 Concept paper are summaries of projects or issues that reflect the interests, experience

and expertise of the writer or organization.  Introduce a brief document, and to explain
the importance of a particular research project.
 TYPES OF CONCEPT PAPER (5)
 Implicit Concept Paper - is, “implied or understood though not plainly or
directly expressed.”
 Explicit Concept Paper - This is used to define a situation that has been
thoroughly elaborated and expressed without leaving anything untouched.
 Academic Research concept papers - These concept papers are used to help
students flesh out all the information and ideas related to their topic so that they
may arrive at a more specific research hypothesis.
 Advertising Concept Paper - are usually written by the creative and concept
teams in advertising and marketing agencies.
 Research grant concept papers - is most common in the academe and business
world; must also appeal to the company or funding agency on why they should be
granted funds. 
 An academic concept paper is an outline written by a student who is about to carry out
a certain research. It informs on how the research is to be carried out as well as its
importance. 
 Concept papers should range from 1 - 2 double-spaced pages (250-700 words). The
point of a concept paper is to provide a clear summary of the research project.
 Elements of a Concept Paper (8)
 TITLE PAGE - should be a stand-alone statement that can fully describe the
project by summarizing the main idea of the manuscript.
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM - introduces the problem under
investigation, addresses why the researcher wants to investigate this problem, and
how the research findings may help.
 PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW - provides identification of major
literature that supports and validates the topic; focuses on areas that offer support
for new research, and offers the student an opportunity to analyze and synthesize
past research in the context of their present problem
 GOAL STATEMENT - provides a broad or abstract intention, including the
research goals and objectives.
 RESEARCH QUESTIONS - provides a preliminary view of the questions the
student will investigate. Questions are based on theory, past research, experience,
and need.
 AN ABRIDGED METHODOLOGY - provides the student’s best idea on how
to conduct the research and analyze the data.
 TIMELINE - provides a range of time for completion of the project, highlighting
key elements for each stage of the project.
 REFERENCES - provides references to the material cited in the literature review
and elsewhere in the concept Paper.
Three Ways in Elucidating a Concept
Before writing a concept paper, you must first learn how to explain your concept of your
project or research. Basically, there are three ways of explaining a concept.
1. Definition – explaining the concept by answering, “What does it mean?” This makes of an
illustrations, examples, and description to clarify the term. A definition can be done in three
ways:
 a. Informal Definition – giving of a parenthetical or brief explanation.
b. Formal Definition - giving of the term to be defined, the category, and the quality that
makes the term different from other terms in the same category
c. Extended Definition – is a detailed way of defining a term and is usually a one paragraph.
It incorporates various patterns of formal, informal, comparison and contrasts, narration,
description, classification, cause and effect to explain a concept.
Signal Words for Definition
The following signal words are useful when explaining a concept by definition.
as defined, for example, for instance, is defined as, means,
such as, to define, to illustrate

Explication – is a method of explanation in which sentences, verses, quotes, or phrases are taken
from a literary or academic work then interpreted and explained in a detailed way. You may
begin by analyzing how the text was constructed and end with a concise conclusion by restating
your major arguments.
Clarification – it is a method of explanation in which the points are organized from a general
abstract idea to specific and concrete examples. The analysis of the concept is done by looking at
the examples and specifying its characteristics.
Signal Words for Clarification
After all for instance namely that is
As an example in other words put another way to be specific
Consider the following example in particular specifically
To clarify for example in short stated differently

HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE A CONCEPT PAPER?

1. Choosing a Topic
Advice from the text:
a. Modify and classify your term
b. Identify a term that people must define in order to present arguments, make
decisions or solve problems.
c. Examples: the kind of democracy that works in a country with a history of
despotism, the kind of love that a parent might have for an adult child, the best
television set to buy for your living room, a good tree to plant in a small yard
d. Look for concepts that have broad implications in people’s lives, concepts that are
central to how people see themselves and their future.
e. Examples: creative expression, enlightened free choice, authentic person, critical
thinker, socially responsible, fulfillment, achieving potential.
2. More on Generating Topics
 Sometimes you want to write about something less serious, so you might think
about things you do that are central to your life, but that are more lighthearted.
 For example, television comedies, parties, thriller movies, sports you like to
watch or play. Or, what is a satisfying relationship? What does it mean to be a
good athlete? A good student?