Writing the Research Proposal - notes from class discussion

Parts of the Research Proposal - taken from "Dissertation Destination"
This research proposal will be about 15-20 pages, Due during Exam week
This is a suggested way to do this - so maybe the lit review becomes more of your intro, there's definitely play in how you structure it.

I. Introduction (So what) - 2-3 pages ballpark

• Story - how you hook someone
• Interested - how you got interested, why it's important to you
• quotes

II. Research Question(s) - 1 page or less
Come up with 3 questions/statements - I'm interested in this because...

III. Defining Terms

• Problematic Terms
• Jargon Terms
• New Terms

IV. Literature Review (30 pages for your dissertation, but b/c we're limiting this to 10 sources for this assigment or 8-12 sources) 4-6 pages

• This is where you identify the gap - why it's important for you to be doing what you are doing and what the contribution will be.
• But DON'T be drowned out by your sources - just tie them in to what you are doing.

V. Research Design - Bulk of work 6-8 pages probably -
This is where you'll talk about:

• Subject participants you are choosing and why
• Methods and why
• Time, money, access
• Equipment, etc.
  

VI. Significance (2 pages)
For future research I would like to do...
Where might your work lead next?? This is where you will spell this out.

VII. Outline of Study (this is optional and more for dissertation)
You can start planning out what your diss will be - how you are envisioning chapters going.


Other comments or things to think about:

Preproposal should have Intro, Research questions, Design and major lit review sources.
This is Due when we meet with jen 11/18.