Research Proposal
Assignment: Develop a proposal for your research essay
Purpose: To have a roadmap of your research essay
Due Date: Sunday, June 27th by midnight
Requirements: Answer the following questions in paragraph style—write your answers in paragraphs and in complete sentences. Make sure to follow MLA format (double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt). Please no contractions (don’t, isn’t) and second person (you, your).
Your whole proposal (including working bibliography) needs to be 500-750 words.
1. Title
2. Motivation for the research
o Give context for your research question(s): why is this an important area to study?
o Provide references to the peer-reviewed literature (e.g., books, articles, etc.)
3. Overall argument
o What is your thesis?
o What specific questions will you examine in order to prove your thesis (be explicit about what these are)?
o What is your knowledge in this area, and how will your research question advance that knowledge?
4. Approach (exemplification, analysis, critical thinking skills)
o Which kind of approaches will you use to prove your thesis?
o How is the evidence that you will use be effective?
5. Anticipated results (based on previous research or knowledge)
o What do you predict from your analysis and research? Why?
6. Significance of the proposed research (to the academia and society)
o Why are you excited about the proposed research, and why should the reader be as well?
o How does the proposed research relate to what has already been done in this area?
7. Literature cited—working bibliography (optional)
Assessment: I will evaluate your paper on the knowledge of conventions, clarity and coherence, rhetorical choices, and formatting (rubric in the syllabus).
