Research proposal

Research Proposal

       How you are going to write your research paper

         “In this paper, I will….”

         Discuss how you will write the paper        

         Formal presentation of your research

         Outline

Purpose of research proposal

Means of organizing your thoughts to move to next step

Elements of research proposal

         Introductions

         A review of literature

         Bibliography – Annotated Bibliography

         Research methods and sources

         Timeline

         Significance

(Optional)

         Key challenges

         Biography

1.   Title page

Working title, name, contact information, date

2.  Introduction

Background: Overview of the topic

Identify your interests and audience

Research questions

Position of issue

(Preliminary thesis statement)

3.  Review of literature

Overview of key information of your sources

Explain why you found them useful

Focus on general approaches of your sources

List them

4.  Research Methods and sources

·     Methods: How am I going to research the topic?

·     Sources: What specific text will I analyze it?

Types of sources  

         Online sources

         Print sources

         Field sources

5.  Timeline

Detailed list of key project activities

6.  Significance

What do I hope to accomplish in my research?

What are broader issues or implications of my research?

Why do these matters to me and to my readers?