English for Academic & Professional Purposes – Grade 11-ABM
Lesson 4.1 – Concept Paper
What is a Concept Paper?
• A concept paper is a summary that tells the reader what the
project is, why it is important, and how it will be carried out.
• It may also be used as an instructional tool that may have
developed as a result of extensive research, committee input, or
as a result of the outcome of a current project.
Purposes of a Concept Paper
1. To convince the reader that the proposed research project is
worth doing.
2. To capture the interest of the funding agency and demonstrate
that the idea they are proposing is worthy of further
consideration.
Parts of a Concept Paper
1) Introduction and Statement of the Problem
o It serves as the most important part of the concept paper.
o The problem stated must be clear.
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English for Academic & Professional Purposes – Grade 11-ABM
o Also, it must address why would you want to investigate the
topic under study, and how your research will help achieve
this.
2) Purpose
o Provide supporting documentation for the importance of
addressing this question, problem, or need.
o In other words, identify how the project will address this
need.
3) Project Description
o This is the longest and most tedious part of your concept
paper.
o Ask yourself: “What activities will take place?”
o Describe your project:
▪ What your agency plans to do
▪ Why this is a unique approach
▪ Who will benefit from your concept paper
o It has three parts—goals & objectives/research questions,
methodology & timelines, and benefits & anticipated
outcomes.
a. Goals & Objectives/Research Questions
▪ Ask yourself: “What do I hope to achieve?”
▪ Objectives are more specific than the project’s
overall goal/s and should be SMART—specific,
measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.
▪ Moreover, your research questions (ask yourself:
“What are my research questions?”) should be
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intelligent and sensible to address the problem
correctly.
b. Methodology & Timelines
▪ Ask yourself these three questions:
• “How will the project be carried out?”
• “What techniques, processes, or methods will be
employed?”
• “What is the anticipated timeline (in general
terms)? How many months or years will the
project span?”
o In this section, you need to set a realistic
time frame.
c. Benefits & Anticipated Outcomes
▪ Describe the anticipated benefits and who will
benefit (in other words, how your research will add to
the body of knowledge of a particular scientific
discipline).
4) Support Needed
o It contains all the logistics needed to execute the project.
o Make a general list and describe the types of support that
you will need to carry out a project and, if possible,
anticipated expenses (for example, personnel, travel,
equipment, supplies, participant support, facilities, etc.).
5) Contact Information
o It should tell your readers how to contact or reach you.
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English for Academic & Professional Purposes – Grade 11-ABM
o Most commonly, the contact information of a concept
paper will contain personal contact (name & position),
personal email, phone number and extension to personal
contact, your organization’s physical address, and the
organization’s website if available/applicable.
Other Matters
• Be brief, concise, and clear. Ideally, concept papers should not
be longer than five pages. Don’t overwhelm the reader with
details, but avoid sounding vague or unsure about what you
want to accomplish.
• Consider your audience. If your concept paper is going to be
reviewed by scientists in your field, scientific terms and technical
jargon may be acceptable. However, if your proposal is being
reviewed by generalists or lay persons, this type of language will
not communicate your ideas effectively.
• Finally, appearance is important. This concept paper represents
you. The font size should be large enough to read easily, and
margins should be of standard size. Check for grammar or
spelling errors before submission. Attention to detail is extremely
important. Do not forget to number all pages.
Format of a Concept Paper
I. Introduction
II. Purpose
III. Project Description
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A. Goals and Objectives/Research Questions
B. Methodology and Timelines
C. Benefits/Anticipated Outcomes
IV. Support Needed
V. Contact Information
Sample Format of the Title Page
Title of Concept Paper
A Concept Paper
Presented to:
Mr. Vhon Joseph C. Solomon
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements Needed
In English for Academic & Professional Purposes 11
Presented by:
Surname First, Alphabetical Order
______________________________
Date of Submission (Month/Date/Year)
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