Someone write my paper!

“I hate writing! I wish I could pay someone to write my paper!” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard these words said from my college friends or acquaintances who are not confident writers. Of course, it’s not ethical to get someone else to write your paper or other written material. Not only is it fraudulent, but you also rob yourself of the pride of knowing you produced original work to the best of your ability. That said, I’ll be more than happy to help you with some steps that can help you produce writing of which you can be proud.

The most important part of writing is knowing your audience and your end goal. For example, are you writing an essay on a specific topic? Are you writing a short story? A cover letter? The writing you produce will depend on the message you are trying to convey to your specific audience.

(My audience for this post, for example, is college students who need help writing their papers.)

The goal and audience notwithstanding, writing starts with a basic universal framework consisting of three parts: an Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. Using this basic framework, anyone can write a document for any purpose. The key step is to start writing without initial care for perfection. Write down your point of view in the raw then come back afterward to edit for grammar, typos, structure, etc.

Using the Universal Framework: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion

So how do we use this universal framework? Since most folks who uttered the pained phrase “someone write my paper!” are college students, I’ll apply this framework using a concrete example for a hypothetical college paper. What does it take to write a successful college paper or essay? Let’s review the framework steps one by one.

The Topic

Hypothetical Scenario: Political Science 101: Your professor asks you to write an essay on a controversial public policy. Specifically, you are to write a paper defending or disclaiming the New Green Deal (NGD) proposed by Progressive Democrats in the US House and Senate. By lotto selection, you are to write a paper defending the passage of the NGD.

You have clear instructions about the topic: New Green Deal (NGD) and your audience is your professor. We also know that your personal views notwithstanding, you have to defend the NGD. The scene is set. Let’s build out your paper using the universal formula by starting with an introduction and hypothesis (opinion) about the topic.

The Introduction

Start your essay by introducing the topic, the New Green Deal(NGD). Give a brief history of the legislation, and a summary of why you believe that the NGD must become a federal law. A sample introduction for our hypothetical NGD paper follows:

This paper will show how the Green New Deal (GND) is groundbreaking public policy legislation and why it should be federal law. All claims regarding the NGD are substantiated via relevant, peer-reviewed scientific data and social case studies. The work will also demonstrate how the opposition views are grounded in misinformation and pseudo-science.

This definitive introduction sets the tone for what the audience can expect in the following paragraphs, namely the Body and Conclusion.

As an NGD advocate, you will have to find relevant and valid data that shows concrete evidence of how the NGD could potentially help the US economy (for example, by providing well-paying jobs, increasing productivity, and enhancing American Environmental prestige globally).

If you want to get more granular, you can also discuss the positive global impacts of the New Green Deal given our current dual crises of a Pandemic and Global Warming.

The Body or Main Point

The body is where you get to shine. In this section of your paper, write down all questions that you can think anyone would want to know regarding Green New Deal. I mean everything you can think of because you know your professor will be asking them too.

To get your mind going, ask and answer questions like the following:

What is the Green New Deal, and when did it start? 

  • The first step of the body of your essay is to give an overview of what the Green New Deal is and isn’t. State when it began, what its tenets are, and how it will be implemented if passed by the legislature.

What are the pros and cons of the NGD? Do the pros outweigh the cons? If so, how? 

  • Flesh out your contentions on how the NGD can help the US economy with well-paying jobs, increasing productivity, and enhancing American prestige globally. You can also discuss the positive global impacts of the New Green Deal on the environment.

What are dissidents of the NGD saying? What data refutes their position?

  • This stage of the main body introduces opposing viewpoints to the NGD legislation. It’s your job to refute them one by one. It bears repeating that you will need to cite credible sources to back up any claim from your point of view for this exercise.

Use these questions as a guide to flesh out your position regarding the NGD legislation. An important caveat that bears repeating is to cite impeccable sources to validate and strengthen your paper.

Conclusion:

Finally, we get to the end of our paper! We are ready to conclude our essay after introducing the New Green Deal and giving evidence-based data to show how the pros outweigh the cons.

