Writing a Concept Paper

Chapter
Basics of Writing
1

• Heat it up till it looks right!

• Learning never ends!
• Perfect on it!
• Follow procedures or rather follow your instincts when writing!
• Remember the C’s - Clarity, Concise, Content and Cohesion

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Chapter An Introduction
2
• The concept paper is a foundation or cornerstone of funded project development.
• Perception! Brainwork! Your approach!
• Writing or developing the concept paper is often the first act of transforming a creative or
worthwhile idea into a reality. Although the vital step even before writing the Concept Paper is
having a Business Plan.
• A business plan is a formal statement of a set of business goals, the reasons why they are
believed attainable, and the plan for reaching those goals. It may also contain background
information about the organization or team attempting to reach those goals.
• The ideology is that you must have a business plan before you start up your business. The
business plan is seen as planning and forging ahead for success. A business plan is just like an
investment proposal only the audience differs.

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Chapter An Introduction (contd.)
2
• Unfortunately, many people think of business plans only for starting a new business or applying for
business loans. But they are also vital for running a business, whether or not the business needs new
loans or new investments. Businesses need plans to optimize growth and development according to
priorities.
These are the Basic components of a business plan
I. Executive Summary: This is often written lastly. It’s just a page or two of highlights.
II. Product or Service: Describe what you’re selling. Focus on customer benefits.
III. Company Description: Legal establishment, history, start-up plans, etc.
IV. Market Analysis: You need to know your market, customer needs, where they are, how to reach them, etc.
V. Strategy and Implementation: Be specific. Include management responsibilities with dates and budget.
VI. Management Team: Include backgrounds of key members of the team, personnel strategy, and details.
VII. Financial Plan: This includes profit and loss, cash flow, balance sheet, break-even analysis, assumptions, business ratios,
etc.

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Chapter An Introduction (contd.)
2

• The concept paper is one of the three key components to beginning a funded project design. The other
two key components are developing the budget and finding the funding sources.
• The concept paper is usually a three page document that enables the Executive Committee to assess how
well the proposed research fits with the Fund’s interests.

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Chapter Definitions of a Concept Paper
3
• A concept paper or pre-proposal is the core document for a technical proposal. The concept paper
is generally shorter than a pre-proposal, with the latter reserved for longer proposals. Just as in a
position paper, the concept paper or pre-proposal should contain all of the main arguments and
evidence you will use to convince your reader to give you something.
• It is a short summary that tells the reader what the project is, why it is important, and how it will
be carried out.
• The concept paper, is sometimes called a prospectus, preliminary proposal, or pre-proposal, it is a
useful tool for several purposes. It helps clarify and organize ideas in a written form and provides
the basis for a funding search. From the concept paper, an individual is able to develop any
number of grant applications for the same idea.

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Chapter
Definitions of a Concept Paper (contd.)
3

• A concept paper is a concise proposal outlining the products or services to be offered, the
market to be served, the competitive potential of that offering in the market, and an
exposition of the team's skills as related to carrying out the proposal.
• Concept papers are submitted for review prior to the submission of a full proposal. In recent
years federal and state agencies have begun to encourage the use of concept papers as a way
for applicants to obtain informal feedback on their ideas and projects prior to preparing a
proposal.

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Chapter
Reflect before writing
4
• Consider the company or organization itself. Think about the nature of the company and
whether it will be a typical for-profit company or a private non-profit venture.
• Develop the services and/or products that the business will offer. Think about how they fit
within the community, as well as what local, regional or national needs they address. Develop a
unique selling position (USP), which is what your business has to offer that no other does, and
what makes it different.
• Analyze the market. Using your USP, think about where your business fits within the current
market and develop a marketing strategy to place your business in it. Determine the target
market of customers and how you can reach them through advertising.
• Consider the current and future competition. List your business' strengths and weaknesses and
compare them to the competitions.
• Recognize the need for financing. Solicit investors or gather the capital needed to obtain
inventory and secure a business location.

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Chapter Elements of a Concept Paper
5
1. The research topic
2. The statement of the research question that the project will seek to answer.
3. A demonstration of why it is important to answer this research question. What good comes of this
answer? Why is this project worth anybody's time?

4. A description of how the researcher plans to answer the research question. This includes:
• a description of the data that the researcher plans to gather or use
• a description of how the researcher will analyze these data;
• a demonstration of how these data and this analytic method will answer the research
question; and
• a summary of any ethical issues that may arise in the research process.

