research proposal

Short Research Project Proposal (Single-spaced in business format with the headings provided below) 1) The Main Issue or Problem: Introduce the issue or problem that your research paper will focus on and attempt to resolve. Elaborate on the relevance of the issue and its complexity. 2) The Central Question (or Questions) and Your Provisional Solution or Thesis (if any): Present your research issue or problem in the form of a question or set of questions that you will attempt to answer. Also, indicate whether or not you have a provisional thesis or argument. If so, explain why, and note any counterarguments or opposing views you will need to address. 3) Why the Issue Is Compelling to You: Elaborate on why your research issue is compelling you. What is the source of your interest in it? What personal experience with the issue, or connection to it, do you have (if any)? Is it relevant to your academic major and/or your career interests? 4) What You Already Know about the Issue and Need to Know: Describe what you already know about the issue. Explain what more you need to learn. 5) Your Intended Audience: Describe your intended audience: who are you calling to action or trying to persuade? The audience can be a single person, or a group of people, or a general audience. 6) The Project’s Relevance to Your Audience: Describe how and why your project will have an impact on your intended audience. Will the project realistically call people to action, change their perceptions, and enlighten them? Make the best case you can for the value of your project. 2 7) A Preliminary Overview of Sources: Give a preliminary list of primary and secondary sources you intend to use. Primary sources include “field research” – interviews, surveys, focus groups, discussion boards – as well as original documents. Secondary sources include books, professional and scholarly journals, newspapers and magazines, etc. The more specific this section is the better. Spending some time in the library will be necessary. The proposal will be evaluated for clarity and thoroughness. A professional presentation and good writing is expected.