How to Structure Your Research Proposal
A research proposal is one of the parts of the application that is most scrutinized. This is the way we ensure that applicants only submit exemplary work that will earn them a coveted grant. It is best to take the time to know what to include and avoid redundancies.
What are some of the critical sections to include in your proposal?
- Title – Your proposal’s title should be attractive, clear, and interesting. It should also be precise and communicate the proposal’s aim.
- Abstract/Introduction – this section gives an insight into the key elements you wish to discuss in the proposal. An abstract will give short and precise explanations of each chapter you have included in the proposal.
- Literature Review/Citation – this is a summary of the findings from the identified sources. Moreover, the literature review should discuss all the policies you wish to discuss in the proposal.
- Methodology – the methods you have used during the research are discussed here. The procedures should be in a manner that makes it easier for readers to replicate your process. The researchers should be able to replicate the chosen research technique to reach the same results.
- Resources – you are asked to provide a list of all the resources used in the research proposal. The sources used should be related to your research area.
- Results – the results section discusses any difference that you experienced when experimenting with your ideas.
- Discussion and Conclusion – this is the most critical section. You need to briefly discuss the findings of the study. You need to put your point across with a good argument.
A research proposal should be flawless to guarantee success. Therefore, the structure is a crucial aspect to consider. You must ensure that your proposal is well-written to increase the chances of making an impression on the professor.
How to Structure Your Proposal
The best structure to use is similar to that of a conventional academic paper. However, unlike the conventional essay structure, your research proposal will have unique sections.
Introduction
This is one of the few sections where you will need to include long text. The introduction needs to be precise and informative, and ensure that it is not too lengthy. The introduction should also include your research question and demonstrate that your research stands out from the rest.
Literature Review
This section of your proposal contains the references used for the entire research proposal. It also contains all the journals you have used in your research. To make things even more straightforward, here you will be using your relevant credentials to prove your credibility.
Methodology
This part of your proposal states the steps you took when conducting the research. You should also list all the materials and equipment you used. Furthermore, you should expound on the effectiveness of your techniques. You will also explain the negative impacts you expect to experience as a result of your research.
Results
This section would be incomplete without including the results. Here, you are supposed to highlight any differences you experienced after experimenting with your ideas.
In summary, you should confirm with your supervisor what is required before submitting your proposal.