ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

LESSON 6B: UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI

WRITING A CONCEPT PAPER HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK

Time Started : ___________

Time Ended : ___________

LEARNING OBJECTIVE
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
A. know what is a concept paper;
B. appreciate the importance of writing a concept paper; and
C. write an original concept paper.

INTRODUCTION/KEY POINTS

The examples of definition of concept have been discussed in lesson 6A. Notice that you have
been reading the terms concept, definition, definition of concept but the term concept paper has not
been discussed yet. In the present lesson, you will be introduced to concept paper and you will learn
how to write it using your knowledge about definition.
What is your idea of a concept paper? Can you infer what a concept paper is - its nature,
purpose, and characteristics?

KNOWLEDGE BOOSTER (CORE CONTENT)

What is a Concept Paper?

The concept paper defines an idea or a concept and explains its essence in order to clarify
the “whatness” of that idea or concept. It answers the questions: what is it and what about it .It
usually ranges from 500-2000 words and is divided into several parts. A concept paper starts with a
definition, either formal or informal, of the term or the concept and proceeds with an expanded
definition and analytic description of the aspects of the concept. On the other hand, a concept paper
acts as a proposal. It is a short summary that tells the reader what the project is, why it is important,

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 LESSON 6B: WRITING A CONCEPT PAPER

and how it will be carried out. It also provides an overview of the project which helps the funding
agencies to eliminate proposals that are likely to be disapproved.

Several Uses of a Concept Paper

1. Serves as the foundation of the full proposal.

2. It helps determine whether certain project is feasible or not.
3 It is used to pique the interest of the potential funding agencies.
4. It is used to obtain informal feedback on the ideas prior to the full proposal.

3 Ways in Explaining a Concept

1. Definition – A method of identifying a term and making its meaning clearer. It can be presented in
formal, informal, or extended type.
Signal words: As defined, for example, to illustrate, such as, to define
2. Explication- Method of explanation in which sentences, verses, quotes, or passages are taken away
from a literary or academic work and then interpreted and explained in detailed way.
3. Clarification- Entails the analysis of the concept by looking at the examples.

The Five Elements of a Concept Paper

1. Introduction- it identifies how and where the applicant’s mission and the funder’s mission intersect
or align. It addresses the reasons why the funder should support projects in the given general area. It
also introduces the applicant’s partners and shows why the partners want to participate in the project.

2. Purpose/Need or Rationale- which outlines what others have written about the general topic and
focuses on the gap in knowledge to be filled, the problem to be solved, or the need to be addressed by
the applicant’s proposed project. Similar to a literature review, this section allows the applicant to
state the purpose or need in such a way that the applicant’s project is the best possible solution to the
problem. Also, it often provides statements addressing the significance of the project (showing why
the project should be supported). In some cases, these first two sections are merged into a
Background section that both introduces the alignment between the two organizations’ missions and
provides the need statement.

3. Project Description- functioning as the solution to the problem, the answer to the need, or the
investigation that will fill the knowledge gap. In this section, the applicant addresses the unique,
unusual, distinctive, innovative, and/or novel aspects of the approach, showing why the applicant’s
team has the best solution and presenting a compelling case for funding. The project description
includes the project’s goals and objectives. A goal is an abstract state of being, a condition, an end, or
an aspiration while objectives are statements of measurable outcomes that, collectively, will help the
applicant measure progress toward accomplishing the project goal(s). For example, a goal might be
to improve student academic performance via a structured professional development program for
teachers, while an objective might be to offer a specific kind of workshop or seminar on a particular

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 LESSON 6B: WRITING A CONCEPT PAPER

topic for a defined set of teachers in a K12 school district. The project description also includes an
overview of the project’s Methodology (sometimescalled Project Activities or Action Plan or
Approach). The goals, objectives, and methods (oractivities) will need to align closely with each
other and will need to be accomplished within the proposed timeline, expressed in either months or
years. The methods or activities will need to be congruent with or based on what has been tried in the
field in the past, they must be based on empirical evidence, and they will need to be both reasonable
in cost and complexity and accomplishable within the proposed timeline. The project description
typically concludes with a statement of benefits (or anticipated outcomes) along with a description of
who will benefit and how.

4. Support or Budget- contains either (1) an outline of the main budget

categories for the requested project support or (2) a single bottom-line amount of the request
and a brief discussion of how that amount will be used. Some concept papers may not even
include an amount requested.

5. Contact Information - the applicant organization’s chief executive or his/her designee authorized to
make funding requests.

The above is a suggested general outline for a concept paper. Ultimately, if a given funder
provides a specific template or format, the applicant must use the prescribed structure.

Parts of Concept Paper

Concept Paper for a Project

I. Cover page – contains details about the proponents
II. Introduction- mission and vision
III. Rationale- background and significance
IV. Project description- goals and objectives
V. Project needs and cost – outline and justification of budget

Concept Paper for Academic Research

I. Title page – research title , name of school and proponent
II. Background of the study –nature of the problem
III. Preliminary literature review- Theoretical framework/related literature
IV. Statement of the problem/objectives- research questions or objectives
V. Abridged Methodology- participants and instruments of the study
VI. Timeline- Gantt Chart set in months and year
VII. References – APA 7th edition

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 LESSON 6B: WRITING A CONCEPT PAPER

ASSESSMENT/ACTIVITY

Directions: Think of an original product or concept that attracts your interest. Assume that you will
propose that product or concept to a funding agency, thus, you need to write a good concept paper.
Follow the given format below.

I. Cover page
II. Introduction
III. Rationale
IV. Project description (You can include illustration or sketch of your product or concept)
V. Project needs and cost

SELF-CHECK (SELF-ASSESSMENT)/ INSIGHT

Directions: Evaluate the content of the concept paper you have written by answering the questions
below.

1. What is the concept being defined? What is the initial definition given?

_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Is the concept defined, described, and analyzed in clear language? Is the concept discussed clearly
and in specific terms that it can be easily related to experience?

_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. What are the parts of the paper that needs to be developed? Why?

_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

 LESSON 6B: WRITING A CONCEPT PAPER

ASSIGNMENT

Directions: In your notebook, discuss the relevance of writing a concept paper in the field of your
choice (e.g. business, education, tourism, etc.)

REFERENCES

Dadufalza, Concepcion D. 1996. Reading into Writing 2. Philippines: Bookmark, Inc.

Marikit Tara & Grace M. Saqueton.2019. English for Academic and Professional Purposes

2nd edition. Manila: Rex Printing Company, Inc.

ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT