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Writing Assignments Guide

A guide for students to provide some basic information and explanations on the different writing assignments they may encounter within their courses.

What is a Research Proposal?

A research proposal is a document that outlines a planned research project. It details the research question, the background and significance of the study, the methods and approach that will be used, and the expected outcomes. A research proposal is typically submitted for approval before the research begins, often as part of an academic or grant application process. It serves to convince others of the importance of the study, the feasibility of the research plan, and the researcher's capability to complete the project successfully.

Research Proposal Writing Tips & Resources

  1. Title Page - much like a dissertation or a thesis paper, you will most likely need a title page for your research proposal. Your title page should include:
    • The proposed title of your project
    • Your name
    • Your supervisor or instructor's name
    • the name of your institution or department
  2. Introduction - next, you will need an introduction. This will introduce your topic and present the research question or hypothesis you intend to study. You will also need to explain the significance of the research and why it's worth studying.
  3. Literature Review - following the inroduction will be a literature review. This will showcase to your readers that there is a strong foundation of existing knowledge and information to pull from. You will need to summarize existing research related to your topic and identify gaps in the current knowledge that your research will address.
  4. Research Design and Methods - after your literature review, discuss your research design and methods. In this section you will detail how you will conduct the research. Be sure to include the methods of data collection and analysis; this can be which databases you intend to search, what keywords you may use and any other relevant information for HOW you will do your research.
  5. Implications - This section can play a critical role in your proposal, as here you will explain how your research will contribute to the field of study/ topic. You can also discuss potential applications of the findings. This is where you need to convince your readers WHY your research will be important.
  6. Timeline - For college assignments, you do not need to exactly provided a proposed timeline of research and completion, but in a career research field, you may need to. You can use this section to provide a realistic timeline for completing the project. Here you can provide details on the timeframe of conducting research or studies, writing, editing, review, and so on.
  7. References -lastly, you will need to provide a preliminary list of references that you intend on using for your research. This is crucial if you have used any references within the proposal itself. This is also important for listing the citations of your literature review and, of course, avoiding plagiarism!
  1. Be Specific: Clearly define your research question and avoid being too broad.
  2. Stay Focused: Keep your proposal tightly organized around the main objectives.
  3. Demonstrate Feasibility: Show that your research can be completed within the given time frame and with available resources.
  4. Use Clear Language: Avoid jargon and write in a way that is accessible to your audience.
  5. Follow Guidelines: Adhere to any formatting or structural requirements provided by your institution.

Resources Consulted