SHS

Applied Subject

English for Academic and

Professional Purposes

Quarter 1
Module 6: Concept Paper
 Day 1
Pretest

Directions: Read the questions carefully and write the letter of the correct answer (15
points).
1. What do you call a paper that serves as a foundation of the full proposal?
a. Concept Paper c. Critique
b. Review d. Position Paper
2. What academic writing contains the summary of a project or issue that reflects
the interests, experience and expertise of the writer or organization?
a. Laboratory Report c. Project Proposal
b. Concept paper d. Review
3. Which of the following statements is not true about concept paper?
a. A concept paper is a fundamental document prior starting a project or a
research.
b. You can never start a project or a research before starting a project or a
research.
c. A concept paper is useful to see whether the project or research is feasible.
d. It is used to entice the interest of possible funders
4. Why is it important to have a concept paper before conducting a research or
building a project?
a. It is important to make a concept paper to show the investors how smart
and credible you are.
b. It is important to make a concept paper to show that the project or research
proposal is final and can never be modified.
c. It is important to pique the interest of possible investors to fund the research
you are about to conduct or the project you are planning to build.
d. Both A and B
5. A concept paper is written mainly to:
a. serve as a foundation of the full proposal.
b. help determine whether he/she can get lots of money out of it.
c. decline the help of the potential funding agencies.
d. to have informal feedback and not use them at all.
6. What do you call the method of identifying a given term and making its
meaning clearer?
a. Explication c. Clarification
b. Explanation d. Definition
7. Which of the following is not a way in explaining a concept?
a. Explication c. Clarification
b. Explanation d. Definition
8. Comic books are sequential and narrative publications consisting of
illustrations, captions, dialogue balloons, and often focus on super powered
heroes. How is the term comic book being defined in the sentence?
a. Informal definition c. Formal definition
b. Extended definition d. Implied definition
9. Comic book is kids’ favorite since it has lots of pictures that visualize the
scenes. How is the term comic book defined in the sentence?
a. Informal definition c. Formal definition
b. Extended definition d. Implied definition
10. Ashley is trying to write an analysis on Robert Frost’s A Road Not Taken. She
is planning to use excerpts from the poem. Which of the following should she
use?
a. Informal definition c. Definition
b. Explication d. Clarification
11. Which of the following is not a signal word for Clarification?
a. after all c. in short
b. namely d. as defined as
12. What do you call a detailed way of defining a term and is usually composed of
at least one paragraph?
a. Informal definition c. formal definition
b. Extended definition d. implied definition
13. Vitamin A is any of several fat-soluble vitamins (such as retinol) that is found
especially in green or orange vegetables in which its deficiency in the animal
body causes epithelial tissues to become keratinous. How is the term Vitamin
A defined?
a. Informal definition c. formal definition
b. Extended definition d. implied definition
14. Which of the following is not a function of concept paper?
a. It determines whether the research is possible.
b. It gives direction to the proposed paper.
c. It attracts possible project funder.
d. It makes the proposed study complicated.
15. Kim conducted a research about the possible effects of online learning. She
went directly to interview some students while they were at home. However,
she had a hard time in analyzing and interpreting the answers since they varied
a lot. What did she do wrong in the conduct of the research?
a. She did not plan the concept of the project well.
b. She did not consult other people’s ideas and went through the research
even without preparation.
c. She did not check whether the research was feasible or not.
d. All of the above
 Lesson Concept Paper
1

What I Need to Know

After completing this module, you are expected to:

a. define a concept paper;

b. determine the ways a writer can clarify a concept; and
c. complete varied activities pertaining to writing a concept.

What’s New

What is a Concept Paper?

Many private foundations have always required a concept paper be submitted for
review prior to the submission of a full proposal. In recent years federal and state
agencies have begun to encourage the use of concept papers as a way for applicants
to obtain informal feedback on their ideas and projects prior to preparing a proposal.
Some of these agencies now require a concept paper be submitted as part of the
formal submission process.

According to Spickard, 2005, All research projects need a concept paper: a short
summary that tells the reader what the project is, why it is important, and how it will be
carried out. Even if no one else ever reads it, the concept paper helps a researcher
spot holes in her or his project that might later prove fatal. It is far better to be clear at
the beginning than to put in a lot of effort for nothing!

