The proposal is an essential step in securing financial support for a research project. Sponsoring sources, government agencies, and private funding groups use the research proposal to determine the merit of the proposed work, the competency of the investigator, and the reasonableness of the estimated cost. Because research is usually considered essential for a well rounded graduate program and because funds to support research projects at an academic institution often account for a significant portion of its total annual budget, the importance of proposal writing in the academic community is clear. The material presented herein is intended to provide a synopsis of the salient features of a research proposal generated by an academic institution.