How to Write a Research Proposal - Outline and Samples

Do you also find writing a research paper a dreadful task? To write a successful research paper, you need to know how to write a research proposal in a way that it passes through the thesis committee. Quick Links 1. What is a Research Proposal? 1.1 Research Proposal Definition 2. Research Proposal Outline 3. Research Proposal Template 4. Research Proposal Format 5. How to Write a Research Proposal? 5.1 Title 5.2 Abstract 5.3 Introduction 5.4 Literature Review 5.5 Research Methodology 5.6 Result 5.7 Discussion 5.8 Citation 5.9 Proofreading 6. Research Proposal Example 6.1 Research Proposal 6.2 Research Proposal Sample 6.3 Research Proposal Example APA 7. Research Proposal Topics 8. Seek Professional Help! 1. What is a Research Proposal? A research proposal is a concise summary of your research paper. It creates the general idea of your research by highlighting the questions and issues you are going to address in your paper. For writing it, demonstrate the uniqueness of your research paper. This is the first draft that demonstrates your skills to conduct research. To clarify the concept further, it is the is the most important document as it tells if you can successfully conduct complex research by communicating your clear and concise ideas. 2. Research Proposal Definition A detailed definition is, A research proposal is a document written with the goal of presenting and justifying your interest and need of conducting research on a particular topic. It must highlight the benefits and outcomes of the proposed study, supported by persuasive evidence. 2. Research Proposal Outline Sometimes students dont realize how important a research paper is and just end up putting all the information together without following the basic outline or thinking this through. To summarize its importance, if you want a successful research project, you need to write a great proposal for it. Before starting with the outline, you need to understand the basic components. It goes without saying that a clear outline is important when it comes to literature and writing. 3. Research Proposal Template It might seem like a dreadful task and especially for the students who are new to this. It requires good writing as well as research skills. Here is a sample template to further explain the outline. Research Proposal Template (PDF) Continue reading to know more about proposal writing. 4. Research Proposal Format Your proposal proposal should have enough data and information to persuade and convince your readers regarding the significance of your research. Here is a basic format you can follow while writing your proposal. Title Abstract Introduction Literature Review Research Methodology Result Discussion Citation 5. How to Write a Research Proposal Now you have the basic outline you can follow. Lets discuss how to write it following the format mentioned above. 5.1 Title Your proposal title should be concise and clear to indicate your research question. The title is the first thing that your reader is going to read. A catchy yet informative title will attract readers. Your readers should know what to expect in the paper after reading the title. Your title should clearly indicate the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Avoid writing titles in a general perspective or phrases like An investigation of or A review of 5.2 Abstract The abstract is a short summary that is around 100-250 words. The abstract should include the research question, hypothesis of your research (if there is any), the research methodology and findings. If the proposal is detailed then it will require a section of table of contents after the abstract. 5.3 Introduction You need to start with a strong introduction. The introduction is written to provide a background or context related to your research problem. It is important to frame the research question while writing the proposal. Your entire proposal will revolve around your research question. If the research question is not specific and has a very general literature review, then your proposal might seem insignificant. A specific research question will make your research focused. However, there is no one way to frame your research question. Start the introduction with a general statement related to the problem area you are focusing on and the justification for your study. The introduction usually covers the following elements. What is the purpose of your research or study? Mention the background information and significance before you introduce your research question. Introduce your research question in a way that its significance is highlighted by setting the stage for it. Briefly mention the issues that you are going to discuss and highlight in your study. Make sure that you identify the independent and dependent variables in the title of your study. If there is a hypothesis or a theory related to your research, state it in the introduction. Have a very clear and concise idea related to your research to make sure you do not deviate from the boundaries set for your study. A clear idea will help you craft a perfect thesis. Here is how you can create a crisp and interesting thesis introduction along with a basic guideline. 