The conclusion is where you can place your final exclamation on your hypothesis. You are pro-NGD because:

  • It will bring the US into the 21st Century while increasing nation-wide infrastructure jobs
  • Significantly reduce the emission of greenhouse gases responsible for the current global warming calamity
  • Ultimately reduce the cost of energy

These are just a few ideas to jog your imagination. Pick whatever reason for your pro-NGD stance and make sure to back it up with credible data.

Your conclusion should leave your audience impressed if not convinced by why the New Green Deal is the signature piece of legislation needed to rebuild and modernize the United States.

Putting it all together

Whew! Now that you got all the pieces of the universal writing framework, get to writing that paper! Don’t think about writing the perfect words. Gather your data and make your case using your own words. Believe it or not, doing this is the biggest victory when writing a paper, essay, or any other document.

Use this post as a framework for anything you need to write. Make your own case by swapping out the questions and providing relevant and useful information for your audience.

If you’re worried about spelling, grammar, typos, and other errors, use Grammarly or the spellcheck feature in your word processing app. If you need more help and the professional eye of a proofreader and editor, contact me for a free quote!

How to write a grant proposal

Government, Foundation, and Corporate grants are the lifeblood of nonprofit organizations that need funding to carry out their mission. This fact is more salient for small, community-based organizations that do not have the staff to craft winning grant proposals. In these instances, grant writing often falls in the lap of an inexperienced Executive Director. These Executives need guidance on how to write and send winning grant proposals.

This article will outline the steps needed to write grant proposals for government, corporate, and foundation grants to access funding for your nonprofit or community-based organization.

Finding Grants

Before we start the grant writing process, we first need to find donors that award grants to nonprofits that fall under your mission umbrella. Meaning, if your nonprofit provides social services, you can’t apply for grants allocated for community-based organizations that build homes for the homeless.

A quick Google search for grants using specific mission-focused keywords will yield lists of where to find eligible funding for your nonprofit. You can also opt for membership in the Foundation Directory Online (FDO).

The FDO is a good resource for finding complete information about grantmakers and grants they’ve before made. This feature makes it easier for you to fine-tune your search to find eligible awards for your organization. You can also search for federal grants on grants.gov or state grants offered through your local Department of State.

Where should I apply for grants?

You can opt to apply for Federal, State or, local municipal grants. Grants from these sources tend to be in higher amounts and focused on a particular social or community issue.

You can also search for and apply for grants from Corporations (corporate giving). Most corporate websites have a page dedicated to charitable giving. Fill out their eligibility quiz to see if your nonprofit or organization is eligible for their grants. You can also search for corporate donors in FDO to see if your organization is eligible for their awards and how to apply.

The bottom line is this: the best approach is to write proposals to all sources that give funding to nonprofit organizations serving your target population or your mission.

Steps to writing your proposal

After doing your grantmaker research and armed with your list, the next step will be to read and adhere to the application requirements to increase your organization’s chances of winning grant money. You have to write a proposal describing a problem or barrier, and how with funding, your organization will be able to solve that problem.

What should be included in a grant proposal?

Now we are ready to compose our proposal. What should we include in it? This depends on the grantmaker. Some ask you to fill out a simple application form, but others need a full narrative detailing your organization’s interventions to solve a problem and how with funding, your organization can have a positive impact on affected communities.

The following components are important sections to include when writing your grant proposals.

Cover Page

The first page or cover page of your proposal is a formal introduction to your nonprofit organization. A cover page includes your organization’s name, address, logo, and other relevant information. The cover page also shows the title of the proposal as prepared by your organization.

Table of Contents (TOC)

The next page following your proposal’s cover page is the Table of Contents (TOC). The TOC shows a quick overview of the proposal’s sections like the summary, narrative, and any required attachments (budget, tax-exemption documents, etc.)

Summary

Following the table of contents is a summary of your proposal. This section summarizes the topic or problem and how your organization will work to solve it. This section can also include a brief synopsis of your program’s goals and objectives and how they align with the grant requirements and mission of the grantmaker.

