DUE DATES:

• TOPIC FOR RESEARCH - WED., SEPT. 30th, BY 11:30 PM UPLOADED IN ASSIGNMENT BOX- VALUE:  10 POINTS
• OUTLINE OF TOPIC TO BE RESEARCHED WITH REFERENCE LIST ATTACHED - WED., OCT. 28, BY 11:30 PM, UPLOADED IN ASSIGNMENT BOX
  • This part is VERY important!  I expect you to have an outline/summary that is a workable guide for writing your proposal with a complete list of the references you intend to use attached in appropriate form. 
• RESEARCH PROPOSAL - MON., NOV. 23TH, BY 11:30 PM, UPLOADED IN ASSIGNMENT BOX.

The topic:  1 line/a few words.  Do not turn in a paragraph/essay for a topic.  Think in terms of the type words you would use to research in a search engine.  BUT, you should have READ some about your interest to know what the more narrow topic you wish to plan a project for will be. 

The Outline:  This part is very important!  Each section of your outline should be focused on a portion of your topic. This should be about a page long. It should be sufficient to structure your proposal once you start writing the actual proposal.  Do not write a paragraph or essay here!  This is in outline format.  See my further suggestions.

The Proposal itself:  4 page minimum, not counting title page or reference page.  Use APSA or APA format.  This is NOT a paper as such, despite the fact that you must review the recent sources to explain why you are choosing this topic and where prior research has brought us and what questions about the topic are left. Do not do a separate page for your Abstract, but move directly into your introduction (labeled) after the Abstract is concluded.

Your thesis proposal should have the following elements in this order:

• Title page
• Abstract
• Introduction - state WHY your topic is necessary/important... the "So what?" of why you are looking into this topic
• Thesis statement - what you believe the evidence will show
• Literature Review - 2 to 3 pages review of the most recent sources on your topic and what they tell us and what is still left to know.  This is a really important part...it tells me what you have found out, how much you have looked into your topic, and why you think additional research would help the topic.
• Approach/methods = how you would plan to  prove what you say needs more research, such as qualitative or quantitative methods.
• Implications of research - what are the implications of what you believe you can show?  
• List of references

DUE DATES:

• TOPIC FOR RESEARCH - WED., SEPT. 30th, BY 11:30 PM UPLOADED IN ASSIGNMENT BOX- VALUE:  10 POINTS
• OUTLINE OF TOPIC TO BE RESEARCHED WITH REFERENCE LIST ATTACHED - WED., OCT. 28, BY 11:30 PM, UPLOADED IN ASSIGNMENT BOX
  • This part is VERY important!  I expect you to have an outline/summary that is a workable guide for writing your proposal with a complete list of the references you intend to use attached in appropriate form. 
• RESEARCH PROPOSAL - MON., NOV. 23TH, BY 11:30 PM, UPLOADED IN ASSIGNMENT BOX.