Structure
of the Proposal*
MA Proposals should be about 3-4 000
words; PhD Proposals about 8 -10 000 words.
Here is one suggestion for the structure of the
proposal:
1. Title. Keep it short and clear; make sure it clearly
indicates the focus of the research. You
can’t change the title after the acceptance of the proposal, without going
through a faculty procedure.
2. Introduction. Provide
background and context to your particular focus. What is the general debate with which you
will be engaging? Ask yourself what
background your readers need to know before they can appreciate your particular
focus and contribution. Show that you
have done your homework.
3. The Question. Here you focus down to the small corner of
the general debate that you will focus on.
You need identify your focus and your research question. Be as precise and focussed as possible. Show how your concerns differ from other
related ones, or where you will depart from ‘standard’ theories and readings,
or where you will make a contribution to the area. Set out any sub-questions you will need to
explore in order to answer your main research question.
4. Importance of the Question.
Why is your question worth answering?
What is its value and what will be gained by your spending time on it,
and by your readers engaging with it?
5. How others have answered the Question.
What have others said in reply to the question? What are the main texts, theories,
authors? You need to show that you done
some research and can engage with the literature (to some extent, of course;
you are not expected to have read everything at this stage). Make sure that you mention and discuss the
important or standard theories, views etc.
6. Your (Tentative) Answer to the Question. As best as you can at this stage in your
research, set out your answers to the question, or suggest the direction you
think you might go in. If you are not sure, let the reader know what your
current thinking is, why you are unsure, and where you might end up. Try to
show why you think your answer will make a contribution to the debate, and what
that contribution could be. You are not expected to have worked your answer out
fully in the proposal.
7. Outline of Sections.
A brief outline, to show that the material can be coherently organised,
and to show that you have considered how that could be done.
8. Bibliography. List all
the resources you mention in the proposal, and any others that you know you
will draw on. Make sure that the
‘classic’, frequently cited works are mentioned.