Main Narrative

The main narrative is where you layout your grant proposal by first introducing a topic or problem. In the introduction, you explain the issue and cite credible sources that show the negative impact of the problem. You may also cite evidence that proves that your proposed intervention resolves the issue or barrier.

Following the introduction, you go into the main section of the narrative by describing your proposed services or programs and how they will solve the problem. In this section, you will need to be specific in your who, what, where, how, and when.

The following questions will help guide your narrative:

  • Who is your target population?
  • What are their needs?
  • How will your programs or services solve those needs?
  • What is the timeline needed to complete these programs?
  • How much funding is needed?
  • What is the number of people who will receive services as a result of the grant?

Once you answer all these questions in detail, you will be well on your way to writing an effective and award-worthy grant proposal.

Expected outcomes and evaluation

You will wrap up your proposal narrative by including a final section that describes all expected outcomes and program evaluation. In this part of the narrative, you outline all expected results of your program interventions and how you will check those results.

Make sure to be clear when discussing program evaluation because it might make a difference in your organization receiving a grant or not. Consider the following when crafting your program evaluation section:

  • What evaluation tools will you use?
  • What is your service model?
  • Which metrics will determine programmatic success?

Program Budget

The budget is a critical section of your grant proposal, so give it the requisite attention. Start by adding a budget narrative to explain all costs of the proposed program and how they relate to implementing all program activities.

After the budget narrative, it’s time to prepare a budget document that shows all line items and other expenses for your organization. Budget line items include but are not limited to the following:

  • Overhead expenses (fixed costs not related to labor or materials)
  • Staff salaries
  • Supplies/materials
  • Postage
  • Transportation

If the grantmaker has their own budget template, complete it accurately by following all budget requirements and showing all funding expenditures. Check out this article for some items to include in your budget.

Reporting

Grantmakers often need a report of when and how you used their funds to fulfill grant obligations. These reports may be required every quarter, twice a year, or annually. Make sure to emphasize your intention to follow all reporting requirements.

Attachments

Almost all grant proposals need to include attachments like a budget document, tax-exempt certificate, financial statements, and so on. You can also add your appendices that serve to strengthen your proposal (case studies showing the benefits of your program intervention) Re-check the requirements and add all requested attachments.

Putting it all together

The final step in writing a grant proposal for your nonprofit is to assemble your application package according to the grantmaker’s requirements. As mentioned, be sure to include a cover page, table of contents, summary, and proposal narrative. Add all required attachments and submit your package to the grantmaker by the stated application deadline.

As you write your proposal, keep in mind overarching everything the narrative should be easy to read. Write your proposal like you’re telling a story. It should have a beginning, a middle, and an end with your nonprofit as the protagonist or hero. Good luck!

Do you need help with applying for a grant? Contact me and let’s work together to write your successful grant proposal.

Professional Editing Services

Welcome to Editing by Dawn the home of professional editing services. So what exactly comes with editing services? Who would need professional editing services? What does an editor do anyway? Read on to find out more.

What does an editor do?

An editor is one of the final professionals that review documents such as book manuscripts, resumes, dissertations, or advertisement copy before final publication.

The editor will check and correct any errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, consistency, capitalization, and several other writing technicalities regarding accents, signs, numbers, and fonts. Essentially, editors serve to refine written material by carefully reviewing for inaccuracies and typographical flaws.

An editor may also work as a proofreader, but the professions are not necessarily interchangeable. Read this article to find out more about proofreading.

Why professional editing services?

There are many instances where editing services are essential. At Editing by Dawn, I cater to a specific subset of individuals who need my services including students, businesses, and individuals. Other editors may work exclusively with authors needing help with book manuscripts or scientists with medical articles.

Be it a novel, a medical paper, a grant proposal, a resume, or any other type of document, if it is to be published for public consumption, a final review by an editor is imperative. Taking the risk to rush to publication without working with an editor can lead to a lot of headaches and embarrassment as a result of sloppy copy.

When to seek out professional editing services

Websites like Grammarly can help writers begin the editing process. However, these sites cannot replace the expertise of a professional editor.

Let’s take a look at some instances where professional editing services become an invaluable tool for ultimate success.

Novelist/Author

Novelists and authors craft the stories that we love to read on our Kindle or in good old-fashioned paper books. However, before we get to enjoy those stories, they first have to go under the careful eye of a professional editor. Professional editing services for authors help with various aspects of fiction editing including word choice, plot development and, overall structure.

Working as a team, the editor and author work together to make sure that the material is consistent, flows effortlessly, and most importantly, is free of any typos or grammatical errors. The end result is a book or novel that immediately draws you into the story without being distracted by plot inconsistencies, typos, or grammatical errors.

Business Website

Every day more and more business websites are popping up on the internet and they are some of the top consumers of web content providers like copywriters and editors. The question is why?

It’s one thing to set up a business website, with products and contact information. However, websites need much more than this to attract and retain customers or clients. Businesses can enhance the marketing value of their websites by providing informative articles for visitors that can help them with the problem that brought them to the website in the first place. For example, a contractor’s website may offer blog posts about the materials used for various types of construction projects.

Many business owners may be great at sales but find writing marketing content for their website challenging. This is the point where they can seek out professional editing services by working with an editor. Businesses may write their own copy and use the editor to spruce up or improve their material before uploading it to their website.

College Student

Let’s face it, the American Educational System has failed our students and this is evident in the number of college students who are routinely placed in remedial courses whether they need it or not. Upon registration for college, students are assessed to see whether they can pursue college-level education or need further remedial ELA and Math education.

Even if they are able to pass these tests, some students struggle with collegiate writing standards. Additionally, many college students are ESL (English as a Second Language) who may experience difficulty crafting grammatically correct essays and other written classroom assignments.

Both cohorts of students greatly benefit from working with a professional editor or proofreader to help bring their writing skills to the next level and ensuring passing grades.

Everyday People

Yes, even everyday people can benefit from professional editing services. From a job-seeker needing to brush up their resume, or a non-profit Executive Director who needs help writing grant proposals, to an older person going back to college and needs help crafting an engaging personal statement.

Let’s take a closer look at an example of an everyday person who can work with an editor. We have Sandra a job-seeker who needs help with writing a winning cover letter. She has the requisite skills and experience but has difficulty translating this fact into her cover letter and/or resume.

By working with an editor Sandra can effectively tailor her skills to closely match the job description thereby boosting her chances of getting that first interview.

Job seekers represent a small fraction of consumers who rely on the services of editors. Editing is truly an essential universal service for businesses, students, and individuals.

How to find professional editing services

After completing the final edits for your document, it’s time for an editor to review and refine your work. Where do you start? Fortunately, there is an editor for every writer, whether a novelist, a student, a blogger, or a job-seeker, and it’s relatively easy to find professional editing services by doing a quick Google search.

You can also search freelancer sites like Upwork and Fivver to find an editor who offers the services you need. At Editing by Dawn, I provide both proofreading and editing services.

Do you need professional editing services?

Well, you’ve come to the right place! I specialize in providing professional copy editing services for clients from all walks of life.

I especially enjoy working with private clients, students, and entrepreneurs. Check out my testimonials page to see what my clients are saying about me and my services.

Start by filling out this form with details of your project and I’ll send you a free quote.

Proofread My Paper!

“Proofread my paper please! I’ve read this over and over and I can’t see straight!”  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this request. My friends know I have an eagle eye and a knack for finding text errors, so they always rely on me to proofread their documents. They are not alone in their need for an eagle-eye to go over their documents, everyone should use the services of a proofreader.

Why should anyone hire a proofreader? Isn’t spell check sufficient enough to catch any errors? It may be easy to presume this, but having a fresh set of eyes to review your writing is essential to presenting your best-written work to help get that passing grade, that job, or that contract.

