Theme: project proposal writing

LESSON
THEME: PROJECT PROPOSAL WRITING


Let’s discuss!
What is a research proposal?
Have you ever written any research proposal?
What is the difference between report and summary?
What problems you run across while writing a report?

A research proposal presents and justifies a research idea and the practical ways in which it can be solved. It analyzes and synthesizes the existing research about a particular topic and describes the writer’s own idea for a new study, based on the assessment of gaps or problems in the research literature. It answers three questions: (1) what the project is,

(2) why it’s important, and (3) how it will be handled. More precisely, a proposal is a demonstration of a commitment to an extensive study.
Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application, or you might need to submit one before you start writing your thesis or dissertation. All research proposals are designed to persuade someone—such as a funding body, educational institution, or supervisor—that your project is worthwhile.

1. 
   What is the purpose of a research proposal?
   
2. 
   What questions does a research proposal answer?
   
3. 
   Why are Academics and students required to write a research proposal?
   

How long is a research proposal?
The length of a research proposal varies dramatically. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations and research funding are often very long and detailed.
Although you write it before you begin the research, the proposal’s structure usually looks like a shorter version of a thesis or dissertation (but without the results and discussion sections).
The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals should contain at least these elements:

• 
  Cover page
  
• 
  Introduction
  
• 
  Literature review
  
• 
  Research design
  
• 
  Reference list
  

The research project proposal should contain each of the following sections in the order indicated. This format allows you to produce the starting draft of the following sections of your research thesis.

1. 
   How many pages does a bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal consist of?
   
2. 
   Do you normally write a research proposal or dissertation first?
   
3. 
   What does a content of a research proposal resemble?
   
4. 
   What elements does a research proposal incorporate?
   

1. Title. The title should include the student’s name, the advisor’s name, the project title, the course number, and the date. This should appear at the top of the first page of the document. Include a title on the proposal. Remember! A good title is the first step to help the reader understand the nature of the work.