Proposal Writing Workshop

Wed 23rd October, 2019

 The proposal will have the following
components:
• Title page
• Introduction
• Problem statement
• Objectives
– General objective
– Specific objective(s)
• Research questions/hypothesis
• Scope
• Justification
• Significance
• Materials and Method
• References
Title page
• The title page includes the title; student’s name;
Reg#; statement indicating that it is a
research/project proposal, proposed supervisor
Title
• A good title should be concise, focused and
descriptive.
• More often a title (not topic) is stated in terms of a
functional relationship, clearly indicating the
dependent and independent variables.
• Also, think of an informative and catchy title,
with a doing word.
• The title should not be biased; e.g., articles
like “the” can make it biased as if the
researcher already knows the results
• No full stop should be placed at the end of
title
• It should show what is to be measured
Introduction
• Introduction is the first chapter and it is intended
to provide the necessary background or context
for the research problem.
• The introduction gives the first impression of the
proposal write-up quality.
• The introduction usually begins with a general
statement of the problem area, followed by a
focus on a specific research problem.
• Next is the rational or justification for the
proposed study.
• Do not include too lengthy background
information in the introduction.
• Include a "title sentence" which indicates the
main thrust of introduction.
• For example-1:
This proposal is concerned with the
determining the percentage purity of iron in
rock samples from Katwe iron mine.
• For example-2:
This proposal will examine the efficiency of a
crystallizer at ABC company sugar works.
• Generally, a good introduction is about the
right length; gives a little relevant background
and context; makes some initial references to
sources; and finally focuses precisely on the
problem.
Problem Statement
• The research problem should not be framed in
the general context, otherwise the research
question will appear trivial and uninteresting.
• It should however, be placed in the focused
context of the research idea, making significance
to be evident.
• A problem well understood leads to a problem
well framed.
• A poorly understood problem can lead to
poorly constructed problem.
• Therefore, the first effort of the researcher
should be to understand the problem before
communicating it as a proposal in writing.
• The problem statement should be short and
precise; clearly bringing out the challenge; the
gap; the missing knowledge with closing
statement reflecting the aim of the research, not
significance; no background; no references;
• It should be a statement and not numbered; not
bulleted; not reproduced from literature, i.e.,
mentioning what is on ground and not really
mentioning the gap which should come out clearly
Objectives
• State the overall objective, called the aim or
general objective, usually rephrased from the
title
• Split the overall into specifics, with action verbs
• Specific objectives should help answer the
general objective, stated using measurable
verbs
• Specific objectives are a breakdown of
the general objective
• E.g., going for lunch, is general; eat
matoke; etc., is the specific
• No mention of methodology
• E.g., premiership, taking the cup is
general; win all, training, fire etc.,
• SMART-ER: Specific; Measurable, Achievable;
Realistic; Time bound; Evaluate and Re-evaluate
• Minimum of one and maximum of three specific
objectives for undergraduates.
• Should be numbered, not bulleted
• Each objective should have experimental
procedure
• “Comparing data” is not an objective but comes
under discussion under that specific objective
• General words like: assess; evaluate; etc., should
not be in specific objective; use more specific
words (verbs)
Scope
• It should include: content/parameter scope
(boundaries of what to be done);
• Time scope
• Geographical scope, where is the sampling;
analyses; etc., though this also appears in
materials and methods
Justification
• Justification usually focuses on the methods; or
the approach; or apparatus; why do you think
the approach can be used to fill the gap; why do
you qualify the research to solve the problem
while still in the lab or during data collection
period
Significance
• The significance tends to be more social and
community oriented; long-term impact on the
community after the research is completed.
• E.g., how to process snow, in European countries
may be more significant to the Whites than to
Africa
Materials and Methods
• Each objective should have a scientific method or
procedure; in future tense for proposal; past
tense for final report
• It should be narrative, not listing steps;
• Should follow standard & accepted method, e.g.,
ISO standards; ASTM, etc., quoting individual
method;
• Include measurements, e.g., 25 ml flask; 5 g of soil
samples.
• Avoid personal pronouns such as I; you; etc.,
• Use correct SI units; pH; ml; mg;
• Ratios and percentages W/W%; vol/vol %
• Indicate the equipment model and manufacturer
• Percentage purity used
• Levels instead of concentrations
• Mention of permission to use some samples, for
ethical purposes;
• Avoid food security cases
• Human samples need clearance
• Generally be careful about legal implication
References
• For KYU., APA author and date;
• Use of Mendeley reference management
software (open source) is encouraged
• Example of APA 6th:
– Kalirajan, R., Sivakumar, S., Jubie, S.,
Gowramma, B., & Suresh, B., (2009),
Synthesis and biological evaluation of some
heterocyclic derivatives of chalcones,
International Journal of ChemTech
Research, 1(1), 27-34.
Questions?