MEMBERS

Franz Lyzamae Paquelit

Antoinette Jean Esmaya
Jemella Alferez
August Cervantes
Writing a Concept Paper

English for Academic and

Professional Purposes
Objectives:
•explain what a concept paper
•identify
is; the features of an effective concept paper;
•explain a concept from various fields through explication,definition,and
clarification;
•identify the situations in which a concept paper may be effectively
used in the present society;
•identify the different types of concept papers according to
•define the context for a concept paper;
context;
•analyze the features of a concept paper;
• use transitions to connect ideas;
•present a novel concept or projects with the aid of visuals;
•write
and an effective concept paper.
Let’s Learn
During the campaign period for the national
elections,you most certainly hear candidates talking
about their platforms and their plans for the country if
they are elected. Even in the student council elections in
your school,same thing is conducted. All these people
want their voters to see the improvements they want to
implement,so that the latter can decide if they are worth
the vote. In the academic and professional setting,an
institution or agency is able to decide whether a certain
project or research is worth the investment through the
concept paper.
WHAT IS A CONCEPT PAPER?
Prior to the submission of a project proposal,
proponents are requested to submit a summary of
what the project is all about, the reasons for
conducting the project, and how it will be carried
out. This summary document is called a concept
paper. A concept paper provides an overview of the
project, and helps funding agencies eliminate
proposals that are likely to be disapproved. Hence,
it helps save time and effort for both the
proponents and the funding agencies.
A concept paper has several uses:

• First, it serves as a foundation of the full proposal.

• Second, it helps determine whether a certain project is
feasible or not.
• Third, it is used to pique the interest of the potential
funding agencies.
• Finally, it is used to obtain informal feedback on the ideas
prior to preparing the full proposal.
Since a concept paper is a preliminary document for
a proposal, it shows a preview of improvements that
the proponent would like to have implemented.
Concept papers can be belpful in addressing social
issues especially since they aim to show solutions to
tangible issues which plague society.
Three Ways in Explaining a
Concept
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 through the use of
illustrations, examples, and description.
A definition can be presented in
three ways:
a. Formal
definition A formal definition explains a
term by incorporating the term
to be defined (species), the
general category of the term
(genus), and the quality that
makes the term different from
other terms in the same category
(differentia).
Term + General Category +
Distinguishing Feature

