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What is a Prospectus?

The prospectus is the plan for your final paper and contains all of the elements of the final paper. It is probably the most important, and often the most difficult, assignment to write. Its purpose is to help you to organize your research into an argument: to formulate your thesis, counterarguments, rebuttals, and to plan how you will use your sources to provide the evidence you need to support your claims. Remember that your prospectus is a planning document, not a final draft; you are free to make substantial changes if further research shows you that you need to do so.

Prospectus:

Write a 3-page overview of your research paper. Your project may still be incomplete, but don’t worry about that; do as much as you can with the research you’ve conducted so far. Your prospectus should incorporate research from at least 3 scholarly sources. Your prospectus must be written in expository prose (three to four substantial paragraphs is typical), and should do the following:

· Include an engaging title

· Introduce your topic:

· Specify the particular global contemporary issue you will address and suggest its local implications.

· Demonstrate the global context of your topic.

· Address the conceptual problem you observed in your research.

· Include at least a few of the observations that have led you to pose your question.

· Explicitly state the arguable question that your paper will address.

· Acknowledge and cite other scholars’ work on your topic and consider alternative interpretations or answers to the question (potential counterarguments).

· Propose your own arguable claim (your working thesis).

· Discuss the main points that you will address and the strength and credibility of the evidence and sources that you will use as you develop your position (thesis).

· Comment on the significance of both your topic and your position and make some reference to your action plan.

Your prospectus should contain very few, if any, direct quotations, but you should refer to and cite the scholars whose work you have consulted, and you should summarize at least some of the evidence you will be using to support your argument.

Prospectus template:

On your TritonEd lecture site, you will find a prospectus template that will help you to shape your prospectus. You must submit a completed prospectus template in addition to your 3 page prospectus. Use whichever template your TA requires.