The Concept

Paper
 Learning Goals

1. Define a concept paper

2. Elucidate on a concept by definition, explication
and clarification
3.Familiarize with the situations in which a concept
paper may be effectively used for the
improvement of our society
4. Differentiate the various kinds of concept
paper.
5. Craft a novel concept or project.
A Concept Paper is also called a
 Preliminary Proposal

 Preproposal

 Concept Note

 Prospectus
The Concept Paper

summarizes to your reader

what your proposed project
is, why it is important, and
how it will be carried out.
 The Concept Paper

 It is an important step in
composing detailed project
proposals.
The Concept Paper vs. Project Proposals

Concept Papers are written short enough to

accommodate 2 to 5 sheets of letter-sized
bond paper.

Project Proposals are much longer.

A CONCEPT is “an idea of what
something is or how it works”.

It is something conceived in the mind:

thought, notion,” an abstract or generic
idea generalized from particular
instances.
Etymology of the word

The word “concept” comes from the

Medieval Latin word conceptum,
meaning, “a draft,” or something
conceived or thought of.
Synonyms for concept are:
“idea”, notion, a conception, abstraction, a
plan or intention.”

In Filipino, the words for concept are:

pagkaunawa, pagkakilala, palagay,
pagkaintindi
What are the concepts in each
field of study and work?
In Psychology
 In Philosophy

“A representation of the concept

of a tree. The four upper
images of trees can be roughly
quantified into an overall
generalization of the idea of a
tree, pictured in the lower
image”.
In Business
A concept is an idea or invention to help sell or publicize
a commodity.

The concept of “tingi” or retail and the sari sari store in

the Philippines inspired the telecommunication providers to
sell text “loads” as a retail product.
In Science and
Engineering
The concept of artificial intelligence transformed machines
from doing physical or repetitive work to intelligent computers
and software.
Example:
Global Positioning System (GPS)
In Manufacturing
A concept car is a car built to test or show a new design.
It is produced as an experimental model to test the new
design features.
In Music

A band may create a

concept album for
Earth Day, that is,
organized around a
main idea, a collection
of songs about the
ecology in this case.
In Literature
The theory of feminism was used to critique the
novels, fiction and poetry.
How do I plan for a concept
paper?
Learning Goals
1. Define a concept paper
2. Elucidate on a concept by definition, explication
and clarification
3.Familiarize with the situations in which a concept
paper may be effectively used for the
improvement of our society
4. Differentiate the various kinds of concept
paper.
5. Craft a novel concept or project.
Elucidating a Topic
Ways to
▹ “When using definition, your objectives are to
Elucidate
relate your understanding of a key term and to
convince your reader that your own definition is
genuine. Although you may cite a dictionary or a
formal or technical definition for a concept, you
need to extend it to explain what this means to
you by backing it up with persuasive
examples.”

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Ways to
Elucidate
a.What is the formal definition of
poverty?
b.What is your own concept of poverty?

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Ways to
Elucidate ▹ As a writer, you educate your audience on a
chosen argument by giving specific examples
from experiences, events and so on. Although
telling your audience about a problem is easy, it
is not that impressive or even convincing.
Instead, showing your reader by mentioning
specific examples makes your paragraph more
valid, interesting, and persuasive

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Ways to
Elucidate

▹ Malnutrition is a big problem at X

school. (Telling/ Asserting)

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Ways to
▹ According to the recent Nutritional Status Report of x
Elucidate
school, only 10 per cent of students have normal
weight. A vast majority (60%) are classified as
“wasting”, a term used to refer to children with Body
Mass Index (BMI) of 17% or below. This is primarily
caused by insufficient food intake, which could lead
to impaired functioning of the immune system, which
could then lead to children’s susceptibility to
infectious diseases and even death. (Showing/
Demonstrating)

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 Types of
Concept Paper ▹ For funding – The concept paper is written to
preface and clarify the conceptual basis of a
project proposal or a set of proposals submitted
for funding. It is a guide for the implementation
of a program. Funding organizations provide
guidelines and templates for organizations
seeking funding. As writer of this type of concept
paper, follow the target funder’s template.

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 Types of
▹ As an instructional or educational tool – This
Concept Paper
type of concept paper is assigned in school to
clarify the conceptual basis for a research study
or a project. For example, a group of Science
students may want to present the conceptual
basis for using waste material such as used
diapers in hollow blocks. The template of a
concept paper may be the same or similar to
that of a concept paper written for funding.

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 Types of
▹ Presentation material to introduce a new
Concept Paper
concept in any field of study or discuss best
practices as guide for future action. For
example, a concept paper may be used to
rationalize advertisements on social media or
‘product placement in a new way.