Typically, a concept paper contains these elements:

1. A title in the form of a question. This may be the last part of the concept paper that
you write, but it should appear at the heading of the paper.

2. A clear description of the research topic, including a summary of what is already

known about that topic.
Since a concept paper is a preliminary document for a proposal, it shows a preview of
the improvements that the proponent would like to have implemented. Concept papers
can be helpful in addressing social issues especially since they aim to show solutions
to tangible issues which plague society.

What is a Concept Paper for?

A concept paper has several uses:

▪ First, it serves as a foundation of the full proposal. Concept paper is a
document submitted prior a research or project proposal. It serves as a
foundation since it has all the things conceptualize pertaining to a research or
project proposed.
▪ Second, it helps determine whether a certain project is feasible or not. In
planning to conduct a research or build a project, a concept paper is very useful
since it is a framework where people can see whether it is attainable and
achievable or not.
▪ Third, it is used to pique the interest of the potential funding agencies.
Some projects and researches require funding depending on the type of
research or project one is planning to do. Basically, concept paper is somewhat
like the blueprint if you are trying to get investors to fund your project.
▪ Finally, it is used to obtain informal feedback on the ideas prior to
preparing the full proposal. Since a concept paper is a proposal pertaining to
a research or to a project, it is also where we could see possible things that
could be revised or modified before realizing it. It is to make sure that the
research or a project will run smoothly as planned.

Generally, a concept paper is very important in building a project or in conducting a

research. For it is a piece of document that shows how the project will be conducted,
what are the possible outputs and who will be benefitted by it.
Sample Concept Paper

Information and Communication Technology and Academic Achievement in Southeast Asian

Context: A Meta-analytic Review with Recommendations for Policy and Practice

Proponents

Peter Adrinalia, PhD

Director
Institute of Educational Research
1242 Rizal Ave., Manila, Philippines
padinalia@ier.edu.ph

Marco Bugis, PhD

Research Associate
Institute of Educational Research
1242 Rizal Ave., Manila, Philippines
mbugis@ier.edu.ph

Terry Clarina
Research Associate
Institute of Educational Research
1242 Rizal Ave., Manila, Philippines

July 15, 2015

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES IN LINE WITH AERA’S OBJECTIVES

The project is in response to the objectives of the Asian Education Research

Association (AERA) which aims to establish International Research Networks (IRNs)
whose purpose is to advance education research worldwide on specific scholarly topics.
The study will promote collaboration among scholars in the Southeast Asian region
through virtual communication particularly in the context of ICT use in education.
Specifically, it will bring collaborators together to synthesize available literature and
studies and examine the status and trends in ICT educational research gearing towards
future research directions. Upon completion of this project, it is intended to be presented
in AERA symposia for research dissemination and intellectual discussion.

DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE

Significance and Purpose of the Proposed Research

The proposed study is a meta-analysis of published research studies and

dissertations (from 2007-2012) conducted in Southeast Asia about the impact of
information and Communication Technology (ICT) on students’ academic performance.
The purpose of this research project is to draw out status and trends on the use of ICT in
classroom setting and its impact on students’ learning in various disciplines. Mapping
these trends will help establish the effect of ICT on learning that will provide research
directions for future researches. Furthermore, this study will guide policy makers in their
quest for a more efficient use of ICT in pedagogy. Specifically, the paper aims to establish
how extensive is the empirical evidence on the impact of ICT on academic performance;
determine the social context, specific methodological characteristics of technology and
instructional features that affect the relationship between ICT and students’ academic
performance; and provide research directions for future researchers.

The project is deemed significant in terms of its scholarly contributions in global

