Project Proposal. Length: 1 – 2 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman font. Neat and professional formatting will count for 10 points of this assignment.
Your proposal should show that you have defined your area of interest and narrowed your focus to a specific research question and sub-questions. In this proposal, you should address the following. Your paper should not be written in question and answer format.
Paragraph One: (30 points)
What is the topic? Remember, a topic is a general area of interest; it is not your focused research question.
How did you come to decide on the topic? Do you have a personal interest in it?
Why is the topic relevant? Why or how do you believe this topic will interest other readers?
What is the debate/controversy surrounding this topic?
Paragraph Two: (you can just list the questions). (30 points)
What is the specific research question (main question) you will address in your paper? (Try to think of it this way: If your paper will be the answer, what is the question?)
List the 3-4 sub-questions you will examine that will help answer your focused research question.
Paragraph Three: (30 points)
(Do a quick Google search on your topic)
Is there a general answer to your question on Google?
Do you think you can trust the sources you found? Why/why not?
What questions do you have about the research process ahead of you?
What help do you think you need at this point? What difficulties do you foresee?
Stay away from topics that may result in an emotional rather than fact-driven argument or topics that are very subjective (e.g. abortion, gay marriage, religion, politics, etc.).
Also stay away from medical topics (e.g. What causes cancer? Causes and treatment of…)
Not a topic too broad, too basic, or too narrow.