Components of a Proposal (structure)

Faculty of Education Academic Language & Literacy Development Unit Building 6, Monash
University, VIC
https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/145822/booklet-writing-a-proposal-in-
education.pdf

The proposal is likely to contain most of the elements listed in the table below, although your
supervisor may require the inclusion or omission of certain parts. Check first with your supervisor.

Use the table as a checklist of items and the order in which they usually appear in proposals.

COMPONENT FUNCTION CHARACTERISTICS

 identifies topic, writer,
institution and degree
Cover page
 proposed thesis title (should be
descriptive of focus, concise, eye-
catching and preferably use
keywords from international
information retrieval systems)
 your name and qualifications
 department, university and degree the
proposal is for

 lists sections of  use a hierarchy for titles and

proposal and page subtitles
Table of Contents references  use the numbering system as follows:
1; 1.1, 1.2...; 1.1.1, 1.1.2...; 1.1.1.1,
1.1.1.2...etc. (don't use more than four
digits)
 provides background  may include historical, cultural,
information relating to the political, social or organisational
Background social/political/historica l/ information about the context of the
(preferably a educational (etc.) context of research
more descriptive the study  may include a theoretical starting
name) point or policy
Answers the WHAT  may include personal motivation
question  may problematise the current
status quo
Need for the  follows from background to  may include reference to a ‘gap’ in the
study/ Rationale persuade the reader that research literature, to the need to
the study is needed and will apply certain ideas in a new context, or
be useful/interesting to the significance of your particular
Usually this is
topic
combined with
Answers the WHY  the ways in which the study may be
the previous
question significant for the educational
section
community may also be discussed
 COMPONENT FUNCTION CHARACTERISTICS
 states clearly and  the purpose is expressed in terms of
succinctly the purpose of the broader context of the study
Purpose and aims the study  the research question(s) (usually
of the study  outlines the key research What, How, Why, or What if) -
questions and aims should be few, so that the focus is
manageable
 the aims will be related to the
purpose and the questions
 shows your supervisor and  this is not expected to be extensive
Faculty that you are aware for the proposal
of significant  you should conduct an initial survey
writers/researchers in the of the main theorists and a library
field, and indicates which information search to establish your
issues/topics you will focus directions and formulate a tentative
on in your review (this may list of readings
Review of change later)  you should demonstrate critical
the  shows that you can be analysis
literature judicious in your  your review should be shaped by
selection of issues to your argument and should seek to
focus on and take an establish your theoretical
approach of critical orientation
inquiry
 situates your own research
within the field
 outlines and describes the  includes your understandings of the
research plans – ways in nature of knowledge (paradigm)
which it will be conducted and how this affects your choice of
research approach
Research Answers the HOW  includes description of and rationale
design question for selection of participants, methods
(methodology) of data collection and analysis,
procedures you will use to ensure
ethical practice, validity and reliability
 includes a statement about the
delimitations (scope) of the study
Timetable/Plan  depicts the tasks  this may take the form of a chart,
(may be part of proposed and the timeline or flowchart (or any other)
research stages/times for their
design) completion
Proposed  describes the sequence and  each chapter's proposed contents are
thesis focus of eachproposed described in a few lines or a small
structure chapter paragraph, or
 a proposed table of contents is
presented
 COMPONENT FUNCTION
 predicts the significance of
the study and expected
Significance/ outcomes. These may
Expected relate closely to aims
Outcomes of the
study Answers the SO WHAT
question
 lists specialised terms or
words and their meanings
Glossary of terms (e.g., from another culture,
acronyms, key concepts in a
relatively new field)
 displays documents which
are relevant to main text,
but whose presence in the
Appendices text would disturb rather
than enhance the flow of
the argument or writing
References  lists works that have been
consulted thus far and
appear to be useful
CHARACTERISTICS
 this is only a prediction, and may be
excluded if the rationale for the study
has been well developed earlier in the
proposal
 this is placed in a position which is easy
to locate (e.g., before or after the main
text parts)
 may include documents, pilot
study material, questions for
interviews, survey instruments,
explanatory statement to
participants etc.
 Use the APA Style Guide or
conventions recommended by
your supervisor