5.4 Literature Review As per the requirements of your instructor, you can incorporate the literature review in the introduction or create a separate section for the review. A separate section dedicated to literature review will allow you to conduct extensive background research and support your research question with ample proof from credible sources and researches. Following are the basic purposes of the literature review. To give reference to the researchers whose study has been a part of your research. To help you construct a precise and clear research question. To critically evaluate previous literature information related to your research. To understand research issues relevant to the topic of your research. To convince the reader that your research is an important contribution to the relevant niche. A literature review is an important component. However, there are some common mistakes that students make while reviewing the literature. Lack of organization and coherence. No proper structure. Lack of focus on the topic. Not citing the papers and researchers properly. Not including the recent studies relevant to the topic. Trivial citation Keep your literature review organized by adding a subheading to maintain a smooth flow in the content. Reading literature review might seem boring to a few people. Try not to bore your readers and your instructor, or the committee.. Write it in an engaging manner. 5.5 Research Methodology This section explains how you are going to conduct your research and the method you choose for your research question. Explain why the specific method is suitable for your research and how will it help you attain your research goals. Your research methodology will give you an organized plan for the research. Mention sufficient information regarding your research methodology for readers to understand how you are conducting your research. It must contain enough information regarding the study for another researcher to implement it. Choose the type of research methodology that is suitable for your research. Quantitative research is suitable for projects involving collecting and analysis of statistical data like that in social sciences, medicine and psychology. Qualitative type is used in theoretical type of research like that in literature. Some research involves both; if your research topic also involves analysis of both the statistical data and theory, then make sure that you use them appropriately. For a qualitative approach, the method section of your proposal needs to be more detailed and elaborate as compared to the one in quantitative approach. How you will collect your data and analyze it according to the qualitative approach should be described with great care. When you choose a quantitative approach for your research, the method section should contain answers to the following elements. Design Is it a laboratory experiment or a survey? What is the sample size and the subject of your study? What is the procedure of your study and how will you carry out the activities involved in it? Describe your questionnaire or the instruments you will be using in the experiment. Have detailed knowledge of all the research methodologies to justify your approach towards the research problem. 5.6 Result You wont be having any results of your experiment while you are writing the proposal. In this section, you can describe how you will analyze your research question; present hypothesis based on the data you have collected in the research. 5.7 Discussion Describe what will be the potential impact of your research and highlight the reasons of choosing the respective topic. Dont exaggerate the merits of your research just to enhance the significance in the eyes of the readers. Also, mention the limitations of your study in terms of lack of time, resources and budget; mention its scope for future study. e.8 Citation Don’t forget the citation section.You dont want to get blamed for plagiarism. Always give references to the authors and the literature you have studied for your research. There are two ways to cite your sources. Reference List the literature that you have used in your proposal. Bibliography List everything that you have cited while doing your study or while writing. Follow a specific format for the citation section as instructed by your supervisor. It can be written in APA, MLA, Chicago or Harvard style. Both references and bibliography included in it. Why Research Proposals Get Rejected? An analysis of 500 rejected proposals allowed us to identify the common blunders made in them. These blunders caused the rejection of otherwise promising research. The proposal stated a flawed hypothesis. The professor doubts the research will not bring new or useful results. The plan mentioned in the proposal lacks details and is unrealistic. It lacks coherence. The results obtained, or the hypothesis,from the chosen method will be inaccurate. The review of literature is not done correctly. Sufficient time was not devoted to writing the proposal. The proposal is copied or has been used by many other students in the past. These are the common ways that result in rejection. If you desire to make it shine, stick to your instructors guidelines and stay away from committing these mistakes. They will kill the purpose and effort you put in your proposal and tarnish your reputation also. The Perfect Strategy to Maximize Acceptance of the Research Proposal None wants the proposal to be rejected in the first place. The acceptance gives you a head start. Your writing style is significant in this regard; it will decide if your proposal is accepted or not. Always proceed to establish a declarative writing format. Never use informal vocabulary or overused idioms and passive verbs. Typos, spelling mistakes and poor grammar casts a negative impact on the professor. If you dont have perfect grammatical skills, you can never write a brilliant piece of paper. 