knowledge production and potential implications that may be of interest among
researchers and practitioners. An obvious consequence of globalization is the existing
unequal structures of knowledge production in the world (Blommaert, 2010). For
instance, the privileging of frameworks and theories in educational research can be
attributed to the economic, political, and ideological power of largely western, developed
nations (Man, Weinkauf, Tsang, & Sin, 2004). Moreover, the material consequences of
ICT integration in educational contexts in Southeast Asia pose constraints on the
implementation of sound programs that will benefit students. This proposal therefore
bridges the gap that will elucidate on the extent of ICT integration in educational practice
which in turn shall contribute to the global exchange of knowledge in the field and will
guide policy makers in their quest for a more efficient use of ICT in pedagogy.
RELEVANT RESEARCH AND LITERATURE
Information and communication technology (ICT) has been playing major
role in shaping the landscape of pedagogy and continues to gain popularity as a
supplementary resource to support learning (Traore & Blankson, 2011).
According to Mbaeze, Ukwandu, and Anudu (2010), it is any “product that will
store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive information electronically in a
digital form which consists of hardware, software, other networks and media. Its
instruction has led to the concept of new literacies which would lead to new text
formats, new reader expectations, and new activities (Barone & Wright, 2008).

In the past few decades, ICT has also been getting significant attention
from scholars as regards its impact on learning (Cavanaugh, Gillian, Kromney,
Hess, & Blomeyer, 2004; Waxman, Linn, & Michko, 2003; & Dynarski et al., 2007).
However, there have been debates on its effectiveness in facilitating learning both
at theoretical and empirical levels (Youssef & Dahmani, 2008). This prompted
many researchers to conduct meta-analytic studies on the relationship between
ICT use and academic achievements (Waxman, et al., 2003). Some of the earlier
works on this area dealt with the investigation on the effects of computer-aided
instruction on student performance (see Lipsey & Wilson,1993; Niemiec &
Walberg, 1992). Other studies focused on the more specific aspects of ICT. For
example, Ryan (1991) examined the effects of computer programming on student
outcomes. Similarly, Blok, Oostdam, Otter, and Overmaat (2002) examined the
effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) programs in aiding beginning
readers. There are some meta-analyses also that put emphasis on variable where
ICT has an effect on. These include the study of Moran, Ferdig, Pearson,
Wradrop, and Blomeyer (2008) on the relationship between technology and
reading performance of middle grades and Torgerson’s (2003) which investigated
the effectiveness of ICT on literacy learning in English. Although there are some
studies that dealt with the impact of ICT on students’ performance (e.g., Mbaeze
et al., 2010; Carillo, Onofa, & Ponce, 2010), none of these have focused on ICT
use and practices in the Southeast Asian region. It is in this context that this paper
is proposed.
Outreach and Process for Adding International Correspondents
▪ Set criteria for the international correspondents (IC)
▪ Invite ICs from Southeast Asian region (Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia,
Hong Kong and Singapore) who meet the criteria
▪ Select the final set of ICs
▪ Orient the ICs
▪ Communicate regularly with the ICs on the status/ progress of their work
WORKPLAN AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Activities M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10 M11
Year 1- Research
Writing
PLANNING
1.Brainstorm and
narrow down the
topic for project
proposal.
2.Assign tasks
among proponents
3.Establish
collaboration with
international
correspondents
(emerging
scholars) in the
Southeast Asian
region.
4. Write the project
proposal
RESEARCH
PROPER
5. Gather, collect
and classify data
from published
studies and
dissertation on the
impact of ICT on
students’ academic
performance
conducted in
Southeast Asia
Region from 2007-
2012.
6. Analyze and
synthesize the data
on the impact of
ICT on academic
achievement.
7. Classify best ICT
instructional
practices that
facilitate academic
achievement
8. Provide
recommendation
for policy-making
implementation
Year 2- Pilot
Testing
9. Conduct the pilot
test
10. Evaluate the
effectiveness of
ICT on students’
learning across
disciplines
Year 3- Full
implementation
 Three Ways in Explaining a Concept
Before writing your concept paper, you must learn how to explain your concept first.
You can accomplish this using definition, explication, or clarification.

1. Definition
is the method of identifying a given term and making its meaning clearer. Its
main purpose is to clarify and explain concepts, ideas, and issues by answering the
question, “What does it mean?” This mode of explanation contains the terms to be
defined and the detailed exposition of the term by illustrations, examples, and
description.

A definition can be presented in three ways: informal, formal, or extended.

Formal Definition
A formal definition consists of three parts: the term, the part of speech to
which it belongs, such as a noun or a verb, and all the traits or
characteristics that are specific to that term. The dictionary is filled with
formal definitions, but it is not the only place where you will find them.
Writers often include formal definitions when they are writing about
something that may be unfamiliar to their readers. In textbooks, you may
find the formal definition of terms listed at the beginning, at the end of a
chapter, or in the glossary, which is a mini dictionary of terms relevant to
that text.

