A research proposal is a prospectus.The purpose of this document is to sell your idea to the appropriate professor or research committee.You may be writing a prospectus for a research project.A prospectus is used to apply for grants.
Step 1: The general topic is what you want to discuss in your study.
A brief discussion of the general topic that your study or research project will address is what you'll want to start with.A broad area of study is the topic you want to write about.It's not as broad as an entire subject such as history or sociology.You will list a specific aspect of that subject, such as "The Cause of World War II" or " The Impact of Globalization in Latin America."This topic is so broad that it would be hard to write a single paper or book about it.You don't typically need to devote more than a sentence to your topic in a shorter prospectus for an undergraduate research paper.
Step 2: Make a list of the questions you want to answer.
Your research will be affected by the questions you list.All of your questions should be related to the topic you have described.To get a good idea of the types of questions typically asked, you may want to look at other research projects in your discipline.A history question can involve a lot of research to find any patterns that may emerge.Questions in the social sciences may be based on data gathering and statistical analysis.This may be a list of questions you expect to address in your research.A grant proposal will usually have several pages to discuss the questions that your research will address.
Step 3: Discuss the significance of the answers.
The next part of your prospectus will explain how your answers will affect the research in the field.If there is an active discussion of the issues you raise, you should describe how your research will contribute to that discussion.The more advanced you are, the more important this part of your prospectus is.If you're writing a prospectus for a research project in an undergraduate course, your professor won't expect you to contribute anything new or profound to the field.Graduate research and dissertations attempt to make a unique contribution to the area.If you believe you are the only person in the world who will research specifically to answer the questions you have listed, you may need to do some preliminary research before you can write this portion of your prospectus.If you make a statement about the importance of your research, you should be able to back it up with research.
Step 4: Make sure your study answers the questions you have raised.
The thesis statement for your research is the answer to the questions you've posed.It is the statement that will tell you what to look for in your research.It's important that your thesis statement is as clear as possible.It's possible that your questions aren't as clear as they could be if you find it difficult to answer them.You're going to have a hard time coming up with a clear, definitive thesis statement if your question is vague.
Step 5: Discuss your interests and qualifications.
If you're writing a shorter prospectus for an undergrad project, you don't need this portion.You are usually expected to explain why you're the right person to complete the project.You're also selling your own knowledge, passion, and skills as a researcher to find the answers you seek, at this level.Information about yourself as a person and your personal interest in the topic you plan to research can be important for grant applications.If you have a personal commitment or dedication to a particular issue, you may be in a better position to fund a project.Depending on the type of research you plan to do, you may have to outline your position and your ability to gather various types of information, such as archives or classified documents.
Step 6: You should outline the chapters of your paper.
A summary of how the whole project will come together and what your finished product will look like is provided in your prospectus.Nothing is set in stone with this plan.As you get into your research or start crunching numbers for your project, your paper is likely to change.You can either write this section in a single seamless narrative or create specific paragraphs.This section is basically a couple of paragraphs that tell the readers how you'll organize the final report on the project.
Step 7: You can break down the phases of your research.
In social science or hard science research projects, there is a specific order in which your work must be done.This section may not be applicable if you're not doing any experiments on your own.If you're doing a statistical analysis, you need to gather the data, collect the statistics and analyze them.This is where you will describe the steps of the experiment.If you're doing a project in the humanities, the stages of your research may not be as clear-cut as they would be for a more scientific project.
Step 8: It will take you a while to finish your project.
If you're writing a prospectus for a class research project, you have to finish it by the end of the class.The timeframe may be more open-ended for graduate research projects.When you believe your project will be completed, you should give an estimate in your prospectus.If you're applying for a grant, you need to come up with a deadline and a timeline for the research.The feasibility of the project is affected by how long you think it will take to complete your research.You have time constraints, so be realistic about what you can do.If your research ends up taking longer than you anticipated, you may be able to get an extension, but you have to justify the reasons you need more time or explain why the initial estimate in your prospectus was incorrect.
Step 9: Determine the amount of money you'll need for your project or study.
For larger research projects, you will need to describe all of the costs and how you arrived at them.If you're applying for a grant, the people who review your prospectus will want a detailed breakdown of what you intend to do with the money.Fees for access to archives, copying, and data collecting are some of the expenses you'll need to include.You should include a list of any resources you plan to use for free, such as the university library, computers, and student volunteers.
Step 10: Take a look at any assignment information.
If you're writing a prospectus for a university project, your professor or department will likely have specific guidelines for you to follow.The guidelines will usually include details on which citation method you should use, as well as information on how to use a style guide to govern word usage.Your assignment information may say how long each section is supposed to be, and which sections must be included.
Step 11: It's a good idea to use standard formatting.
Unless you're told otherwise, you typically want to format your prospectus the same way you would format any other research paper or assignment.You can type your prospectus in Times New Roman.Your text will be doubled-spaced if you have one-inch margins on all sides of the paper.If your prospectus is more than one page, you should include page numbers.You should follow the guidelines for creating a cover sheet from your professor or department.Before you start working on your prospectus, set up footnotes and end notes in your word processing app.
Step 12: There is a table of contents.
If you're writing a prospectus for a research project that will generate a book-length report or manuscript, you should include a table of contents.The table of contents gives the readers of the prospectus an idea of what the final report will look like and how long it will take.
Step 13: You should include a bibliography.
The books, articles, and other resources you plan to use are listed in your bibliography.At this point, you should at least know what your primary source material is going to be, because you aren't necessarily committing yourself to using these resources specifically.An annotated bibliography is required by some professors and departments, in which you cite the sources you plan to use, but provide a detailed description of what the source is and how it fits into your research.Check the guidelines from your professor to make sure you use the correct citation method.
Step 14: Make sure to proofread your work.
The people who review your prospectus will be looking at the project in a different light.They'll be less likely to like your prospectus if it's sloppy or poorly written.It is a good idea to read your prospectus backwards.You need to check your language as well.It's important that everything is written in a professional tone.As you edit, keep your audience in mind.While you may be writing a prospectus for professors or a committee that has full understanding of your project's topic, you shouldn't assume any particular level of understanding.The prospectus should be written so that it can be understood by a generally intelligent person without any special knowledge of your field.