5.9 Proofreading Many students prefer not to proofread the proposal after completion, which is a grave mistake If you proofread the paper on your own, you may fail to identify the mistakes. Use online tools or have a helping hand from your friend to give it a good read. In the end, edit the document as per the needs. 6. Research Proposal Example To clarify the concept, here is an example following the outline mentioned above. 6.1 Research Proposal (PDF) Here is another complete sample to help you write a research proposal. 6.2 Research Proposal Sample (PDF) To write your proposal in APA format, review the following example. 6.3 Research Proposal Example APA (PDF) 7. Research Proposal Topics You can take ideas for your topic from books, journals, previously done researches and dissertations. Here are a few topics you can choose from. How technology has evolved English language over the last 10 years? What are the effects of individualism in the British literature? How Feminism has helped women get their rights over the last decade? Fall of Roman empire and its effects. What factors caused World War 2? Effects of World War 2 on diplomacy. Can cultural differences affect social interaction? How violent video games have affected the brain development among children? How does alcohol affect aggression among few people? Is death penalty effective? If you want to know more about finding a topic for your research paper and research paper topic examples, here is how you can choose a topic for research paper. 8. Seek Professional Help! They can be critical requiring great attention. If you are inexperienced, you are likely to suffer. In a worst case scenario, your proposal may get rejected. But there is a solution to this complex problem. Experienced professionals! 5StarEssays professional essay writers master the art due to their years of experience in academic writing. What makes them perfect? Quality makes them the best in town. Gear up to take the assistance of the masters and make them shine. If you have any queries, talk to our representative. We always search for ways to improve our services by working on the feedback.

Varnasrama-dharma, the Hindu Caste System

Varnasrama-dharma, the Hindu Caste System Free Online Research Papers This paper will explore the Hindu caste system. Varnasrama-dharma, as applied to the varnas, or castes, is one of the fundamental aspects of Hinduism. Its origins trace back to the 1500’s, when the Aryans invaded India from then Persia. The complex hierarchy was devised as a system to facilitate the subjugation of the conquered tribes. The caste system is based upon the principle that human society is like a complex machine, with individuals and communities as its parts. If the parts are weak, broken, or asked to perform a function it was not designed for, the machine will not work. Likewise, each part has its place and function; no part can do the job of another, and all must keep their place for the machine to function smoothly. This Dharma, our place within and duty to the machine of society, is not just essential to our happiness, but the happiness of all. Hindu society is traditionally divided into four main castes, with each main caste divided into hundreds of sub-castes, or jati. The function of these castes is to quantify how ‘pure’ a person is, and thus how close he is to reaching Moksha, or enlightenment. Being born to a higher caste is an indication that one had lived one’s previous lives in a holy manner. As a result, the higher castes must live holy lives themselves, or they will regress to a lower caste in their next life; or worse, be born outside of the castes entirely (Flesher). The highest caste is the Brahmins, the priestly caste. Their dharma is to study and understand the Vedas, Hindu’s four holy texts, and bring this knowledge to others. The second caste is the Kshatriya, the warrior/ruling class, who protects and guides the people. Vaishya, the professional caste, work in business and production to provide economically for the people. The Shudra, lowest of the castes, are servants to the higher three castes, providing the labor which moves society. Some upward mobility is possible, in that each caste has hundreds of jati. It is possible in one’s lifetime, by marriage or economics, to attain a different jati, but never to transcend or fall from the main caste one is born into. There is a segment of society that is so low that it was once not officially considered a caste. These are the Harijan; once known as the untouchables. The untouchables were considered wholly impure, and were given positions within society to reflect that. These jobs typically involved handling dead matter and filth; such as street sweepers, butchers, latrine cleaners, and the like. They are outcast from society to the point that they may not come into physical contact with one of the pure casts. If such contact were to occur, or even if an untouchable were to touch a casted person’s possessions or furniture, the casted person would immediately be required to cleanse his person or property (Anand). At first appearance, the Hindu caste structure and the social laws pertaining to rights based