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Chapter
Elements of a Concept Paper (contd.)
5
5. A statement of the limitations of this research, specifically the things that it cannot discover
(and why).
6. Longer projects -- term papers, masters' theses, dissertations, and professional research --
also typically include a selected bibliography.

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Chapter
Designing a Concept Paper
6
• Description of the Problem/Discrepancy Statement:

This is the "what" and "why" of this section. What is currently happening and what should be
happening? What is the discrepancy between what "is" and what "should be"?

• Research for Concept Papers:

Thereby reviewing the related literature. This is what others have discovered about your problem
and the results of studies that have been conducted and published. You must review many articles
and cite at least eight in your concept paper that relate to your topic.

• Methods

After defining your need/problem and identifying the discrepancy between "what is" and "what
should be", you must create a strategic plan to address the problem. This section describes how the
research project will be conducted. This is where you will list your goal(s) and objectives and
describe your strategies. involved?

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Chapter
Designing a Concept Paper (contd.)
6
• Evaluation Plan:
How will you know whether the objectives---and therefore the goal(s)---have been achieved? How will
you establish the baseline (the starting point of the problem)? How will you analyze the results? What
will you do with the data you collect from these evaluation processes? Will it be used to guide future
intervention, for example? How will you report them, and to whom?

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Chapter
Do’s and don’ts in writing a Concept
7 Paper
• In the long run a concept paper should describe the final, long-term outcome that is expected, and
what is to be achieved by the end of the unit, grading period, or the end of the year.
• And also indicate the milestones (or steps) that must be achieved to demonstrate that the goal has
been reached. The objectives of the concept paper must be observable and measurable.
• Always use action verbs in your objectives when writing concept papers, such as: match, draw,
label, write the answer, tell, complete, point to (or name), calculate and explain in writing,
summarize in writing (or verbally), create and publish (e.g., a webpage).
• NEVER use these words in objectives (they are not directly observable and measurable): learn,
know, grasp (as in "understand") ("grasp" is fine as an action verb related to the physical holding of
an object), appreciate, comprehend, indicate, apply, familiarize, believe, enjoy, like, show, recognize

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Chapter
Research & Writing Procedure
8

Research and writing procedure:

•Collect information and resources

•Formulate one or more goals and several objectives
•Select strategies that research shows have been effective and plan procedures
•Select activities and create a timeline
•Assemble and prepare materials
•Introduce and implement the project
•Monitor progress and the process
•Identify strengths and shortcomings in the project
•Correct errors, difficulties, and/or omissions
•Appraise the project's ongoing and long-term results.

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Chapter
Qualities of a good concept paper
9

• It should state the problem, need and area of focus that the proposal will address
• It should identify previous efforts to solve the problem (by yourself, with other faculty
members, with other community organizations) and should explain how this effort will be
different
• It should outline resources needed (human, physical, or fiscal)
• It should list goals and objectives
• It should establish a realistic but ambitious plan of operation
• It should define the expected outcomes

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Chapter
A Concept Paper Outline
10

Introduction
• Statement of the problem
• Statement of the solution
• Brief statement of how the solution will benefit the reader(s)

Background
• Explanation of key terms
• Proof that you know the issues surrounding the problem
• Proof that you know what action has been taken to solve similar problems
• Proof that you (or someone you are associated with) can carry out the action plan

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Chapter
A Concept Paper Outline (contd.)
10

Action Plan and Requirements

• A set of objectives (what your plan will accomplish)
• An action plan (who will do what when) keyed to the objectives 
• A description of what you need to implement the plan
• A cost/benefit analysis of the plan

Benefits
• An explanation of why the plan will work
• A set of outcomes keyed to the objectives 
• A description of how you and the reader(s) will benefit
• Proof that you are the best person or team to carry out the action plan
• A statement demonstrating that your plan is the best approach to solving the problem

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Chapter
FAQ’s
11
 What should be the quantity of pages allowed in writing a concept paper? Truth is that it
differs, depending on your topic and how outsized or wide it is an more still it also depends on
your clients.

 Is there a general format used when writing a concept paper?

Well the format is always flexible depending on the topic and the clients involved but theses key
things should be in place;
• Need
• Goals & Objectives
• Methodology
• Problem Statement
• Resources & Personnel available
• Budget
• Keywords

 Is it imperative for a problem statement on the Concept Paper?

Whether Solicited or Unsolicited the problem has to be stated in your Concept Paper.

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