Writing a Compelling Case Statement

Learning Objectives

• Define “case statement” as a genre of writing
• Explain the purposes for which a case statement may be used
• Explore strategies for making case statements persuasive (stasis and presence)

What Is a Case Statement?

A case statement (sometimes called a need statement) is a brief articulation of the problem and solution for which you are seeking a grant. Usually at a length of one to two pages, a case statement is an “internal” document in the sense that a grant writer will use it as a starting point for further research and writing. 

How Does a Grant Writer Use a Case Statement?

Rather than use it to communicate with potential sponsors, grant writers use case statements to explore possible arguments, share ideas with other stakeholders within their organization, do research on their problem and solution, and hone the vocabulary they use for research. From there, they will use or develop ideas from a case statement to write external documents such as a response to a Request for Proposals (RFPs), a letter of intent, a proposal narrative, or even a budget. 

How Does One Write a Compelling Case Statement?

There are a variety of strategies you can use to develop arguments and express them persuasively:

The Stasis Theory 

As you might recall from Module 1, grant proposals (and any other type of communication or conversation in which the focus is a decision about what to do in the future) center on a type of argument called proposal arguments. These arguments are supported by a variety of other types of argument. As you explain your problem in a case statement, explore possibilities with the following argument types (adapted from Ramage, 2006):

• Categorical arguments: “What is this thing?” (If you argue that a certain population is “at risk” in some way, what evidence could you find that shows they are in the category of “at risk populations”)?
• Definitional arguments: “What does this mean?” This type of argument focuses on a dispute about the meaning of a term. Depending on your project and subject matter, you may need to clarify a definition or argue for one interpretation among several.
• Causal arguments: “What are the causes or effects?” In proposal arguments, discussing possible causes of the problem or its effects is common. These arguments can make a case more compelling because they can help point toward a solution that addresses the causes of a problem or help explain how someone suffers a disadvantage because of its effects.
• Resemblance arguments: “To what is this problem similar or dissimilar?” This type of argument will be useful as you search for problems similar to the one you would like to address with your grant.
• Evaluation arguments: “What is the quality of this thing?” Evaluation arguments may help you argue that a current solution is inadequate, which perpetuates the problem you would like to address. 
• Ethical arguments: “What is right or wrong?” You might argue that something in relation to your problem or the people you would like to serve is right or wrong, just or unjust, fair or unfair.

Presence

Another strategy for writing a compelling case statement is the use of presence, which Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca (1969) described as the use of language or other symbols that “[act] directly on our sensibility” (p. 116). In some cases, a grant writer might make use of a real-life example to show in as much detail as possible how someone is suffering or otherwise experiencing a disadvantage by a problem. In any case, concrete description is important.

Consider this sample language from Mikelonis, Betsinger, & Kampf (2004) from a grant about a student-run radio station, Radio K, at the University of Minnesota: 

However, our potential for even greater success has been limited by an FCC license which restricts our AM broadcasts to daylight hours. Every evening at sunset, Radio K must sign off the air and “webcast” our signal over the Internet to a maximum listenership of 60, returning to the airwaves at 6:00 a.m. the following morning. (p. 153)

Any language a grant writer uses to make a problem seem real and concrete to his or her audiences could help make a case statement (and later, other parts of the grant) more persuasive.

Writing Your Own Case Statement

As you write your own case statement, consider these questions:

1. Using the stasis theory, what arguments seem best as you explain your problem?
2. How can you provide your problem with a sense of “presence” (Perelman & Olbrechts-Tyteca, 1969) to make it seem real and concrete for your audiences? 
3. How can you express your solution concretely?

Resources

libguides.gcu.edu/grants

References

Mikelonis, V. M., Betsinger, S., & Kampf, C. (2004). Grant seeking in an electronic age. New York: Pearson.

Perelman, C. & Olbrechs-Tyteca, L. (1969). The new rhetoric: A treatise on argumentation (J. Wilkinson & P. Weaver, Trans.). Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press. (Original work published 1958)

Ramage, J. (2006). Rhetoric: A user’s guide. New York: Pearson