Now that you’ve brainstormed and narrowed your topic for research, it’s time to formalize your project in a research proposal. A research proposal is a kind of writing that does just what its name describes: it proposes a potential research project. In professional settings, writers write proposals for research projects when they’d like to earn funding for research, when they’d like to publish a research-based article, or when they’d like to present their research at a conference. In academic settings, such as writing classes, writers write research proposals to propose projects to their instructors. In both settings, the proposal functions similarly: it makes a case for the research project, and the reader—someone who can sign off on the project or give it the “OK”—determines whether the project is valid or appropriate to continue. In professional settings, readers determine whether a project is appropriate for funding, publication, or presentation; in academic settings, readers (your instructors) determine if the project fits the guidelines and expectations of the assignment.

Proposals frequently contain some or all of the following elements:

• Working Thesis: Though it can be difficult to develop a working thesis for a project that hasn’t been written, a proposal should offer such a thesis. Not only does this working thesis get you started on writing your project, but it is also something that can (and will) change over time, as you continue your research.
• Plan: As with the working thesis, writing a plan for a paper that hasn’t been written can be a challenge. Nonetheless, describing how you’ll develop your argument, such as mentioning what details you’ll discuss when, gives you an advantageous head start on writing the project, and it gives the reader a clearer picture of your project.
• Survey of Research: This section of a proposal describes the research you’ve already collected or the kind of research you’ll seek.
• Discussion of Audience: It’s always important to consider the audience of your writing project, including the “hypothetical” audience. This section of a proposal can describe that hypothetical audience—that is, who you think would be interested in reading your research project, who might benefit from reading it, or who you might like to persuade when making your argument.

Proposals are often exercises in concision, meaning that you might be tasked with keeping your proposal below a certain word count (say, below 500 words). It’s a good idea, then, to be deliberate and careful with your word choice. Use words that help paint a specific picture of your particular project. Avoid weak verbs and aim for precise, strong verbs. Depending on the length requirements (or limits) of your proposal, you might separate the proposal into different paragraphs (for example: one paragraph that introduces your project and provides a working thesis; another paragraph that covers your plan; then another paragraph that describes research; etc.). As always, make sure to read your assignment sheet closely to get a clear sense of what your instructor is asking you to write.

Conclusion

Research projects are often the longest and most involved writing assignments that students encounter in college composition courses. After all, they usually ask students to synthesize multiple skills they’ve spent a semester (or sometimes more than one semester) developing. Research projects often require students to show off their summary, response, analysis, critical thinking, and source engagement skills on top of their research and research-related skills. Though such projects can seem overwhelming or even intimidating at first, with a process-oriented approach and a little bit of autobiographical thinking, these projects can become interesting and engaging, and they can even teach you something new—about the world, the issues you research, and even yourself.

Works Cited

Coetzee, J.M. Doubling the Point: Essays and Interviews, edited by

David Attwell, Harvard UP, 1992.