Aqliyyat Research Institute

Project
Pitch
Template

Submitted by Researcher or Writer for Director Review

Workflow Document · Version 1.0
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Section One

Instructions

This template is used when a researcher or writer proposes a project to the Director. It applies to original articles, critical translations, and book-length studies. Complete every section before submitting. Incomplete pitches will be returned without evaluation.

A pitch is not a guarantee of assignment. The Director evaluates pitches against the Institute's current priorities, resources, and research calendar. A rejected pitch may be reconsidered at a later date.

Important: Do not begin preliminary research until the pitch has been formally accepted. Submit this completed form to the Director. The Director will respond within an agreed timeframe.

The compensation reference in Section 7 is provided for the proposer's information only. It is not a negotiating tool. Rates, difficulty classifications, and project tiers are determined by the Director at the time of commissioning, not by the proposer at the time of pitching.

Section Two

Proposer Information

Name Full name
Role Researcher  /  Writer  /  Both
Date of Submission  
Section Three

Project Overview

Proposed Title Working title
Project Type Original article  /  Critical translation  /  Book-length study (Sharḥ, Matn, or Monograph)
Production Model Researcher-writer  /  Writing-only. The writing-only model requires an existing approved Research Dossier. Confirm availability of the dossier if relevant.
Topic A precise description of the topic. Avoid vague formulations. Name the texts, figures, concepts, or debates the project will engage.
Central Argument For original articles and book-length studies: the argument the project intends to make. For critical translations: the scholarly case for why this text merits translation and what contribution the translation makes.
Section Four

Scholarly Justification

Relevance to Mission Explain how this project serves the mission of Aqliyyat Research Institute. Be specific about which audience it serves—seminary students, teachers, or academic researchers—and what need it addresses.
State of the Field What has already been written on this topic? What is missing? Why is this project necessary now?
Original Contribution What does this project contribute that does not already exist in the literature?
Section Five

Sources and Research Capacity

Primary Sources List the primary sources the project will draw on. For critical translations, identify the text and the available editions.
Key Secondary Literature List the most important secondary works the project must engage.
Languages Required Arabic  /  English  /  Other (specify)
Access to Sources Confirm that the required primary and secondary sources are accessible to you. Note any access limitations.
Section Six

Proposed Timeline

For articles, estimate each phase separately. For book-length projects, note that the project will require weekly meetings with the Director throughout, and that milestone checkpoints govern the payment record. The timeline you propose here will be reviewed against Institute priorities and adjusted as needed before the agreement is signed.

Research Phase Estimated duration and proposed completion date for the Research Dossier. Not applicable in the writing-only model.
Writing Phase Estimated duration and proposed completion date for the first complete draft.
Total Project Timeline Estimated total duration from start to submission-ready draft.
Current Commitments List any other Institute projects or external obligations that may affect your availability during this project.
Section Seven

Compensation Reference

The figures below are provided for the proposer's information only. Rates, difficulty levels, and project tiers are determined by the Director when the brief is issued, not by the proposer. All compensation is per accepted project, or per the hybrid stipend-and-bonus structure where applicable. Payment is issued upon the Director's written acceptance of the final manuscript. Contributors are engaged as independent contractors and must provide a completed W-9 before payment is issued.

Articles — Researcher-Writer Rates

Length Simple Moderate Advanced
Short (3,500–7,500 words) $300–$425 $450–$625 $650–$900
Medium (7,500–12,500 words) $500–$700 $750–$1,050 $1,100–$1,550
Long (12,500–25,000 words) $850–$1,200 $1,500–$2,100 $2,250–$3,000

Writing-only rates are 50% of the researcher-writer rates above.

Sharḥ (Commentary)

Language Monthly Stipend Completion Bonus
English Sharḥ $1,000 / month At Director's discretion
Arabic Sharḥ $1,200 / month At Director's discretion

Always Moderate difficulty. Always researcher-writer. 300–500 pages; 1–2 years. Five milestone checkpoints.

Matn (Pedagogical Text)

Type Flat Project Fee
Contextualizing Matn $500–$2,000
Gap-Filling Matn $750–$3,000

Always Arabic. Always under 100 pages. Flat fee disbursed across 4 milestones at 25% each.

Critical Translation

Tier Arabic Source Length Rate Payment Model
Short 20–50 pages $500–$1,500 Flat fee, 4 milestones
Medium 50–150 pages $1,500–$3,000 Flat fee, 4 milestones
Long 150+ pages $1,000–$1,200/mo + bonus Hybrid, 5 checkpoints

No difficulty tiering. Tiers are determined by the length of the Arabic source text.

Monograph

Difficulty Short (50–150 pp) Long (150+ pp)
Moderate $800–$1,000/mo + bonus $1,000–$1,200/mo + bonus
Advanced $1,000–$1,200/mo + bonus $1,200–$1,500/mo + bonus

Simple difficulty does not apply. Researcher-writer compensated at upper end of range; writing-only at lower end. Five milestone checkpoints.

Book-Length Projects: All book-length projects require weekly meetings with the Director throughout the project. Failure to attend scheduled meetings or submit required deliverables on time may result in suspension of the monthly stipend, cancellation of the project, or both, at the Director's discretion.
Section Eight

Additional Notes

Anything else the Director should know