Research Proposal for a Graduate-Level Paper

Prepare a research proposal not to exceed 3 pages (Times New Roman, double spaced, 1” margins):

o Explain your general topic. What is your motivation for choosing this topic? Why should this topic be studied? What have you learned in your preliminary research? Give me a mini literature review and be sure to cite sources.

o Will you study this qualitatively or quantitatively or with mixed methods? Will you write a rhetorical criticism? Why use your chosen method(s) instead of others?

o What are you hoping to learn from your research? What is/are your main research question(s)? (Keep these narrow).

o What kinds of questions will you ask to answer the main RQ(s)? Talk about the motivation for the questions.

o If you will use human subjects, whom do you plan to interview and/or observe? (Keep this to one population). How many people will be involved? (If you cannot name names at this time, list characteristics of ideal interviewees). How will you recruit participants? When and where do you plan to conduct your interviews or hand out your surveys or whatever else you are doing with human subjects?

o If you are doing a rhetorical criticism, what is your artifact? Why? What lens will you use for your analysis? (See Foss for help on this).

Remember, this is the start of a conversation between you and me about your final paper. We may pass it back and forth a few times before we’re both happy with your decision. Once this RP has a seal of approval from both of us, you need to move on to the outline.