these open responses and prompts to help you begin drafting them 

• Fulbright Open Responses Overview Handout Word Document  

• Fulbright Open Responses Overview Handout PDF 

Once you have a draft, this worksheet will help you peer review or self-assess your open response sections to identify potential areas for revision 

• Fulbright Open Response Peer Review Worksheet Word Document  

• Fulbright Open Response Peer Review Worksheet PDF 

Writing letters of recommendation can be a challenging responsibility for faculty and staff. Use these resources to help you construct letters of recommendations for college or graduate school, scholarships, certain jobs, and elsewhere. 

Materials designed by Christopher Basgier

This handout will help you write powerful letters of recommendation  

• Writing Letters of Recommendation Handout Word Document 

• Writing Letters of Recommendation Handout PDF