Example: Vitamin E is a light-yellow fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an

antioxidant.

Informal Definitions
In an informal definition, the writer uses known words or examples to
explain an unknown term. These definitions may
be synonyms or antonyms and may be placed inside the parentheses.

Example: Tocopherol [Vitamin E] is naturally found in vegetable oil, fish,

and nuts.

Extended Definitions
Extended definitions generally have components of both informal and
formal definitions. However, as the name suggests, the author uses a
number of other techniques to define a word, concept, or phrase, including
the following: Listing and describing the parts: identifying smaller, more
familiar pieces of an idea to point to the definition of the bigger concept.
 Example: To our colonial forefathers, freedom meant having a voice in their
government. (historical reference) The Revolutionary War was a
last resort against an empire that continued to tax its colonists
without the representation of the colonists in Parliament. Since the
United States won the right to rule itself, our country has been
referred to as "the land of the free and the home of the brave."
(example) True freedom means the ability to think, feel, say, or
act however one chooses. (listing parts) It is a state where the
bars of bondage do not exist. (negation) Unfortunately, the
widening gap between the haves and have nots means that some
are now shackled by their lack of education. (evoke the senses:
shackled) Americans can attain real freedom when everyone has
the same educational opportunities.

To better present ideas, you should identify the important elements contained in a
definition. These include the term being defined, the detailed explanation, and the
specific example. The following signal words will also help you in writing this kind of
text.

Signal Words for Definition

as defined for instance means to define
for example is defined as such as to illustrate

2. Explication
is a method of explanation in which sentences, verses, quotes, or passages
are taken from a literary or academic work and then interpreted and explained in a
detailed way. When using this technique, you need to clearly present your thesis on
the introduction and follow it up with a detailed way.
Example:

“My Only Swerving”: An Explication of William Stafford’s “Traveling Through the Dark ”

In his blank verse poem “Traveling through the Dark,” William Stafford contemplates the
intersection of technology and Nature, not suggesting a particular judgment but inviting us
to “think hard” with him about the consequences of the kind of world we are creating.

The opening stanza sets the scene in a matter-of-fact tone: the speaker tells us he came
upon a dead deer while driving somewhere at night. The second stanza moves the
speaker into action. He stops his car just past the deer’s body and “stumbles” back to it –
it’s dark, hard to see, the shoulder of the road narrow and rough. He has left the car
running, the lights on to help him perform his task and to warn any other motorist who might
be on the road. The tone remains distanced, someone merely recounting a common story;
the speaker seems thus far entirely unaffected by this “heap” that he must dispose of.
 Note that part of this tone is created by the sounds of the words the poet chooses. There
are many hard consonants in these stanzas – d’s, hard c’s, b’s slow the reading and make
it seem a bit cold: deer, dead, best, canyon, glow, car, doe, cold, dragged, belly, stumbled,
road, stiffened, already, found.

the taillights. Here then is the “group”: a man, a dead deer, a waiting fawn, a purring car.
As he stands, he hears “the wilderness listen.” One cannot, of course, hear someone (or
something) listen. The final stanza is a couplet, emphasizing its content by its differing form,
ending the poem similarly to a sonnet and probably intended to evoke that similarity. It does
not tell us what the speaker thought as he stood hesitating in that listening silence.

Yet Stafford does not seem to be saying “down with technology!” The speaker makes no
judgment that man is evil; his momentary contemplation does not make him think or act as
though Nature is more important than mankind. He pushes the deer into the canyon, sad
perhaps for the fawn which will die, but accepting the responsibility to make sure no person
dies because of the deer. The deer has died because of man; but we do not let a man die
because of the deer. The speaker’s “only swerving” is not one of indecision but only of
thought, and Stafford invites us to think with him, to at least consider the cost, perhaps to
wonder if the benefits of our technology are always worth that cost, perhaps suggesting we
should give more thought to that cost before we have to make the inevitable choice of man
over Nature

An Excerpt from: https://bethimpson.wordpress.com/courses/english-211/211-sample-poetry-explication/

3. Clarification
is a method of explanation in which the points are organized from a general
abstract idea to specific and concrete examples. It entails the analysis of the concept
by looking at the examples and specifying some of its characteristics to arrive at one
working definition which can be used throughout the paper.

