Research Paper

Brendon Votipka 201:01 Broadway and Beyond! Research Proposal

The Research Proposal Should: * Be speculative in nature, but based on substantive preliminary research and critical reflection. It should be written in complete prose and requires Rough Draft peer review. * Be two full pages (1” margins; 12 point Times New Roman font; Double spaced; with a separate bibliography on a third page. MLA) * Include the following information in paragraph form: 1) THE TOPIC (about a paragraph long) Provides a general overview of the problem, question, or issue addressed. Specifies the controversy about the topic and the stakeholders/constituents to the problem. Or, articulates the thematic tension in an artistic work of stage or screen. Defines locations, artists, time periods, artistic or intellectual movements or theories relevant to the inquiry, and cites specific scholarly sources to illustrate the scope and significance of the topic.

2) A RESEARCH QUESTION & RELATED RESEARCH QUESTIONS THAT HELP FOCUS THE TOPIC Articulates questions that lead to analysis rather than summary; privileges ONE central research question. 3) AN OUTLINE OF THE APPROACH YOU HAVE DEVISED TO EXPLORE THE TOPIC Specifies key terms and concepts, names the case studies, and explains any proposed theoretical frameworks (such frameworks and cases may be somewhat vague at this point, but you should be moving in this direction). Connect the sources you’ve listed to how you are thinking about your research inquiry. 4) (OPTIONAL) A TENTATIVE HYPOTHESIS If you are able to, formulate a tentative hypothesis answers your main research question.

5) A PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHY of at least 4 credible sources, including 3 SCHOLARLY texts Try to identify case and frame sources as early as you can. Please use MLA citation style. (If you are including a source in your bibliography, you should have the source in your possession, and you should have spent time reading through the source and making notes to verify it is relevant to your inquiry.) Due Dates: *ROUGH DRAFT due Monday, February 19th. Please bring three copies to class and post one to Sakai. *FINAL DRAFT due Monday, February 26th. Please post to Sakai. (You will also have two Source Evaluation Assignments due in class on this day.)