Academic Research Paper Topic Proposal
The topic proposal is your written commitment to me to a specific focus of research this term.
Choosing an appropriate subject is a critical step in the success of your research project. It can be also one of the more difficult steps. So plan to allot a few days to consider ideas, investigate availability of relevant materials, and get feedback from instructors and librarians as you begin any research assignment. (You can make contact now with a research librarian at the J&W Library).
Be sure you review the instructions for Academic Research Paper that we have discussed in class to ensure your understanding of the assignment and what you are asked to do.
Your topic should organically come about through your reading of the course content.
This means your topic must somehow be related to the ideas found in The New Science of Learning that we have been reading and discussion all term.
After you have explored some databases, and browsed through some books and journals, it is time to commit to the topic that you plan to work with for your research project.
Keep in mind that you may not use sources from the World Wide Web in your paper.
Your proposal should be 300-450 words long and respond to the following five items (roughly a paragraph or so for each item):
Paragraph 1: Introduce the issue, and then present it in question form (this is a brief explanation of the general topic with an explanation of how it fits the criteria for the project and the more specific research question you plan to examine in your paper).
NOTE: This question will be initially formed based on the knowledge you possess before you formally begin the project. It will, however, change and evolve as you read through your research material.
Paragraph 2: Explain why the topic is interesting/compelling to you.
Paragraph 3: Describe what you already know about the topic.
Paragraph 4: Describe what more you need to learn
Paragraph 5: Explain where you plan to find your information.
Be sure that your proposal is typed, double-spaced, & Times New Roman Font, 12 point.
The completed proposal must be submitted to Blackboard.
This is how your proposal will be graded:
Total Points: 5/
The writer introduces the author and work they wish to examine and presents their topic in question form (Their research question) (2 points).
Writer explains why this topic is compelling to them (.5 points).
Writer describes what they already know about the topic (1 point).
Writer explains what more they need to learn (1 point)
Writer discusses where they plan to look for research material (.5 points).
Grading Scale:
A 5
B 4
C 3
D 2
F 0-1