The following signal words will help in writing this kind of text.

Signal Words for Clarification

after all in short namely That is
as an example in particular specifically to be specific
for example for instance put another way to illustrate
consider the in other words stated differently to clarify
following

Example:

Justice id a broad concept which encompasses a wide set of ideas, most

of which is also branch out into smaller notions. For instance, it can refer
to the sentencing of a criminal based on due process. When an individual
 gets what he deserves, even outside the hands of the law, it is also
considered justice in some contexts. This may come in the form of
vigilante justice, in which a person dissatisfied with the system doles out
punishment to wrong-doers. Poetic justice is also another related concept
which is used in literature to show how the good is always rewarded while
bad forces always meet a grim end. In the context of this paper, justice
will clearly delineated into any instance in which the law is successfully
and fairly applied to an individual, resulting in either an arrest or a release.
To illustrate, if a thief is caught and tried in court through due process,
and is found guilty and then sentenced accordingly, it can be said that
justice was served. However, if the same thief is caught in the act by band
of villagers and was beaten right then and there, it will be considered
justice in the context of the paper, as the process has not undergone due
process.

What I can do
Directions: The picture shows one of the common issues in our community. Think
of possible solutions to address this problem. Write a summary of
your proposed solution (10 points).

Summary:
 What I Have Learned

Direction: Complete the statements below using your own words based on your
understanding of a concept paper (5 points=15 points).

Writing concept paper means .

Concepts can be explained through .
I learn that through concept paper, .

Day 2

What’s More

Directions: Think of a household problem in your family. In minimum of 300 words,

write a short concept paper, showing your proposed solution for that problem (50
points).
 Post Test

Directions: Write the letter of your answer (15 points).

1. A concept paper is written mainly to:

a. distinguish between the old and new meaning of words.
b. trace the development of the word.
c. analyze the structure of the concept.
d. clarify the meaning of the concept.
2. Which of the following statements does not describe a concept paper?
a. It serves as a guide before writing a research paper.
b. It defines all concepts of a paper.
c. It is crafted before a study will be conducted.
d. None of the above
3. It is a method of explaining a concept in which a text is discussed in detailed way.
a. Definition b. Explication c. Clarification d. None of these
4. Which of the following is not a function of concept paper?
a. It determines whether the research is possible.
b. It gives direction to the proposed paper.
c. It attracts possible project funder.
d. It makes the proposed study complicated.
5. Which of the following is not true about concept paper?
a. It shows a preview of the improvements that the proponent would like to have
implemented.
b. It is helpful in addressing social issues especially since they aim to sow
solutions to tangible issues.
c. It should be submitted after the conduct of the project or research.
d. It is used to get the interest of the potential investors.
6. What do you call the type of definition that explains a term by incorporating the
terms to be defined, the general category of the term and the quality that makes the
term different from the other terms in the same category?
a. Informal Definition c. Formal Definition
b. Extended Definition d. Explicit Definition
7. Which of the following is not a signal word for Definition?
a. is defined as c. to define
b. for example d. in short
8. What do you call a method of explanation in which the points are organized from
abstract to concrete ideas?
a. Definition c. Clarification
b. Explication d. Implementation
9. What do you call a detailed way of defining a term and is usually composed of at
least one paragraph?
a. Extended Definition c. Informal Definition
b. Implied Definition d. Formal Definition
10. This type of definition is applied in this sentence: Freedom, also referred to as
liberty or independence, is when people are free to think and do whatever they
please.
a. Informal Definition c. Formal Definition
b. Extended Definition d. Explicit Definition
11. This type of definition is applied in this sentence: Freedom is the power or right to
act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
a. Informal Definition c. Formal Definition
b. Extended Definition d. Explicit Definition
12. Why is it important to have a concept paper before conducting a research or
building a project?
a. It is important to make a concept paper to show the investors how smart and
credible you are.
b. It is important to make a concept paper to show that the project or research
proposal is final and can never be modified.
c. It is important to pique the interest of possible investors to fund the research
you are about to conduct or the project you are planning to build.
d. Both A and B
13. This way of explaining a concept is best applied to this scenario: Therese is
trying to write an analysis on Edgar Allan Poe’s Annabel Lee. She is planning to
use excerpts from the poem.
a. Informal definition c. Definition
b. Explication d. Clarification
14. What do you call a type of defining a term that uses synonyms or antonyms?
a. Informal definition c. formal definition
b. Extended definition d. implied definition
15. Happiness is a state of mind that expresses satisfaction for something. How is
the word happiness defined?
a. Informal definition c. formal definition
b. Extended definition d. implied definition
 Day 3

