FORMAT FOR WRITING THE PROSPECTUS FOR THESIS
1. Abstract
The ABSTRACT should be brief (not to exceed 200 words) and should summarize the
following: Introduction, Statement of Problem and Significance, Research Questions
or Hypotheses, and Methodology you will use.
2. Instruction—Statement of Problem and Significance
This section introduces the reader to the focus of the paper and provides a general
overview of the issues and background leading up to the problem under
investigation. It should include the STATEMENT OF PROBLEM AND SIGNFICANCE.
The problem and significance statement should identify briefly the state of
uncertainty, scholarly neglect, or dissatisfaction with present knowledge on your
topic. Crucial to the problem statement is locating your work in relation to a larger
body of knowledge. Your grasp of the secondary literature (the historiography) is
essential to identifying problems, or debates on your topic. Your statement should
then clearly and precisely identify the purpose of the paper in terms of how it will
help to advance our knowledge in that field. In all you should have a clear rationale
for your paper. What is your RESEARCH QUESTION OR HYPOTHESIS – why are you
writing this paper? Research questions or hypotheses should be stated clearly.
These should be consistent with the Statement of the Problem and Significance in
your introduction.
3. Methodology
This section should indicate how the research for the paper will be conducted, what
approach(es) will be used (i.e., iconography, socio-political history, psychoanalysis,
literary theory, etc.). It should identify specific scholars, or tradition of discourse to
be used in the paper. Thus, the section should convey the appropriateness of the
approach for answering the research questions(s) and, most importantly, it should
describe the techniques for analyzing the topic with direct reference to the research
questions(s), or hypotheses.
4. Annotated Bibliography
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All sources should be included using standard citation format (be consistent if you
use MLA, or Chicago Manual of Style). It should also include a summary of each
source (no more than three sentences).
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING THE PROSPECTUS
1. Introduction/statement of the problem and significance
Does the Introduction provide a general overview of the issues surrounding the
study?
Is the problem under investigation clearly stated?
Is evidence used to demonstrate the significance of the problem?
Are important terms defined?
Are assumptions clearly stated?
Is the Prospectus grounded in a larger body of research?
Are related studies examined critically and gaps identified?
Does the historiography provide a clear rationale of the study?
2. Research Questions or Hypothesis
Do the Research/Hypotheses develop a specific focus for the paper?
Do the research questions/ hypotheses support the problem statement and
historiography?
Are research questions worded to imply responses more complex than Yes or No?
3. Methodology
Is(are) the approach(es) fully explicated and appropriate for the study?
Does the approach appropriately match the problem statement and research
question?
4. Other Issues
Does a consistent conceptual framework and/or paradigm unite the problem
statement, research questions and methods section?
Is an appropriate style (i.e., MLA or Chicago) used correctly and consistently?
Does the abstract summarize the content of the prospectus clearly and
accurately?
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WRITING THE THESIS
This paper will allow you to apply your research methodological experiences to a paper.
After consultation with your Professor (Professors), you should come up with a topic
that is broad enough to encompass serious research methods and include valuable
original ideas and conclusions. The writing of the prospectus as outlined above is the
main focus of this class. It encourages students to focus on the process and scholarly
research methods that are necessary for Art Historians, and to demonstrate for
graduate school applications/essays such proficiency.
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Begin by looking at major monographs and sources and their bibliographies to establish
the most prominent scholars on the subject. You must be able to identify the
scholar/scholars. Use only books as your major resources, not the Internet. Use the
Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature; Database listing under main indexes and
databases in library; also check specialized and related indexes in subject. Primary
scholars will publish articles on their subject, in addition to the publication of books.
Follow the guidelines on the syllabus for deadlines regarding drafts and maintain
contact with your professors throughout the process.
THE FORM OF THE PAPER (FOOTNOTES, BIBLIOGRAPHY, ETC.) SHOULD FOLLOW
ACCEPTED GUIDELINES (CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE). PAPERS MUST BE TYPED. BE
SURE TO PROOFREAD – GRAMMAR AND SPELLING COUNT AND CARELESSNESS AND
LATENESS WILL LOWER THE GRADE. Please illustrate your references to artwork and
clearly document with figure numbers in text. Illustrations/figures should be at end of
text with full captions. Include a list of illustrations. Remember, this is an ART paper and
should reflect your concern and appreciation for the subject.
GUIDELINES:
Word count (not including footnotes) should not be less than 4,000 words and not more
than 5000 words (20-25 PAGES)
Font: 12-point Time New Roman
Double Space (not 1.5) throughout paper (main text and footnotes)
1” margin all around the paper
