Name:

Independent Research Project Proposal Writing Rough draft of proposal due next Friday, January 11 Final draft of research proposal due Thursday, January 17

You need to write a research proposal in order to demonstrate: that you are invested in your topic that you have located enough variety of quality resources and that you have a plan for proceeding with your research for the next 6 weeks

Creating a solid proposal will help you terrifically in going about conducting your research and with writing your paper.

There are 4 important parts to your proposal. Each part is a tool to support you in your research and to organize your initial ideas and resources. You will use your proposal throughout your research. Your proposal must include:

1. Written Description of Your ProjectThis will be an elaboration of your Reasons for selecting your topic from your brainstorm sheet. It should also include an explanation of how you settled on the topic, an explanation of how you will go about researching your subject and what resources you plan to use. This written description of your project may end up being a part of your introduction in your paper.

2. Outline of your research questions and subtopicsThis really is an extended and organized version of your brainstorm. The items are listed in question form. Check the outline in the example proposal included. The basic form: I. Introduction A. What is my thesis or guiding question? B. Why did I select my topic? C. How did I go about researching my topic? D. How am I going to share what I have learned? How is my paper organized? II. Subordinate Question #1/Major Point A. Supporting ideas/questions B. Supporting ideas/questions III. Subordinate Question #2/Major Point A. Supporting idea/questions B. Supporting ideas/questions IV. What are my conclusions? What questions do I still have about my topic?

3. Annotated source listing. A list of your sources making use of the APA citation style guides. Annotated means that you write a short description of the sources and how each will be helpful to you in your research. You need at least five varied and quality sources. Example: (citation) Herbst, Judith. The History of Transportation. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books, 2006. (annotation) This books offers a comprehensive llok at major inventions through history. It includes many pictures, detailed information, and a timeline across the bottom of every page.

4. A description your organizational system for keeping track of your note taking, data collection and research guide sheets.