Someone shares a successful proposal, and you're relieved to have an example. The temptation is to follow its structure and language closely. But the useful lesson may be why the team made those choices, rather than the choices themselves.
The handbook recommends reading funded applications when appropriate examples are available. Treat the document as one project submitted under particular conditions, not a universal recipe for an award.
Start with permission and context
Use an example you may access and respect any restrictions on sharing or reuse. Identify the program, submission period, project type, and other relevant context. Compare the example with the current call you're considering.
An older application may answer a different set of requirements.
Map the criteria to the explanation
Look for how the proposal identifies the problem, establishes the need, explains the approach, and supports feasibility. Notice where a reviewer can find the information required by the call.
You're learning how the explanation works, not collecting impressive phrases to transplant.
Trace the project from activities to resources
Examine how the tasks, timeline, team, and budget connect. Where are dependencies or potential difficulties addressed? Ask what assumptions the project makes and how the team plans around them.
Some context may be missing from the document. Don't assume you can infer everything that contributed to the decision.
Ask the author a focused question, if appropriate
If the person is willing to discuss the example, ask about a decision you want to understand. What changed during preparation? Which part needed the most clarification? Respect the scope of what they can share and the time they offer.
Past success doesn't provide access to confidential review information or guarantee a later outcome.
Apply the reasoning to your own work
Write a note about what the example helped you notice: an unclear connection, missing support, or a feasibility question. Revise your project using its actual evidence and circumstances. Don't copy protected text, unsupported promises, or details that don't apply.
Choose one section of the example and explain the job it performs in two sentences. Then examine the corresponding part of your draft. Can it perform that job for your own project? That's a useful way to learn without mistaking imitation for fit.
Adapted from The New Faculty Handbook by Zafer Unal, pp. 140-141.
