1.6 Assembly & Review

Time: ~25 minutes

What You'll Learn

• How to assemble sections into a coherent, flowing application
• Transition techniques that connect sections logically
• How to use AI to review your draft against scoring criteria
• The multi-pass revision process used by winning grant writers
• Final formatting and compliance checks

Key Concepts

You've written the pieces. Now you need to turn them into a single, persuasive document that reads as one unified argument — not a collection of separate sections.

Assembly Order

Most grant applications follow this structure (adapt to your specific RFP):

1. Executive Summary / Abstract — Write this last; it summarizes everything
2. Organizational Background — Who you are and why you're credible
3. Needs Statement — The problem and its urgency (from Lesson 1.3)
4. Program Design — What you'll do and how (from Lesson 1.4)
5. Outcomes & Evaluation — How you'll know it worked (from Lesson 1.5)
6. Budget & Budget Narrative — What it costs and why (from Lesson 1.4)
7. Sustainability Plan — What happens when the grant ends
8. Attachments — Letters of support, organizational documents, data tables

The Thread Test

A strong application has a single narrative thread: the need leads logically to the program, the program leads to outcomes, the outcomes justify the budget. Read your draft and ask: Can a reviewer follow one argument from the first page to the last?

AI-Powered Review

In this lesson, you'll use Claude to review your draft from three perspectives:

• The Scorer — Does each section address the scoring criteria? Are there gaps?
• The Skeptic — Where would a critical reviewer push back? What claims need more evidence?
• The Editor — Where is the writing unclear, redundant, or jargon-heavy?

Revision Priorities

Not all feedback is equal. Fix issues in this order:

1. Missing content — Sections that don't address a scoring criterion
2. Logical gaps — Places where the argument breaks down
3. Weak evidence — Claims without data or citations
4. Clarity — Sentences that require re-reading
5. Polish — Word choice, flow, formatting

How to Start

Open Claude Desktop and say:

start lesson 1.6

Claude will help you assemble your sections, run a structured review against the RFP criteria, and guide you through targeted revisions.

What You'll Produce

By the end of this lesson, you'll have:

• A complete assembled draft with transitions between sections
• An executive summary distilling your entire application into one page
• A review report identifying strengths, gaps, and revision priorities
• A final revised draft ready for internal review or submission