project 5

Final Project Proposal--Project 5

First draft due April 7 (bring THREE copies to class)

* Final draft due April 11*

Purpose of writing a proposal:

The research proposal can serve many useful functions. The most important is that it helps you to think out the research project you are about to undertake and predict any difficulties that might arise. For those who aren't quite sure what their focus will be, the research proposal can be a space to explore options -- perhaps with one proposal for each potential topic (which can then be more easily compared and evaluated than when they are still just ideas in one's head). Research proposals can be effective starting places to discuss projects with your professor, too. A professor who is initially skeptical about a project may be able to imagine it more easily after reading a well written research proposal (this doesn't mean she will approve the topic, especially if there are significant potential difficulties that you haven't considered).

Assignment description:

Your goal for this project is to CONVINCE me of:

the importance, significance, and meaningfulness of your research for you and for the "field,"
that you are ready to write a serious, long, and thorough research paper on that topic,
that you know where you are going and what all the next steps you need to take to write this perfect paper,
that you have done enough preliminary research and that your preliminary findings are academic and meaningful,
and that you have a clear and detailed outline of this final project.

Format:

Good general format (project #, draft #, name, name of class, date) and a good title,
A general introductory paragraph. The intro should give a clear statement of your main topic and any sup-topic, as well as reserach questions you might want to answer later in the paper. You MUST say something like "in this proposal, I am going to explain what main topics I will discuss and how I intend to support my arguments..." (or something like that).
A paragraph about the value and importance of your research, at a specific level, what you hope to accomplish by doing this research and writing this paper, and what new insight you will bring to the topic,
Several paragraphs about the sections of your final paper, BY TOPIC, or review or literature, BY TOPIC (which means that you discuss more than one article per paragraph)!
A paragraph or two about your future plans of work, your timeline, what information you are missing and hope to get, how, and when, the kind of research you will conduct to complete this project (library research, internet research, interviews, observations, ethnographies, etc.), as well as the problems you expect to encounter and how you hope to solve them. For example, texts might be unavailable, necessitating travel to other libraries or use of inter-library loan facilities; people you had hoped to interview might be unavailable or unwilling to participate, necessitating that you select other interviewees or change the focus; internet sites might be down or no longer available, etc. (Try to imagine every possible problem so that you have contingency plans and the project doesn't become derailed.)
A complete list of texts you plan to consult for your final project (even if you haven't cited them earlier in this paper). You should aim to make a list of at least 20 potential sources (25 is better), which you will then narrow down as you conduct the research. Many sources initially seem relevant, but turn out not to be, so it is always better to list all sources that might be of interest. As you eliminate sources, cross them off of this list. Mark sources that are particularly useful, and add new sources as you come across them. Remember that you'll need 15 strong sources for your final project.
A strong and convincing conclusion, restating the importance of the topic and a short summary of the main points of this paper. As in the introduction, you MUST state something like "This is the topics and the sources I intend to use to write a final project, as well as my future plans for it, and this paper showed that I am ready to do it... " (or something like that).

Guidelines and reminders:

This paper is NOT a review nor an opinion paper!
You must CONVINCE me, by showing me but also by literally TELLING me, that you are ready to write a final project, have enough strong sources, have good reasons for doing this research, have serious plans for the future, and know what you're doing!
Use APA style in the text and the reference list!
You are NOT discussing/reviewing the sources but only presenting them and explaining how they will support your topics and sub-topics.
Every paragraph must discuss a new topic, not a new source!
Provide specific details to help a reader who is unfamiliar with the topic to understand the information presented.
The paper must be 650-750 words long only (doesn't include the reference page)!

Grading Criteria:

Appropriate choice of sources
Proper use of APA format and general format (click here for an example of a reference page)

Convincing arguments of the importance of this research

Practical and realistic timelines and future plans of research and writing

Effective introduction and conclusion, and proper organization, as explained above

Strong outline and organization of ideas

Use of academic language and proper style and format

Usefull words and expressions to use in your paper: click here.

Example (in PDF) of a research paper that includes personal interview and several academic sources: click here. This is not the best paper, but it can help... And remember that everything that's underlined here must be italicized in your paper's reference list.