Writing a Proposal What is a research proposal? Why is it important?

rtant? Parts of a research proposal Pattern of a research proposal Sample proposal How to evaluate a research proposal

What is a research proposal?

This is one of the core assignments, a part of the Independent Research Portfolio. A research proposal introduces the reader to the content and scope of the research. Proposals are informative and persuasive writing because they attempt to educate the reader. The effectiveness of your proposal will depend on your ability to explain the nature, context and scope of your project.

Why is it important?

Research proposal can also be an ideal source of help when it comes to format. Seeing a research proposal example with the appropriate citation style can help put the whole thing in perspective.. Your research proposal should make your topic sound

interesting, introduce your topic adequately and define a research plan. This may be accomplished in four steps.

 Parts of a research proposal

I.

Introduction: The introduction should make things sound interesting. (1st Paragraph) Begin with a story or a piece of news. Each rarely fails to capture the readers attention. A story/piece of news may also tell readers indirectly that the topic still has some significance in time. The story should not be more than 5 lines. The main component should be the parts related to research topic.

(2nd Paragraph) Comment on the story so that a link is created between it and the subject matter. You may begin: This story shows that schools should play a bigger part in establishing

II.

Statement of the Problem This section consists also of two parts. The 1st part (one paragraph)states the problem/issue generally in place and time. The scope can be the universe/mankind and the time: the century. In case of nationally exclusive issues, the general scope will be the whole country and the time will be the lifespan of the problem.

The 2nd paragraph will narrow down the focus to fit the space and time of the research duration. Nothing specific should be stated about the intentions of the researcher.

III.

The Purpose of the Study a- Here, researcher should clearly and specifically state what he aims to accomplish by going through the process of research. You may start: The purpose of this research is to find out/ conduct analysis of/prove/argue, etc. based on the nature of your research. Explain why/where/when you picked up this perspective. Highlight the thesis of your study.

b- List data-collecting methods, ranging from library sources, online sources, interviews, questionnaires, etc. Describe your proposed methods in sufficient detail so that the reader is clear about the following: What kind of information will you be using? From what sources will the information be obtained? What resources will you require? What methodology will you be using? Why have you selected this approach? What ethical and safety issues have you identified and how do you propose to proceed? (http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au)

c- (Recommended) State what falls outside the scope of your study. This step will certainly help make your focus clearer.

IV.

Research Plan: This is a tentative design for the research. It can be modified along the process of the research. This section may start: The research falls into parts. The first part provides a background

Students Sample:

The Egyptian Universities: Unclassified

This is the re-occurring thought that strikes Egyptian minds today, whether young or old. Education is now considered a road better taken in foreign countries where universities are classified worldwide, according to grand global standards, assuring that students be given the best education possible.

II. Statement of the Problem

A study was conducted to classify the top 500 universities around the world which are located in 35 different countries. The rankings were made by the institute of Higher Education according to disciplinary characteristics which include arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, technology, computer sciences, life sciences, clinical medicine and interdisciplinary & multidisciplinary sciences. Institutions were judged according to their focus on those disciplines, their priority towards them and their orientation regarding them.

A cry for attention came in the shape of a disappointment when Egyptian universities failed to be amongst the list of the top classified universities world-wide. Universities in the list were located in 35 different countries around the world yet both public and private Egyptian universities did not fit the standards with which they could be 'classified'. Education in both private and public sectors of Egypt are under the spotlight today in order to analyze, understand and change what lacks from them.

III. Purpose of the Study

The purpose of studying the unclassification of Egyptian universities is to analyze what they lack. The aim behind the study is to constitute a clear perception of what universities in Egypt lack in order to understand the reasons behind their failure to enter the list of classified universities. By pointing out what is missing from Egyptian educational systems and what classified universities have that Egyptian ones do not, the study should prove that the system needs to be changed, improved and reformed in order to not only build classified universities but also to construct a nation which could be classified as distinguished, developed and prominent.

I will use in-text citation from credible sources that support the findings I present. Moreover, I will use questionnaires to get people's feedback on how they see the Egyptian educational system should be improved.

- I will not compare between public and private universities, making the first seem mediocre and the latter more prominent because both failed to be classified as top universities which is a clear sign that the problem is in Egypt's whole educational system, whether the private or the public sector.

IV. Design/Plan

- This research falls into five different parts. The first part discusses public universities, what lacks from them and what should be improved. It basically revolves around the absence of practical activities, extra-curricular activities, creative majors and an educational online system. It also discusses the way language is undermined, the professors' attitudes, their qualifications, the corruption of the system, the absence of standardized books and the effect of having large numbers of students in each class. That is followed by the second part of the research which discusses private universities and the improved security and attendance system they require, the higher supervision needed during examinations and the way many possible majors are only taken as elective subjects. The third part of the research discusses what classified universities have that Egyptian ones do not and this is to lay a spotlight of higher intensity on what it is that both private and public universities in Egypt need. The fourth part discusses the way minors should be transformed into majors giving examples and elaboration while the fifth part of the research discusses how Egypt's job opportunities make it difficult to succeed in doing so due to the little respect and salaries they give to those graduating from eccentric majors.

How to evaluate a research proposal

Reread the above proposal. Point out what positive points you can find and the negative ones. The following questions can help you find some answers:

Introduction

Is the introduction attractive? Why?

To what extent did you find out what the topic was after reading the introduction?

Does the topic sound interesting? Why?

Do you think the study tackles an important issue? In what way is it important?

Are there ways this introduction could be improved?

Statement of the Problem (Abstract)

What are the differences (if there are any) between the first and second paragraphs?

Can you spot any writing problems in this part (emotional expressions, runons, inconsistency, etc)?

Purpose of the Study

Is the purpose clear enough? Do you understand it fully?

Do you think the researchers perspective is innovative?

Do you think this issue can be studied from a different perspective?

Evaluate the researchers methodology.

Did the part the researcher excluded make a difference? How?

Tentative Parts/ Design

What else can be added there? Is any part irrelevant?