The style and content of the proposal, typically twelve to eighteen double-spaced and typewritten pages,
will depend upon the specific research problem and method. Again, an example of a history research
project proposal is included as an appendix to this guide and it should be consulted by the student before
beginning. Each proposal should have a title page that includes the information included in the sample
document in the appendix. In terms of content, all proposals should include the following:
Tentative Title
Research Problem
Definition of Terms
Background of the Problem
Research Method(s)
Research Limitations
Working Bibliography
Tentative Title – The first section, the tentative title, probably should be written last. A successful title will emerge only after it has been determined, often by trial and error, just what the investigator hopes to accomplish. The title should be specific and clear; you may want to accompany it with a subtitle. Ideally,
it should summarize the research problem with efficiency and style. Avoid titles that are pretentious,
vague, or wordy. Expressions such as “An Investigation of” are redundant and should be omitted. Titles of just one or two words, on the other hand, are too brief to indicate the scope of the research problem. An overall rule is that the title should be explanatory but concise when standing by itself.
Here are some examples of poorly worded titles that were effectively revised:
Original: “An Investigation of the Possibility of improving the Tax Method of Many
Massachusetts Cities and Towns for Raising Revenue to Cover Rising
Expenses for Public School Education in Those Same Cities and Towns” (Too
wordy)
Revised: “Improving Education Funding through Local Tax Revenues in Five
Massachusetts Municipalities”
Original: “The Need for World Order” (Too vague)
Revised: “The Peace-Keeping Role of the United Nations in Lebanon since 1980”
Original: “The Beckoning Hand: Gestural Poetics in the Neglected Early Verse of
Emily Dickinson, with Special Attention to the Theme of Mute Entreaty”
(Too wordy and mannered)
Revised: “Gesture in the Early Poems of Emily Dickinson”
Original: “Some Aspects of Animal Behavior in Monkeys” (Too vague)
Revised: “Group-Foraging Behavior in Cercopithecus erythrocytes”
Research Problem – The statement of the research problem should be precise. Unless the problem includes specific sub-problems, this section should not exceed two to four pages. The first paragraph of this section should briefly introduce or set in context the subject of your research. Then, simply state the problem or question the research will explore. Later, in the “Background” section of the proposal, you can
describe more fully the sources to be used in analyzing this position and making the argument.
The statement of the research problem must include a clear question, a suggested hypothesis, supporting evidence (that is types of sources with which to test and/or validate the hypothesis), and the conclusions and broader implications of your research. It cannot simply present a description, like a book report. It should begin by asking a significant question, such as “Why did John F. Kennedy win the 1960
presidential election?” It should then present an answer to that question – an answer referred to as the
“hypothesis”– from the Greek word meaning to suppose:– such as “John F. Kennedy won the election
because of his superior performance in television debates.” Next, it includes the evidence in favor of the hypothesis and shows logical flaws in alternative hypotheses.
Finally, the conclusion of the study shows
that you have considered the further ramifications of your hypothesis, in light of the evidence: “Kennedy
won the election principally because of his television performance but also because of superior campaign
polling: a dual emphasis that would reshape the nature of all subsequent U.S. presidential campaigns.”
When we refer to the conclusions you anticipate reaching, we mean the broader implications of your hypothesis, the “so what?” of your project’s findings. We do not mean that, as in ordinary expository writing, you should merely reiterate your hypothesis to conclude your paper.
You do not, of course, actually have to present all of the evidence here (one paragraph or even two is far too short for that). You should, however, indicate what kind of evidence you intend to rely on and present an example or two to illustrate exactly how you expect the evidence to corroborate your hypothesis. In other words, the brief statement of the research problem should be like a road map, showing both where you intend to go and how you intend to get there. In short, consider the following when contemplating
the research problem:
1. Question (What is the question you seek to answer?)
2. Hypothesis (What is the tentative answer that your study will test?)
3. Evidence (What source material will you use to test your
hypothesis?)
4. Conclusions/Broader Implications (What are the research implications for further study?
Last Completed Projects
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