on caste seem to be prejudicial and exclusive. The lowest caste, Shudra, is not allowed to hear or study the holy Vedas. However, from a religious standpoint, the caste system is not abusive in itself. The Shudra are not allowed the Vedas, but they are allowed to participate in the Hindu religion. It may seem counterproductive to deny them the very texts that dictate their caste and dharma, but Hindus believe that everyone who is born into a caste is there for a reason. Karma, how you spend a lifetime, which follows you throughout your many lifetimes, determines which caste you will be in for the next lifetime. You may be demoted to an animal, repositioned within the castes, or granted Moksha. One’s karma and success in fulfilling one’s dharma determine if one is ready for a caste in which he will be allowed to study the Vedas and progress along Samsara; the cycle of lif e, death, and rebirth. Proponents of the caste system argue that it provides the answers that people turn to religion for. It gives the people a social structure that encourages closeness with other members from your caste. It gives an individual a meaning to life, even if that meaning is to serve or sweep the street. It provides a goal and a purpose. The caste system has the advantage of clearly defining morality and giving people a firm place in society. Though one may not be able to raise is caste within a lifetime, neither can his caste be lowered. It enables one to concentrate upon their dharma, to improve their karma, and progress toward rebirth in a higher caste. â€Å"Since it is accepted that one’s caste is determined by one’s past karma, there is no reason to be bitter about one’s lot or envy others† (Ludwig, 109). Granted, the caste system has not been implemented as the Vedas instruct. The system has come to be a hierarchy wherein the lowest levels are not given the respect commanded in religious texts (Embry). Detractors point to this as why, even with the caste system officially dissolved by the Indian democratic government, caste-based discrimination continues to be a hardship on the lower castes when it comes to employment and economic improvement. Today, things are much improved with the introduction of programs similar to Affirmative Action, and free education for all Indian citizens. Still a complete and genuine equality for all continues to elude them. It should be pointed out, with the official removal of the caste system; the door has been opened to social backlash, often referred to as ‘reverse discrimination.’ Policies originally meant to equalize the treatment of all citizens have been over extended and misapplied. Opportunities once reserved for the higher castes are now available to Harijan and Shudra, and actually denied to Brahmins. This upturn has triggered a re-stratification of society, converting it to a new system the where once oppressed become the oppressors. Every society naturally stratifies its population on the basis of influence, wealth, or education. The varna system ensures a high standard of craftsmanship, a sense of community belonging, family integrity and religious-cultural continuity. Indians have clung to these traditions as a source of economic and social stability in an often distressed society. It is unfortunate that the varna system has ended this way. However, it does not mean that classification is wrong. Rather than scrapping a major tenant of the national religion, it should be restructured to properly reflect karma as set in the Vedas. References Flesher, Paul. Social Organization; The Caste System. Retrieved February 02, 2010 from http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/hinduism/HORGS.HTM Anand, Mulk Raj: Untouchable. London. Penguin Putnam, 1940. Embree, Ainslie T.: Indias Search For National Identity. Delhi, India. Chanakya Publications, 1980. Research Papers on Varnasrama-dharma, the Hindu Caste SystemBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfCapital Punishment19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalPETSTEL analysis of IndiaGenetic EngineeringInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceTwilight of the UAWDefinition of Export Quotas

Henry David Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Henry David - Essay Example Thoreau is believed to have been one of the most influential icons of his times. Actually, leadership icons such as Martin Luther Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi were greatly inspired by Thoreau. Thoreau wrote many books in diverse fields. Particularly, he wrote on subjects that involved public oppression by oppressive leadership. Reforms and political courses were most of his favorite areas of writing. Thoreau was a diversified writer who wrote as a poet, author, critique, philosopher, naturalist, and realist. It is believed that his literary works totaled over 20 volumes and mainly consisted of poems, journals, and essays. In his late years, Thoreau became so interested in natural history and wrote most of his late writings through expedition narratives. Although he inspired many, he also got inspiration from Darwin and Bartram. One of his most widely read essay is called "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience." Thoreau is a figure to be emulated. He believed in a better and just society. Altho ugh he is criticized for promoting civil disobedience, he actually advocated for betterment of leadership rather than change (Thoreau