1. The proposal should be relevant to public policy and security studies. 2. The paper should be well edited, double-spaced, 12-point, typed pages in length. 3. The sources should include books, articles, journals, original documents (where available) and online sources. 4. The sources should be approached as a critical reader. Make judgment about the credibility of what they say and critically evaluate the sources they use and whether the empirical evidence justifies the conclusions that they reach. 6. Essays should be written in the third person. 7. Assume the reader is clever, but not necessarily knowledgeable, so please explain the terms and acronyms clearly. 8. Make sure that there is a balance between academic and more policy-oriented sources from the Internet etc. 9. Make sure to always provide an introduction that includes a ‘road map’ for the essay. Tell the reader up front what the essay is about, how it is organized and what the answer is. 10. The structure of the proposal includes the following: • Topic statement: This should establish the general subject area you will be working in and how your topic relates to it. Explain briefly why your topic is significant and what contribution your research will make to the field. • Research aims: These should set out the specific aims of your research and, if appropriate to your discipline, the main research questions. • Review of the literature: Provide a brief review of the significant literature and current research in your field to place your own proposed research in context and to establish its potential contribution to the field. • Study design / theoretical orientation: Outline the theoretical approaches taken in your topic and indicate which approach or approaches you propose to use in your research and why you plan to do so. • Research methods: Briefly describe your proposed research methods, including the type of information and sources to be used, the main research methods to be employed, any resources needed and any ethical or safety issues identified. • Tentative chapter outline: You may wish to include a tentative chapter outline if available at this stage. • References/Bibliography: List all publications cited in your proposal using a suitable academic referencing system. (Not included in the word count.)