Lesson Parts of a Concept Paper

2

What I need to know

After completing this module, you are expected to:

a. identify the different parts of a concept paper as well as the guidelines in writing;
b. create a concept paper based on the guidelines using visual aids; and
c. reflect on the importance of a concept paper.

What’s In

Directions: List down at least ten words/phrases which you can associate with
the concept paper (10 points).

1. 6.
2. 7.
3. 8.
4. 9.
5. 10.
 What’s New

Parts of a Concept Paper

A concept paper usually ranges from 500-2000 words and is usually divided into
several parts. The concept paper, generally, needs to follow the format provided by
the funding agency. Therefore, the following sections presented in this lesson are
merely suggestions for the content of the paper.

The parts of a concept paper may also vary depending on the nature of the
project/activity. Below are two outlines of a concept paper based on the context.

Concept Paper for a Project

Use the structure below when you want to propose a certain tangible project in your
discipline.
1. Cover Page
• State the name of the proponents and their affiliations.
• State the addresses, contact numbers, and email addresses of the
proponent.
• State the head of the agency and his/her contact information
• State the date of submission

2. Introduction
• State the information about the funding agency to show that you
understand its mission.
• State the mission of the agency that the proponents represent and align
it to the funding agency’s mission. Also, state the year the proponent’s
agency was established, its major accomplishments, and other details
that demonstrate its capability to undertake the proposed project.
• Present and describe other partner agencies and why they are qualified
as such.
• Provide reasons why the funding agency should support the project.
3. Rationale or Background
• State the gap in knowledge to be addressed by the project.
• State the problems to be solved.
• State the project’s significance.
 4. Project Description
• State the goals and objectives of the project.
• Present the methodology
• Present the time expressed in months and year.
• State how the benefits or anticipated outcomes.
• State how success of outcomes will be evaluated.
5. Project Needs and Cost
• Outline the main budget; include the item description and amount.
• Explain or justify how the budget will be used.
• List the personnel or equipment needed for the project.

Concept Paper for Academic Research

Use the structure below when you intend to propose an idea or a concept for a
research paper you want to pursue.

1. Title Page
• State the research title
• State your name and school.
• State the date of submission

2. Background of the Study

• Provide the current state of the field you are researching on.
• State the gap in knowledge and problems to be addressed by the
research. Provide statistics and previous studies to prove your claims.
• State the reason why you want to investigate on the chosen topic.
• State the theoretical and practical implications of your proposed
research.

3. Preliminary Literature Review

• Provide a theoretical framework. It should include the theory that will
guide you in the conduct of your research.
• Provide related literature that supports your topic.
• Provide related studies that will help you in conducting the research or
analyzing and discussing the data.
• Provide a brief synthesis of the reviewed literature and studies.

4. Statement of the Problem/Objectives

• State your general problem in one sentence.
• State your specific research questions or objectives.

5. Abridged Methodology
• Provide the context and participants of the study.
• Provide the instruments to be used.
 • Provide the data collection procedure.
• Provide the data analysis scheme to be used.

6. Timeline
• Provide a timeline set in months and year.

7. References
• Provide a list of all books, journals, and other resources cited in your
paper.

Guidelines in Writing a Concept Paper

Writing a concept paper is the first step in writing your research project. A winning
concept paper will capture the attention of whoever is reading it and get you the results
you need.

Below are the steps you need to follow to ensure that your concept paper will get a
smile and a nod from the reader.

1. Come up with a research topic that genuinely interests you

The research topic should span areas that interest you as an individual and
are still relevant to your area of study or course. How do you come up with a
research topic?

