An Outline for Dissertation Proposals

Basic Plan

1. Title Be as specific as you can. Choose a working title to use until you can decide what your actual title will be.

2. Abstract Write a simple and straightforward description of what you want to do. Keep it under a page in length (less than 250 words). You will, inevitably, have to re-write this abstract at least twice.

3. Background/Significance/Need

Explain the significance or need for your research or project and describe the background or context in which it can be appreciated. Be certain to show its relevance to your field of study. You should mention any similar research

or project that you know about and indicate briefly why yours will be different.

4. Anticipated Results

Explain what you think you will learn from your work or what you think the outcome of your project will be.

5. Plan/Method/Approach

Describe the steps you will take to conduct your research or to develop your project. if you plan to make statistical analyses, and you know the specific methods you will use, refer to them in a manner that indicates that you understand their proper use. include estimates of the time you think you will need to gather data, analyze it, and form your conclusions. Be sure to make the scope (limitations?) of your work as clear as you can. Try to show that your approach is orderly, organized, and likely to succeed (a well-done timetable is essential here).

6. Work done thus far

Explain what you have done so far, including, if appropriate, how you became interested in the research or the project that you are proposing (some people prefer to put this last part in the Background/Significance/Need section).

7. Preliminary Bibliography

List the works you already have consulted and some of those you think you will use. Include books, periodicals, tapes, films, internet sites, people you will interview, and any other reliable source of relevant information that you know about at this time.

Optional parts

8. Special or unusual equipment

If you will need any equipment, hardware, software, or other resources not available on your campus, describe your plans for obtaining it.

9. Financial support

Describe the way you will pay for your research or project and the way you will support yourself while working on it.