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 Writing a
Concept Paper
 “
The concept paper starts with a
clear title that reflects the thesis of
the paper.
Concept note on Strengthening Citizen Participation
in Naga River Governance
A Sumaro sa Salog (SULOG) Pilot Project

should reflect the problem of your project, approximately

made of 12 words
ELEMENTS
OF A
CONCEPT
PAPER I. INTRODUCTION
A. background information
B.situation
C.clear description of the topic
D. facts or statistics

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I.PROJECT CONTEXT
The Naga River is a key landmark in the physical makeup
of Naga City and vital to the socio-economic and cultural
life of the city’s populace. The Naga river originates in Mt.
Isarog in Camarines Sur, is fed by the Yabo, Caromatig
and Langon Creeks, snakes through Naga City, and
drains into the Bikol River.

Technique of support: Physical Description

Historical accounts note that Naga River used to be a
source of fresh water for the inhabitants of the city, served
as highway for trade and commerce especially between the
rice granaries in southern Camarines Sur and Albay and
the gold mines of Paracale and Mambulao in Camarines
Norte and for many decades hosted a fluvial procession in
honor of Our Lady of Penafrancia, the Bicol region’s
patroness.

Technique of Support: Presents old information using

Examples
The Naga River is now dying. A study conducted by the
institute for Environmental Conservation and Research
(INECAR) of Ateneo de Naga university reveals that given
the low level of dissolved oxygen, the critical level of
phosphate and nitrate, and the highest levels of toxic
phytoplankton in the Naga River, plants and fish may die in
the water. Contaminated groundwater pumped out from the
riparian zone of the river may also cause disease.

Technique of Support: presents new information, used

facts, cause and effect
ELEMENTS
OF A
CONCEPT
PAPER II. PROBLEM
A.issues
B. facts
C.statistics

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Rapid urbanization, high population growth, and lack of a
sustainable river management program have caused the decay of
the Naga River. To avert the dying state of the Naga River, the
SULOG Project Team sees the need for Naga City to adopt a river
governance scenario that is focused on :
1) a Sustainable Strategic Naga Management Plan for the Naga
River; 2) Infrastructure support for river rehabilitation; 3) River-
oriented economic investment; 4) Enforcement of regulations;
and 5) Citizen participation in river governance.

Presentation of the problem and suggests general

solution to the problem
Major Policies for Naga River Rehabilitation and
Management
There are available local laws on anti-littering, forest protection
and regeneration, prohibition against toxic waste in kitchen and
septic vault pipes leading to the river, the preservation of aquatic
life, the mandatory three-meter easement along the riverbanks,
and a caretaker environment group.

Justifies to the reader why one should be concerned

about the problem
Major effects of Naga River environmental degradation
1. Seasonal flooding of the Naga River and the erosions of its riverbanks.
2. Endangered economic or livelihood opportunities including potential
benefits for agriculture.
3. The opportunity to scale-up the utilization of the religious and cultural
significance of the Naga River for local tourism industry in Naga or
other river-based economic investments.
4. Health hazards: untreated wastewater eventually ends up in the river
and leachate from the landfill in Balatas, market refuse, effluent from
septic tanks, and poor sanitation in riverine barangays have
contaminated the Naga River.

What happens if the problem is not addressed?

ELEMENTS
OF A
CONCEPT
PAPER
III. GOALS and OBJECTIVES
A.broad statement of the project’s
intent
B. measurable outcomes
C. written in behavioral terms e.g.
create, increase

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To link citizens’ participation with the five components of river governance in an
integrated and sustainable framework. The specific objectives are to:
1. Create opportunities for joint activities between and among policymakers,
programme managers, church, CSOs and private sector in addressing river
rehabilitation and management issues;
2. Secure a commitment from the local government that it will develop and implement
a comprehensive and sustainable river governance plan, including the construction
of a proper sewage system;
3. Develop an Oversight Plan for the Naga River Revitalization Project (INRRP) * and
other major Naga River projects; 
(INRRP) * Integrated Naga River Revitalization Project

Goal: link citizens’ participation and 5 components of

river governance
4. Create sustainable river-oriented livelihood program in the pilot riverine barangays;
5. Form and mobilize community-based organizations for river rehabilitation activities
in the pilot riverine barangays;
6. Increase the proportion residents in the pilot riverine barangays who are aware of
the environmental conditions of the Naga River
and
7. Increase the proportion of residents in the pilot riverine barangays who are doing
‘Save the Naga River’ practices
 
(INRRP) * Integrated Naga River Revitalization Project

List of Proposed Project to Strengthen Citizen

Participation in River Governance
ELEMENTS
OF A
CONCEPT
PAPER
IV. METHODOLOGY, OPERATIONS or
PROCEDURES
A. HOW to carry out objectives
B. techniques or processes to attain
objectives

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The five project strategies are: 1) Partnership building on
river governance ; 2) Advocacy Campaigns; 3) Oversight of
INRRP and major projects; 4) Livelihood Program; 5)
Community organizing; 6) Behavior Change and
Communication Strategies; and 7) Monitoring and
Evaluation.

Strategies and Activities