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Writing a Research Proposal: General Guidelines

A research proposal is the presentation of an idea that you wish to pursue. A goodresearch proposal presumes that you have already thought about your project and have

devoted some time and effort in gathering information, reading, and then organizing your

thoughts. A research proposal is NOT a project to be thrown together in one night withideas off the top of your head. Thus, one might say that the research proposal is a secondstep, following the selection of a broad topic.

The function of a proposal is to provide space to begin brainstorming and narrowing

down your research topic, generate ideas relating to the research topic and the essays readin class, and formulate questions you may wish to consider when writing your paper. In a

typical research proposal:

you "propose" a topic of research, or state your intention to study a certain topic,

begin to explore and formulate issues at stake in it in order to explain why it's an

important or valid topic for research, show how these issues intersect with some of the issues you've discussed in class

in relation to your subject,

briefly describe what others say or would say about your topic and begin to layout your own preliminary or tentative position on your topic.

The proposal is also an excellent medium for you to consider what main ideas you are

going to have to explore in order for you to begin writing your paper. It is also importantfor you to start considering what frame you will be placing around your topic. Instead of

an outline, which assumes that you are already have some idea of the structure of yourpaper, the proposal discusses what your paper might be about. As a result, you should see

the proposal as an exploration of your topic, your ideas on the topic, your reasons forchoosing the topic, and what you will need to do in order to complete your essay.

Research proposals typically begin with an analytical question.The foundation of a good

research paper is a good research question. Just as a tree needs a good root system togrow to be strong, a good research paper needs a good analytical question.Students often

find that creating a research question is helpful because in-depth questions by definition,demand explorative answers. Within those answers, you may find that your topic

narrowing itself, or you may find a new topic that is more interesting to you. The actualproposal will indicate what analytical question you wish to address.

What does "analytical" mean? An analytical question can take different forms and no oneform is necessarily better than others. What all analytical questions have in common isthe fact that they are not merely descriptive. That is, an analytical question moves beyondthe "what" and explores the "how," and the "why." A good analytical research paper will

use "the what" as part of the answer to "the why." But it is obligatory to address aquestion beyond the "what." For example, a descriptive paper would ask: "What were

Brandeis reasons for defending a right to privacy?" An analytical paper would ask:"Why were Brandeisarguments for the significance of privacy persuasive?" As part of

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the paper, you would then briefly review what Brandeisreasons were, but then youwould go beyond that description.

As you prepare your proposal, you might consider addressing some of the following:

Indicate your topic, problem, or idea you will be exploring. Why does this topic interest you personally? (It is very important that you a topic

that interest you because if you aren't interested, you will not do a good job.)

What questions do you want to address in your paper?

How do those questions or ideas intersect with what we have been discussing in

class?

How focused is your topic? Have you picked a specific theme, idea, author?

Do you have any ideas on how you think the paper will be structured?

If you have a preliminary position in relation to your topic and research question,indicate what that position is.

As you work on your proposal, it is important that you define an area of research with asuitable level of specificity. Remember this is approximately a seven page essay. Make

sure that you define your topic sufficiently narrowly that you can reasonably accomplishyour project in the allotted space and time.

The Actual Proposal

Generally speaking, a proposal consists of the following core parts:

1. Statement of the issue your paper will answer. Again, remember, the point of yourpaper is to argue for something. There has to be an identifiable issue to any

research proposal, especially in philosophy.2. Brief literature review in which you review the major works on your topic and

indicate what the arguments are. If you are applying a theory to an issue, you canreview the theory used. The point is to show an awareness of what has been

written on your issue, what evidence was used, what theories applied, and whatarguments were made.

3. A statement as to what your argument will be.4. A statement as to how your argument will differ from that which has been made

by other authors. How is your explanation original or different? If you applying atheory, you can explain which theory you will use and why you think that is the

appropriate theory to explain the event(s) you are interested in.

5.

A brief outline of the parts of the paper.6. A short bibliography statement as to the major sources you will use. This can

include databases, websites, interviews, etc. and should be completed using MLA

format.

The proposal need not be long, but the quality should be high. Preparing your proposal iswhere you demonstrate that you have done the hard thinking and groundwork that

justifies your topic as a worthwhile one. The more effort you put into your proposal the

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better your proposed paper will be. There are plenty of resources available on theInternet, your professor is likely willing to help in the process as well, and you are free to

use the resources of the Learning Resource Center.