Just when you thought writing essays was getting to be a bit too much, now your professors are asking you to write proposals to write essays. This can feel quite debilitating especially if you don’t know how to write a research proposal. To start, academic writing comes in several shapes and sizes. You’ll be required to learn many citation formats, meet ridiculous word counts on empty subjects and somehow do it without accidentally plagiarizing anything in the process.
If you’re exhausted from meeting all these particularities, help is on the way. We’ve assembled this intuitive research paper guide to get you writing a paper proposal like a pro! We’ve covered all major details from developing a research plan to delivering an effective presentation to get your work approved. Read on to get the edge you need and overcome this challenge.
What Is A Research Proposal?
In addition to yet more work a research proposal actually is quite important. It demonstrates that you understand the topic at stake and you can properly set a plan of action to investigate your proposal questions. Your text also indicates why the research is worthwhile. After graduating, often you’ll need to make a case to initiate a project. This is an integral part of working in the sciences, particularly when you’ll need to request resources for your work. Therefore, it is important you take the time to develop your academic proposal skills for your future career.
How To Write A Proposal For A Research Paper?
Okay so let’s delve into the details. Our guide will walk you through each section and hit upon the main requirements found in a typical paper proposal. Your instructor may have some preferences so be sure to always follow those as well as the formatting guidelines for the required citation style. Many students who want to save time, skip over this part and opt to buy a research proposal from professional writers. This allows them to get a head start with their research and a great strategy to manage your deadlines. You’ll buy time to work on the actual paper instead of being bogged down in the details.
Research Proposal Format
The format for your assignment is largely dictated by the set citation style. By now you should be familiar with a couple of the common styles such as APA or MLA. Some style guides require a title page or a running head while others do not. Also, pay attention to the font you use for your scientific proposal all style require a legible font and may have spacing and margin guidelines.
Research Proposal Abstract
In the academic community the abstract is what sells your paper. It is a brief synopsis of the questions you aim to explore as well as the current state of knowledge. Many professors will first read the abstract to get a snapshot of what your text contains. A well written abstract will be concise, yet interesting which can be a hard balance to strike, especially if writing is not your strong suit. Initiate interest by giving an overview of the current state of knowledge and how you plan to contribute to it. This will go a long way in building interest for your work. The abstract will also guide the reader to jump to points of interest in your paper. Mention key elements of your planned work and how you plan to tackle these questions.
Research Paper Proposal Outline
The outline is the backbone of your text. It will help streamline your ideas and how to put them together in a completed work. Many students neglect writing a research paper outline, but a proper outline gives general topic headings you’ll include in the paper.
The best advantage of this, is you’ll save time by connecting your research how you’ll proceed with writing. With a visual of how to conduct your research most efficiently, you won’t have to revisit sources multiple times. You’ll also be able to start writing your paper at any point and don’t need to go from beginning to end.
Research Proposal Structure
There are a few key sections for your research topic proposal. Here is a run down of the sections to include in your paper.
- Introduction – A few parts of the intro is your lead-in, background information, and your thesis statement. Start your lead-in with an introduction that garners interest with a strong hook. You may quote a controversial statistic you plan to investigate or a question your peers often ask themselves about a contemporary subject. This will setup a strong transition for any background information on the topic which will then follow with your thesis statement. Your thesis is the basis of your paper and should be relevant through the entire text including your conclusion.
- Literature review – Here you demonstrate your knowledge on your subject. Mention texts you’ve read and how they reinforce the background of your topic proposal and especially any knowledge gaps that serve as a driver for your research.
- Methodology – Scientific work must be based on logical conclusions and the only way to have consistent and accurate data is through proper technique. In this section detail what experiments or studies you plan to conduct. Ensure your methods are logical and on point with your thesis statement. When another scientist reads your methods, they should be able to duplicate your tests and obtain similar results.
- Expected Results – It may not seem possible to indicate the expected results, especially when venturing into unknown territory. But with solid background knowledge, you’ll be able to formulate a hypothesis of what to expect. Certainly the results of many college proposal have differed in practice, so don’t get discouraged if your expected results deviate from reality. You’ll have plenty of time to document the discrepancies in your actual paper.
- Conclusion – Don’t wing this. The conclusion is what leaves the reader with an impression so make it memorable. Restate your thesis, why it is important and what you aim to achieve. Give a consolidated summary to persuade your professor to approve your topic.
Research Proposal Topics
When you write a research proposal you may be stuck trying to find the best topic that will be interesting and have sufficient material to develop your paper for a high grade. The key here is to be relevant. You may have a pet subject you’re passionate about, but if doesn’t appeal to the larger audience, your paper will likely be rejected. A good tip is to check with academic publications in your field and see what questions leading researchers are working on. This will provide a blueprint that is relevant to your studies and greatly improve the chances of your work being approved.
Research Proposal Presentation Tips
When you pitch your proposal, nothing sells better than confidence. Take time to prepare and think of any questions your audience may ask. You may find it useful to practice with friends and ask for feedback how you can improve the delivery. Ask what they like, or dislike and if they have any questions. It is important to give a good impression as to why your work is important and the questions you will explore. Include a list of visual aids to encourage interest in your work. A few graphs to indicate a problem as well as an explanation of how you intend to solve it will work well to keep your audience engaged and follow your presentation.
Professors appreciate the effort you put into your proposal so do not neglect this step. Students who craft the best proposals are seen more serious and are given more authority to follow their passions instead of towing the line with the curriculum. Show that you have what it takes to be a lead scientist in your discipline with a well crafted proposal. And as always, if you find yourself a rock in a hard place, our professional writers are always available to help you put together a high quality proposal at a moments notice.