It is a fact that people from all walks of life benefit from the services of proofreaders when they need to make a memorable impression via the written word. Whether it’s college students writing their final thesis, young entrepreneurs needing a pristine business plan, or job seekers looking to knock out the competition, all should employ the services of a proofreader if they want to make a good impression with their written material. Read on to find out more.

What is proofreading?

What exactly is proofreading? According to the Merriam-Webster definition, to proofread means “to read and mark corrections in something such as a proof.” This definition isn’t too clear so to make it plainer, to proofread means to examine written material with a fine-tooth comb to find, mark and/or correct all errors in the text.

Proofreading essentially polishes your written material to make it suitable for publishing or external audiences. Proofreading is often coupled with copy-editing which according to dictionary.com means “to edit (a manuscript, document, text, etc.) for publication, especially for punctuation, spelling, grammatical structure, style, etc.”

Proofreading and copy-editing are powerful tools for authors, bloggers, businesses, and anyone needing to produce documents that convey competence, knowledge, and professionalism.

Isn’t spell check good enough?

How many times have you used spellcheck in Word only to find that it missed obvious things like a name or an alternate spelling or grammatical point? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You’re relying on the technology to save you an extra layer of work, but it still falls short of the human eye.

The fact is, spellcheck is no match for the human eye because a computer cannot determine nuance, meaning, or even names. So, while spellcheck can give you a basic spelling or grammatical check, its ability to spot errors is limited. A human proofreader should always have the last look at any important document before official release or publication.

Why you need a proofreader

Imagine what would happen if a college student presented essays or papers riddled with spelling and grammatical errors to their professor? Or, say an entrepreneur pitching a proposal full of errors to potential investors? It doesn’t take any imagination at all. The student will fail and the entrepreneur will not win any funds from investors.

There is a steep price to pay when anyone does not take the time to carefully proofread any documents that can make a significant difference in their life.

A proofreader can be the difference between making a great first impression or not being taken seriously. This is especially true for anyone who may have an issue reading and correcting great blocks of text. It’s also good to have a fresh set of eyes to review text and spot errors you may miss.

How do proofreaders work?

Proofreading is a pretty straightforward profession that has become somewhat easier with the advent of email and the internet. Traditionally, proofreaders received a hardcopy of the document needing proofing. They then carefully reviewed the text using a series of special marks to note and/or correct all errors. The proofreader returned the marked-up document to the client for review.

Depending on the work (manuscript, essay, blogs, proposals, etc.) having to proof in the traditional manner wasted a lot of paper and took much longer than it does today. Still, the basics remain the same. After reviewing the proofreader’s marked-up draft, clients can choose to receive it as is or accept all changes and receive a clean document free from typos and other errors. Most clients choose to accept all marked changes and receive a clean document that they can use immediately.

Who should use a proofreader?

As a copy-editor and proofreader, my most frequent clients have been business executives, college students, entrepreneurs, and job seekers.

College professors expect their students to produce well-written essays, papers, and other assignments. A student can have the best ideas but may have difficulty meeting these requirements. They can use a proofreader and copy-editor to help them present, clear and error-free written work. A proofreader can be a student’s secret weapon for getting that A.

Businesses also need proofreaders to review their websites, brochures, blogs, and sales collateral. Entrepreneurs need impeccable business plans to present to potential investors. A proofreader can make the difference in getting that startup check.

How about needing to revamp your resume? Or maybe writing that grant proposal to fund that important project? The fact is, anyone can benefit from having a proofreader review their important documents.

Let me proofread your document!

At Editing by Dawn, I make it easy to proofread and/or copy-edit your document. All you need to do is send me 4 pages of your document to receive a free quote. To expedite things, you can fill out this form to tell me more about your project.

Once we agree to work together we’ll discuss your document and what level of revision is needed. Armed with this information, I get to work correcting all typos, grammatical and spelling errors. If needed, I may throw in a bit of copy-editing to help structure the written material. At the end of the process, I present you with an error-free document that is ready for publication.

Do you need help with proofreading your document? Contact me today and let’s work together to polish your words!