2. Write down the research questions you need to research on depending on the idea you
have chosen
You can come up with as many questions as possible. The more the questions,
the longer your research paper will be, as it will seek to answer to each of
them. The questions can range from:
• Exploratory questions, where you want to find out more about the topic
under study,
• Explanatory question, where your aim is to explore the relationship or
lack thereof between two or more variables, and
• Descriptive questions such as determining the averages, means, and
modes of a variable or variables in the topic under study.

3. Develop a research hypothesis from each of the research questions that you have listed
A hypothesis, also known as a thesis or theses in plural, is a tentative, usually
informed or educated guess about a certain scenario. It is referred to as ‘an
educated or informed guess’ as it is based on some prior knowledge about the
topic either by some pre-known theory, or a previous research you may have
carried out. The hypothesis is what you will either prove or disprove when the
research is done and therefore, be able to draw your conclusion.
 4. Identify the kind of data you need to answer these hypothetical questions and how you will
gather the data
• Depending on the type of research you are carrying out, data that you may need
may include actual numbers, averages, and so on. Data can either be primary
or secondary, qualitative, or quantitative.
• Primary data is first-hand information obtained from the ground, for example,
by carrying out interviews and site visits.
• Secondary data is second-hand information obtained from reading books,
watching news, videos, the internet, and other already documented material.
• Qualitative data is based on subjective factors such as people’s opinions, while
quantitative data is based on actual numbers and is, therefore, more objective.

5. Identify how you will analyze, interpret, and present the data
Come up with conclusive and tangible evidence to prove or disprove all the
hypotheses you had stated earlier. Methods of data analysis include the use of
statistical analysis such as mean, totals, income, or the general relationship
between variables which can be enhanced using graphical methods where
possible.
Having developed all the above, you are now ready to come up with your
concept paper, which will detail each of the steps outlined. The following is a
guideline on how to structure your ideas for the perfect concept paper.

Charts and Graphs

In creating a concept paper, you are expected to gather different information and data.
Once you gathered these, you need to present it to the potential funding agencies well.
To do that, you must learn how to present data through charts and graphs.

1. Chart - In general, a chart is a graphical representation of data. Charts allow users

to see what the results of data to better understand and predict current and future
data. The two common charts are pie chart and a flow chart.

Pie charts to show you how a whole is divided into different parts. It shows
the relationship of the parts to the whole in percentage and proportions.
How to read a Pie Chart?

• Read the title and captions carefully.

• Note the number and labels of pie sections of the graph.
• Check if there is any “legend” section and study it. Identify
the shares, quantity, and percentage of each section.
• Identify which sections have the smallest and largest
percentage.
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How to make a Pie Chart?

• Use no more that seven divisions.

• Move clockwise from 12:00. Start with the largest wedge
going to the smallest. However, “others” or miscellaneous
items must be placed last no matter how large they cover.
• Use circle graph for percentage and money especially
when the items they represent are divisible by 100.
• Make the circle graph as simple as possible.
• Label each component.
• If you want to show a subdivision of a particular wedge in
a circle graph, use a “pie with a pie” technique.

Flowchart is a graphical representation that illustrates a process or direction of

steps.
How to make a flow chart?

• Present only the capsule version of the whole process.

• Limit the number of shapes to avoid confusion.
• Provide a legend when necessary.
• Sequence the data from left to right or bottom to top.
• You can be creative in designing the flow chart but do not
make it too complicated and distracting.
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2. Graphs - a graph can be defined as a pictorial representation or a diagram that

represents data or values in an organized manner. The points on the graph often
represent the relationship between two or more things.

Bar graphs to show numbers that are independent of each other. It uses
vertical and horizontal bars that compare amounts and quantities.

Source: splashmath.com
 How to read a bar graph?

• Read the title, caption, and source note.

• Determine the purpose of the graph.
• Look at the dates mentioned, If there are any.
• Identify what is being compared. Is it an amount or a
quantity?
• If the data changes over time, determine the time span and
the amount of change.
How to create a bar graph?

• Limit the number of bars. Too many bars may create

confusion and complicate the data.
• Show comparison clearly.
• Keep the bar widths consistent.
• It is ideal to use spaces between bars. However, if
comparisons are too close or too many, spaces between
bars may be deleted.
• Arrange the bars based on sequence (by year to show
trends) or by ascending/ descending order.
Line graph is a graphic representation of data that is plotted using a series of
lines. Line charts display lines going across the chart horizontally, with the
values axis being displayed on the left side of the chart.

