Writing a research proposal

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One effective way to manage your research project and focus your thinking is to write a research proposal. A proposal serves many functions. It gives you an opportunity to look back—to remind yourself why you decided to enter a specific research conversation—and to look forward—to predict any difficulties or obstacles that might arise as you develop your project.

Your objective is to make a case for the question you’ll be exploring, the sources you’ll be using, and the feasibility of the project, given the time and resources available. Your instructor may assign a proposal as part of the overall project, or you may prepare one on your own and ask your instructor and classmates to comment on it.

The following format will help you organize your proposal.

Thinking like a researcher

Related topics:

Posing questions worth exploring

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Mapping out a search strategy