Your Grant is Rejected Because of its 'Weak Plot'

In a satirical post, blogger Namnezia at Take it to the Bridge says that the NIH has unveiled a simplified scoring system "in response to complaints that their new scoring system is too hard to interpret." Beginning in the first review cycle of 2011, Namnezia jokes, reviewers will use this "form to check off the reasons for rejecting a grant application," which include, among other things, "no strong dramatic situations," "weak plot," and "not humorous." (The form Namenezia's posted is, in fact, an old manuscript rejection slip from the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, which operated in Chicago until 1925.) The blogger adds that "the reasons for rejection seem very similar to comments I have received in my grant reviews," she says.