Research Proposal: Influence of Romantic Novels and Movies Date: February 19, 2012 To: Ms.

Michelle Draper From: Tayebah Mohammad Sharif Hossain, ID # 102-1032-048, ENG 105, Sec: 9 Subject: Proposal to research the effects of romantic novels and movies on girls/women.

INTRODUCTION: The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_novel). Romantic movies function in quite the same way, except that they provide audiovisual effects as well. In Bangladesh, marriages are almost always arranged by the elder family members or parents, leaving no place for romance before marriage. However, in recent years, girls' perspectives have changed. Girls and women now dream of their own love story or Prince Charming to come and sweep them off their feet. I wish to know if this thinking of theirs has been influenced in any way by romantic novels and/ or movies. I also want to know if married girls have found their version of Prince Charming and Happily Ever After. I hope I can find accurate answers to my questions through my research. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: In my area of research, I plan to find out if romantic novels and/or movies do really give girls a skewered or cleaved view of the world. My research will hopefully address the following questions: To an individual girl- what does romance mean to her?

Are romance novels and romantic movies really the cause of girls' romantic ideals? Why do they read romantic novels and/or watch romantic movies? Do they dream of a passionate romance? Define Prince Charming. How has their perception affected their relationship with their husband/boyfriend? Is marriage as romantic as that portrayed in books or movies?

HYPOTHESIS: Romance novels and books can be very influential, and sometimes, without meaning to, convince the reader/ audience that real life should be as dreamy and romantic. From my research, I expect to find that the majority of girls are affected by these two media and are suffering from what I will refer to as a "Prince Charming complex". I also think that because of their belief that real life can indeed be like books and movies, it is hindering them from forming any kind of relationship with a perfectly compatible man/boy because the girls' expectations are too high. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: I will conduct a survey on a representative sample of girls aged 18-28 for my primary research. I will design a thought-provoking questionnaire that will extricate all required information from my surveyors. For my secondary research, I will use the web with Google as my primary search engine. Any sources found in newspaper columns, magazines, books and the likes will be consulted as well. My initial sources of information include : www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article1095106/The-Notting-Hill-effect-How-romantic-comedies-harm-love-life and http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/schools/cas_sites/communication/pdf/thesis07.bu n.pdf. ORGANIZATION: This research paper will be divided into many parts for mine and the teacher's convenience. The most important of these sections will be titled Introduction,

Background, Data Presentation and Analysis, and Summary of Findings. The way I organize these sections will be decided by my questionnaire. TIMETABLE: My primary research will be completed by the end of February and my secondary research by Mid-March. The final draft will be completed by the end of March, and submitted it on the specified deadline towards the end of this semester, i.e., the beginning of April. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL: I humbly request your approval to go ahead with my research. If you wish to change or improve on my proposal, I will re-submit it after making the necessary changes. I will also be grateful for any advice and help that you wish to bestow upon me in the completion of this research project.