A tree is a plant that has thick wooden

stem and has many large branches.
b. Informal definition
An informal definition is
done through a parenthetical
or brief explanation. Unlike
formal definition, it does not
have any distinguishing
features.
Example: A chair is a piece of furniture.
A candy is a sweet food made with
sugar.
A tree is a plant.
c. Extended definition
Are essay length texts that use different
rhetorical patterns to show the meaning of
a particular term or concept. -generally
have components of both informal and
formal definitions. However, it uses a
number of other techniques to define a
word, concept, or phrase.
Extended Definition
Techniques
a. Listing and describing the parts/Analysis -
identifying smaller, more familiar pieces of an idea to
point to the definition of the bigger concept.
b. Etymology - sharing a word's
origin.
c. Examples or anecdotes - telling a story or example that
illustrates the term.
d. Negation - defining a term by explaining what
the concept is not.
e. Environment or sector - pointing out how and where
something is used.
f. Evoking the senses - using a word that creates a
picture in the reader's mind so that the reader might
relate through memory of sound, sight, touch,
hearing, or smell.
g. Ramifications - showing how the term or concept affects
people or objects.
h. Historical references: showing how a word has been defined
throughout history.
i.Comparison and Contrast
Compassion is the ability to understand another person's misfortunes. It
is kindness, tenderness, mercy, pity, and sympathy. A nurse may have
compassion for an irritable patient by understanding that the illness may
be the cause of that patient's behavior and by treating that patient with
kindness and sympathy. An airline stewardess displays compassion for
her passenger, by considering the fact that they may be nervous about
flying and by answering their questions in a patient, sympathetic manner.
In the same way, a judge may have compassion for a Juvenile offender
by taking his age into consideration and setting the punishment
accordingly. Compassion is not merely a verbal expression of sorrow. It
is not begrudgingly contributing money to charitable causes out of a
sense of duty. Compassion is putting yourself in another person's
situation and treating that person the way you would want to be treated.
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
examples. The following signal words
will also help you in writing this kind
of text.
as defined for instance means to define
for example is defined as such as to illustrate
2. Explication
An 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 in the introduction and follow it up with a
detailed analysis of a passage or text. You may begin the body
of the explication by analyzing and explaining how the text
was constructed. Your explication should end with a concise
conclusion by restating your thesis and major arguments.
 Explication of "The Road Not Taken."
The poem titled "The Road Not Taken" by Robert
Frost is about a man reflecting on a choice he once made, while
the outcome of this choice is not implied to be positive or
negative the speaker notes that the choice in itself and the
consequences of that choice have made a huge difference in the
way his life
Thehas unfolded.
poem is about the importance of choices. The poem
begins with the speaker regretting that he could not have been
two people so he could have at some point in his life taken two
roads instead of being confined to one.He looked as far as he
could to see what was ahead on one of the roads he could have
taken,but he was limited to seeing only as far as where it turned
the bushes. In the second stanza he says he took the other road because it
was grassy and was possibly better because it was less travelled, though
not much more than the other road. The third stanza says both roads
were covered in leaves that had been walked on Infrequently, to the
extent that the leaves covering them had not been made black from
tramping feet. He also says he continued on the road he chose, and
because he knew that one thing leads to another ("way leads on to way“)
he doubted he would ever return to this part of the road. Finally, he says
he will tell the story when he is much older ("Somewhere ages and ages
hence") that he had the choice of taking one road over another, and
having taken the one he did made a big difference in his life.
An Excerpt from:
http://efford.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/8/3/13833564/poetryexplic
ationexample.doc
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 for instance namely that is

as an in other put another to be specific
example words way
consider the in particular specifically to clarify
following
for example in short stated to illustrate
differently
SAMPLE CLARIFICATION TEXT
Justice is a broad concept which encompasses a wide set of ideas,
most of which 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 justion, 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 be clearly
delineated into any instance in which the law is successfully and
fairly applied to an individual, resulting in either an arrest or a
To illustrate, if a thief is caught and tried in court through due process,
and is found to be guilty and then sentenced accordingly, it can be said
that justice was served. However, if the same thief is caught in the act
by a 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.
Parts of a Concept Paper
A concept paper usually ranges from 500 to 2000 words
and is usually divided into several parts. The following
sections discussed in this lesson are merely suggestions for
the content of the paper; ultimately, the project proponent
needs to follow the format and design required by the funding
agency.

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 following structure 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 proponents.
• 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 proponents' 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 (sometimes termed as Action Plan,
Project Activities, orApproach).
• Present the timeline expressed in months and year.
• State the benefits or anticipated outcomes.
• State how success of outcomes will be evaluated.
5. Projects Needs and Costs
• 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 following structure when you intend to present an
idea or concept for a research you would like to pursue.
1. Title Page
• State your 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 reasons 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. The theoretical framework
includes 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 (e.g., Gantt chart) 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
Follow the guidelines below to come up with a well-
written concept paper.

1. Cost and methodology should be reasonable.

2. The budget, methodology, and timeline should be clearly
aligned
3. Use statistics and figures when discussing the rationale for
the project.
4. Use no more than five pages (single-spaced) excluding the
cover page. Do not overwhelm the readers with details.
5. Never request funding for planning the proposal.
6. Adjust your language to the intended readers. You
may use technical terms if readers are scholars and
scientists. However, refrain from using jargon when your
target readers are lay persons.
7. Include the overview of the budget if it is required. If
not, then skip the budget section inplace of this, you may
simply include the type of support you may need such as
personnel, travel and communication, and equipment.
8. Be sure that basic format details, such as page
numbers, are incorporated.
9. Cite your references.