As we start Project 3, it is crucial that we get all of our ducks in a row. The more organized we are from the start, the more attention we will be able to pay to the exciting multimodal aspect of this project: the creation of the scrolling essay. This guide will walk you through how to (1) write your project proposal and (2) how to find relevant sources that will allow you to answer the questions that you outline in the proposal. Please read this guide carefully prior to submitting your Project 3 Proposal.
The Research Proposal
What is a research proposal? And why do we write them?
The proposal is an opportunity to propose or outline a manageable topic and argument that you will pursue in Project 3. We write proposals to define and winnow down our interests into manageable projects & to convince readers why our project is feasible, relevant, and necessary.
How do we structure our proposals?
Paragraph 1: provides some background information/brief context about your general topic before you begin to focus your discussion and state your thesis at the end of the first paragraph. Notice that this paragraph is not dissimilar from an introduction paragraph like we have discussed in class!
Paragraph 2: addresses the critical and/or analytical questions your paper seeks to answer and how it will do so. Include a (however tentative) list of the primary and secondary sources you will likely be examining and putting in conversation with each other to answer these questions.
Your proposal will be around 300-500 words (about a page).
Do note that proposals for research projects will vary by discipline or course, so always be sure that you are following directions in order to meet the expectations of your audience!
Diving In: Some Helpful Tips for Each Component of the Proposal
Introductory Context
What background information or context is necessary for your reader (who isn’t an expert on your topic) to be able to understand the argument presented in your thesis?
Consider summarizing current state of knowledge on your topic or recent debates on the topic
To transition into your thesis, you might want to point to what aspects of your topic either been ignored or incorrectly/incompletely addressed
Paragraph 2: Questions You'll Answer
Quick Tip: Don’t have a paragraph-length list of questions!
Instead, frame your path of inquiry as a series of statements:
- This essay will examine X in order to explore the ways in which Y impacts Z….
- I will consider PRIMARY SOURCE through THIS LENS...
- I will put SCHOLAR X in conversation with SCHOLAR Y to examine PRIMARY SOURCE in THIS WAY...
Finding Sources for Your Project
While you won't be able to provide concrete answers to the questions you outline in your proposal until you finish the actual project, you still need to have a sense of what conversations and scholarship exist around your project. This will ensure you (1) know what gaps exist and how you are going to contribute something new to the conversation and (2) know what your primary and secondary sources will likely be. This last part is ESPECIALLY important for thinking about scope. You don't have the time or space to grapple with/dive into more than 1 primary source (the novel), and you need to include at least 2 secondary sources.
For this project, your primary source is A Tale of Two Cities. I strongly recommend doing some preliminary research to locate some relevant secondary sources during the proposal writing stage.
Is my source scholarly? Answer these questions:
- Who wrote it?
- Who reads it?
- Why was it written?
- Who edited it? Is it peer-reviewed?
What is a peer-reviewed source?
A peer-reviewed source is a type of scholarly publication evaluated by field experts and approved before publication.
Remember, not all scholarly articles are peer-reviewed, so you might have to research the journal to figure out if its publications are or are not peer-reviewed.
Skim to Evaluate Potential Sources
Save yourself some time and potential heartache. Skim a source before you read it in full to determine its relevance and usefulness. To do so:
- Identify the author’s thesis. What is their object of study? What methodology, theory, or approach are they using to interpret it? What is their argument?
- Go through each topic sentence to get a sense of where their argument heads before skimming through the conclusion
Note that research is not always straightforward or easy. Sometimes a source is not directly related to your topic, and that’s okay -- it can still be valuable and appropriate to use in your project. A source might use a methodology you like, even though it features a different object of study. It’s up to you, then, to apply their methodology, concepts, etc. to your own object of study.
PRO TIP: Use a bibliography/reference list from one source to find others. This is a great place to find related, additional sources while making sure their own work is informed by thorough and legitimate research!
Finding Sources with the IU Libraries
For this project, you will need to find at least 2 peer reviewed, secondary sources from the IU Libraries. These might be hard copies of books from academic presses you find in the stacks OR journal articles you find through the databases.
Click here for a fantastic IU guide for finding sources. Please read this guide thoroughly and carefully!
Click here to visit a IU Libraries Guide for Argumentative Writing. Visit the Search Tips and Two Few/Many Results pages in the left hand menu to learn how to search for sources relevant to your project. This is a really helpful resource if you are having a hard time narrowing down your search results.
If you would like some extra support as you work through your potential secondary sources, I strongly recommend using this graphic organizer.
Proposal Checklist
Before you turn in your proposal using the worksheet posted on Canvas, use the following checklist to ensure it is in good shape and ready for submission!
- Are there any “fluff”/general statements that can be removed? (for example, “I will do research to prove this argument”)
- Is there an appropriate amount of introductory context? Do you start too broad/far away from the actual topic? Are there gaps that need to be filled?
- Is your thesis statement focused and specific? Do you assert a unique argument or merely state a fact that no one will disagree with?
- Does the second paragraph present a clear plan/path of inquiry? Do you merely list a bunch of questions?