INDS 400

Research Proposal Assignment Instructions

Overview

This assignment gives you the chance to bring everything together. All sub-term long you have been building towards this assignment, and now, using instructor feedback on previous assignments, you are going to finalize your research proposal.

Instructions

In 2,000-2,500 words, create a research proposal for your research topic that includes an abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, rationale, conclusion, and references (the last of which not counting towards the word count) in that order.

Requirements:

1. You may use first person, but not second person. Only use first person when absolutely necessary to talk about the fact that you are proposing research. Some sections like the literature review should not have any, but you will likely need it in the methodology.

2. Your grammar, spelling, and punctuation should be flawless. Visit the Liberty University writing centers if you want extra help.

3. You must use APA formatting.

4. When proposing that you will be doing an action (like in your methodology) if your proposal is accepted, speak in the future tense.

5. Use Level 1 APA headings to differentiate between sections.

6. Your abstract should be a 150-250-word summary of what sections and topics are contained in your research proposal; avoid arguing your case there. Your abstract should be a scientific description of the parts of your proposal and what purpose they serve in the context of your proposal.

7. Remember that the introduction of your literature review is not the same as the introduction overall—the overall introduction usually focuses on the topic and segues into introducing the research hypothesis or question, which is typically the last sentence of the introduction.

8. In your conclusion, summarize your main ideas and emphasize the importance and future helpfulness of what you are doing.

9. Cite at least 7 scholarly sources in APA format.

Additional Suggestions:

1. Keep your audience in mind throughout. While your professor will grade your essay, remember that your audience will likely be someone who can grant money to support your research. Assume that person, committee, or organization is somewhat interested in your research topic. How can you show them that your plan to study it is a good one that deserves financial support? It will be easier to convince them if you can show you’ve done your research, your reasons for studying this topic lines up with theirs, and your plan to study it will be effective.

2. Look over the comments your instructor made on your other related assignments and be sure to update sections of your research proposal for this assignment. Learn from past mistakes and successes.

3. Once you have put together all the pieces, read through your proposal several times to make sure that tone, ideas, and arguments stay consistent throughout. You’ve sorted out the puzzle pieces, but you need to make sure they all fit.

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.

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