Writing a proposal is the first step to getting a project approved and funded. In many cases, a call for proposals is like a competition where the most persuasive proposal will get approved and others will not. In science, persuasive writing is not hyperbolic or purposefully evasive. Taking a narrow view of a topic to elevate its importance is not an effective way to write a persuasive science proposal. A persuasive science proposal clearly and accurately articulates the motivating problem and outlines the methodology chosen to address the problem in a logical and systematic way. Scientists use references as supporting documents to authenticate statements. Effective referencing increases the quality of the proposal.