How To Write A Research Proposal
When you are applying for a research position you will have to write a research proposal.If you are applying for a PhD inside your country then probably you will have to write your proposal during your research.I am explaining here how to write a research proposal and what is the importance of different sections in a research proposal.A PhD is awarded as a result of your true contribution to the state of knowledge in the field of your choice.
Most of the students hesitate to write research proposal may be of the reasons that they do not fully realize it’s meaning and importance.A good research proposal can win a project/fellowship for you but on the other hand it can also strike good impression on thesis committee.A research proposal makes your case stronger by conveying a message that you are ready and you have a plan to complete your work.
Tittle of Your Research:
Do not be in rush here and try to think for some time.Try to use a catchy but informative title.Very often tittle contains the phrases like “Functional relationship of…” “Molecular Investigation of…” etc.Try to make dependent and independent variables very clear in the tittle.An effective tittle will catch and boosts the reader interest for your proposal.
(Note: Personally I advise to think the tittle when you finish all the writing of your proposal).
Abstract: (Optional)
This is an optional category.You will see most of the proposal having no abstract but if you can add then it will make your proposal more concise.It should be in the form of brief summary of about 300 words.It should include the rationale of the study, the research question, the hypothesis (if any), and the methods and about the main findings.
Introduction:
Introduction is the formal start of your proposal.It depends on your creativity how to start the first paragraph as introduction is followed up by a research problem.Some people rate the research question/s in a separate header after introduction where as other include the research question in the introduction.It is personal dependable how to design.
Start your introduction with the universal or general statement from the area of a problem.In the second paragraph become yourself specific to the area of your problem.Additional recent references will also give high weightage to your problem.
Mainly your introduction could be as follows in the order;
1. Start with general paragraph of the area of your research question.
2. In the second paragraph comes to the specific area of your research problem.
3. In third paragraph you can discuss your research question.
4. Discuss the key players of your research problem in the following paragraph or in the third one.
Try to use latest references.
5. Write the rationale of your proposed study and present that why it deserves to do.
6. Next provide explanation if you have some.
7. In winding section, try to make it clear that how is the importance and need of this research.
Literature Review:
The aim of this section is to show that this is a novel and new topic.This section will also inform the reader about the previous advancement about your area so recent references are once again advisable.Again in some research proposals this section is covered in the introduction section but both are right.If you can write separately then it will mark your proposal more precise and compact.
In this section, you have to state the key progress in your area one by one.It is not very difficult one to write but indeed it needs proper literature review.
(Note: May be your university has no subscription to all the journals then for your study you can send paper link to your friends and colleagues studying abroad to send you the desired paper)
This section is also convincing the reader that how much progress your research can adds in to this review for the future.If your topic has too much review literature then you have to pick the key advancement in your area.
Methods:
This section will convey the reader that how you planned to complete your research.It is important to write it very clear and it should be in future tense.Some peoples include too much description of each method.It is not advisable.For example, if they are writing of Mass Spectra step, so they are not allowed to start writing the principles of Mass Spectra, I personally studied some proposals where they mentioned each reaction of a PCR with temperature.It will give you negative score because no one knows that when I will do PCR then what will be my optimized temperature or other condition.So try to avoid such pre planned over smartness or defining the instrument running principles.Just remain intake yourself with your step and method and objective result for the next section to continue the methodology.
Results: (Optional)
As you have no results, so you can write here that how you will analyze your results to achieve your goal.
References:
In this section you have to gather all the references used in profiling your research proposal.Different formats are available for writing references and everyone is acceptable.Someone is writing in an Alphabetical order of authors name while other starts it with numerical value.So it does not matter at all.
If you are planing to write a research proposal for a foreign fellowship then be sure that it can decide your fate in the competition.For more detail you can read this short article.I am providing the link.Thanks
http://expertscolumn.com/content/tricks-and-guidelines-win-international-scholarships