How to prepare a line graph?

• Plot the data very carefully.

• Use different line colors for line graph using multiple lines.
• Make the chart lines thicker than the axis lines.
• Do not put the numbers on the line graph itself.
•
 What I Can Do

Directions: Develop a writing situation for your concept paper by completing

the following (20 points).

Purpose:

Target Output:
Audience:
Writer’s Persona:
Tone/Formality:

What I have Learned

Directions: Reflect on your learning by completing the chart below (5 points each=10
points).

This module helps you understand concept paper and from there, you are expected
to produce one. Now, before asking you to write your concept paper, share the
things that are required below. This is important so you can compare your level of
readiness between before and now in terms of writing a concept paper.

I thought … I learned …
 Day 4

What’s More

Directions: Think of a pressing social issue. Make a short concept paper, showing
your proposed solution for that issue. Presenting some statistics through
graph or chart may add credibility of your proposal. The budget section is
optional but the inclusion of it may attract more funding agencies. You will
be scored based on the criteria provided below (100 points).

Criteria Percentage Your Score

Content 30%
Organization 30%
Style 15%
Grammar & Mechanics 15%
Documentation & Sources 10%
TOTAL SCORE 100%
 Post Test

Directions: Write the letter of your answer (15 points).

1. A cover page of a concept paper should have the following, EXCEPT:

a. the name of the proponents and their affiliations.
b. addresses, contact numbers, and email addresses of the proponent.
c. the head of the agency and his/her contact information
d. objectives of the concept paper

2. What do you call the document submitted before a project proposal?

a. Concept Paper c. Critique
b. Position Paper d. Review

3. How many words should a concept paper have?

a. 2000- 3000 c. 200-350
b. 500-2000 d. 1000-2000

4. Which part of the concept paper presents the place where the study can be done?
a. Literature Review c. Background of the study
b. Abridged methodology d. References

5. Which part of the concept paper discusses the theoretical framework of the
proposal?
a. Preliminary Literature Review c. Background of the study
b. Abridged methodology d. References

6. Which part of the concept paper discloses the outline of the main budget, including
the item descriptions and their corresponding amount?
a. Preliminary Literature Review c. Background of the study
b. Abridged methodology d. Project Needs and Cost

7. In writing a concept paper, there may be a need to present some visuals. What do
you call the pictorial representation or a diagram that represents data or values in
an organized manner?
a. Chart c. Pictures
b. Graphs d. None of them
8. What visual aid will Felix use to present the gathering procedure of his research?
a. Line graph c. Flowchart
b. Bar graph d. Pie chart
9. Which of the following is not true about Pie Charts?
a. “others” or miscellaneous items must be placed first part no matter how
large they cover
b. use circle graph for percentage and money especially when the items they
represent are divisible by 100
c. make the circle graph as simple as possible
d. label each component
10. Which part of the concept paper reveals the source of the problem?
a. Rationale b. Introduction
c. Cover Page d. Conclusion
11. The following are the steps in making a flow chart, except:
a. Present only the capsule version of the whole process
b. Limit the number of shapes to avoid confusion
c. Provide a legend when necessary
d. Move clockwise from 12:00. Start with the largest wedge going to the
smallest
12. Kiara wanted to use lines to present her weight loss progress. What graph should
she use?
a. Flow chart b. Line Graph
c. Pie graph d. Bar graph
13. Rah wanted to submit a concept paper to a funding agency. She then collected
data about the students’ academic performance in English from different school
years. What graph or chart should she use in order to present the data effectively?
a. Pie graph c. Bar graph
b. Line graph d. Flow chart
14. Why is it important to use visual aids in presenting a concept paper?
a. To show the investors how well you make visual aids
b. To make your paper look smart
c. To organize the data and present it in a professional way
d. None of these
15. Which of the following is an effective way of writing a concept paper?
a. Cathy does not have a table of contents in her concept paper.
b. Thea made her timeine independent from the details in the methodology.
c. Yuna states her objectives in the methodology section of the concept paper.
d. Kiara uses data from government agencies to prove the existence of a
problem that her research team would like to address.