contributions.md

+# Engineering plan
+
+## Contribution 1
+
+### Motivation
+*What is a specific problem that we'd currently like to solve, but can't with the existing science?*
+
+### Contribution
+*What is the additional knowledge that would enable that problem to be solved?*
+
+### Results
+*What data will be necessary to capture and communicate that new knowledge?  That is, what data will demonstrate:*
+- *the problem was previously unsolvable,*
+- *the problem is now solvable, and*
+- *the solution came about through no possible reason other than your own engineering?*
+
+### Experiment
+*What experiment(s) will generate that specific data?*
+
+## Contributions 1a, 1b, 2, 2a, ...
+*(same as above)*

proposal.md

@@ -2,32 +2,31 @@
 3-5 word title
 
 ### Summary:
-One or two sentence summary of the problem and the proposed solution approach
-
-### Project git repo(s):
-Link to repo(s) which will have all project-related content
+One or two sentence summary of the problem and your proposed solution approach
 
 ### Splash images
-One or two graphics that capture and communicate the problem and proposed solution to technical but non-expert audiences. 
+One or two graphics that capture and communicate the problem and proposed solution to technical but non-expert audiences.  Don't use images that aren't yours, and make sure this figure in isolation still effectively communicates your project summary above. 
 
+### Project git repo(s):
+Link to repo(s) which will have all project-related content
 
 ## Big picture 
 
 ### What is the overall problem that this and related research is trying to solve?
 
-### Why should people care about the problem?
+### Why should people (everyone) care about the problem?
 
-### What has been done so far to solve this problem?
+### What has been done so far to address this problem?
 
 ## Specific project scope
 
-### What subset of the overall problem are you addressing in particular?
+### What subset of the overall big picture problem are you addressing in particular?
 
 ### How does solving this subproblem lead towards solving the big picture problem?
 
 ### What is your specific approach to solving this subproblem?
 
-### How will this approach result in a solution?
+### How can you be reasonably sure this approach will result in a solution?
 
 ### How will we know that this subproblem has been satisfactorily solved, using quantitative metrics?
 
@@ -39,13 +38,12 @@ One or two graphics that capture and communicate the problem and proposed soluti
 ### What is the value of this solution beyond solely solving this subproblem and getting us closer to solving the big picture problem?
 
 ## Background / related work / references
-
 Link to your literature review in your repo.
 
-## Goals, deliverables, tasks
+## System capabilities, validation deliverables, engineering tasks
 
 ### Concrete external deadlines (paper submissions):
-Include deadlines as well as research targets
+Include dates as well as target proposed title / abstract for expected submission
 
-### Detailed schedule (weekly goals / deliverables / tasks):
-Link to schedule in your repo.
\ No newline at end of file
+### Detailed schedule (weekly capabilities / deliverables / tasks):
+Link to schedule in your repo.