ENGLISH 10 HONORS
Mrs. Jones
Research Proposal
Schedule and Due Dates
All assignments are due when your class hour begins unless otherwise noted.
Monday, February 23: MYP Research Proposal Project Introduced
Tuesday, February 24: Narrowing Topics to Generate Five Subtopics on Subject Area
Wednesday, February 25: Subtopics Due
Wednesday, February 25: Begin Preliminary Research to Answer Research Questions
Friday, February 27: Proposal Statement
Monday, March 2: Research Questions and Proposal Statement Due
Monday-Wednesday, March 2-4, 2015: 5 Articles – CRAAP Test
Copy/paste the important parts of your article and store them in your folder.
Complete the CRAAP test on EACH article you print.
Friday, March 6: Finalized Research Proposal Statement Due
Friday, March 6: CRAAP Test for 5 Articles Due
Friday, March 6: Workshop: Annotated Bibliography and Outline
Spring Break March 9-23
Tuesday-Wednesday, March 24-25: Workshop on Final Proposal
Friday, March 27: Annotated Bibliography and Outline Due
Friday, April 3: Final Proposal Due to turnitin.com AND printed for class
Disclaimer: You will be married to this topic for the next two years. Any changes you make regarding your topic or research may result in duplicating steps.
The Research Proposal: Introduction
· The Research Proposal is the preliminary steps to writing the extended essay.
· All students enrolled in English 11 will write an extended essay.
· Those students going on to complete the full IB Diploma will continue to develop their extended essay with the help of an advisor.
· If you do not go on to English IBAP 11, you will still complete a research project next year.
· Your research proposal is a written presentation:
ü Convincing the reader that the topic you have chosen is worth discussion
ü Showing the research that has already been done in this area.
ü Discussing the questions/ problems your extended essay hopes to answer.
A research proposal is based on a problem or an area of inquiry. This is a problem, issue, or concern that requires extensive investigation. Your proposal is not intended to find the answer to the problem; instead, you will attempt to investigate and bring about new questions concerning this problem or area. Clearly identify the purpose of your research. Why is it important to find an answer to your question or the problem you pose?
FULL DIPLOMA CANDIDATES ONLY
· You are expected to be taking the class/subject and testing in it as a junior or senior.
· Science topics require an original experiment by the student. Experiments typically start junior year. Talk to a science teacher if there is any question regarding the achievability of an experiment.
· Economics is discouraged because students will not be taking this class until senior year.
· Psychology is discouraged unless it deals with abnormal psychology focusing on figures in literature or history who have exhibited the psychosis. Then it becomes a history or literature topic
ALL STUDENTS
· History topics must be at least 10 years back – not more recent than 2004
· Choose topics carefully. Topics will be further developed (not changed) junior year
Summary of Proposal
Your research paper proposal has a synopsis that gives a glimpse of what is presented on the project—as well as the work’s significance. This is what allows your readers to understand the importance of your paper and how you came about the project. Research proposal format should also have the vital elements of the proposal; it must include the title, the abstract, your work’s objectives, the historical background and the references. Proposals will be 800-1000 words not including quoted material. Proposals will be submitted to turnitin.com so that word counts can be checked.
All information, both directly quoted and parphrased, will be cited using MLA format. Both primary and secondary sources will be properly cited in the multiparagraph proposal, and the Works Cited page will be included for the research topic.
You will type an annotated bibliography to accompany the proposal that shows that there are ample people to interview and material for research that meet the requirements for the extended essay.
EXERCISE 1
Use brainstorming or idea mapping to create a list of topics you would be interested in researching. Think about the research you did in your freshman English class. Could you use the same topic? What subtopics could you connect to that topic? What narrowed focus could you research? List as many ideas as you can; don’t throw anything out since this is your first attempt. Use the space below and don’t stop writing until I tell you to.
Narrowing Your Topic
Once you have a list of potential topics, you will need to choose one as the focus of your proposal. Good topics are specific enough to write about without being too narrow to sustain an entire research project.
A good research paper provides focused, in-depth information and analysis. If your topic is too broad, you will find it difficult to do more than skim the surface when you research it and write about it. Narrowing your focusis essential to making your topic manageable. To narrow your focus, explore your topic in writing, conduct preliminary research, and discuss both the topic and the research with others.
Extended Essay Topic Samples
Mrs. Jones English Honors 10: MYP Research Proposal 19
BIOLOGY
· The Study of Americans' Health Habits and Their Links to Heart Disease in the United States
· How valid is Research done on the Effects on stress on Cognition?
CHEMISTRY
· Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder: Assessing Behavior to a Biological Diagnosis and Treatment
· The effect of laundry detergent, its enzymes, and its chemicals in the environment
CLASSIC GREEK AND LATIN
· A comparison of Ancient Greek and Ancient Egyptian beliefs, values and practices to represent universality among human beings
DANCE
· From Improvisation to the Stage: To What Extent Does Improvisation Play a Role in the Creative Process of Dance Choreography?
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
· The Effect of the Internet on the Exchange of Information within the Medical Community
ECONOMICS
· The Economics of Divorce in Modern America
· What is the economic impact of corn on inflation, as discussions on global warming and high fuel prices promote alternative fuels, primarily ethanol, in the United States of America?
ENGLISH
· "Slaughterhouse Five" and "The Things They Carried" as Anti-War Novels
· Symbolism in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath"
· Rhetoric in the Media: Modern Overuse of Pathos Film 2005 An Investigation of the Conformists' Motivations in David Fincher's Film, Fight Club
FILM
· What Was Kelly's Intention for the Movie Donnie Darko and How Did He Go About Achieving His Goal?
· Influence of Hong Kong Action Cinema to America's Hollywood
· Bohemia in Film: An Examination and Analysis of Bohemianism Represented in Chris Columbus' Rent and Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge!
· Tim Burton and Expressionism: How Tim Burton’s Films Relate and Contain Ideals of Color, Distortion, and Emotion Found Within Expressionism
· Luke Skywalker: An Archetypal Heroic Journey
HISTORY
· The Effect of Japanese Imperialism from 1870 through World War II on the Western Expansion in China
· The Contradictory Nature of the Use of Terror in the French Revolution
· Hitler's Abuse of Inherent Inhumanity to Man and The Common German's Concession to Hitler
· Roman Concrete: The Basics of Construction
· Tutankhamun's passive ruling style and how it leads to his early death
· Fear or Compassion: An analytical look into the persuasive styles of Adolf Hitler and Franklin D. Roosevelt
· Atomic Bombs in World War II (Were either of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan justified?)
HISTORY/ART
· The Effect of Stalin's Rule on Russian Art
HUMAN RIGHTS
· The Role of Citizenship in The Acquisition of Human Rights For Migrant Workers In the United States of America
· The Universal Struggle vs. United States Struggle for Women to Become a Racecar Driver in a Male Dominated World in the Late 1960's and early 1970's
HUMANITIES
· The Need for Better and Consistent Funding for Non-Profit Organizations
LITERATURE
· The Influence of Greek Tragedy on the American Novella "Legends of the Fall"
· The Influence of the Supporting Cast of "Cinderella" on the Story as a Whole
· Pride on the Road: A Literary Analysis on the Role of Rebellion in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Jack Kerouac's On the Road
· Use of Time and Death in the Novel Slaughterhouse-Five or the Children's Crusade and the Collection of Short Stories The Things They Carried as Tools Creating Revelation or a Catharsis
· Jane Austen’s Use of Outdoors for Characterization in Pride and Prejudice
· An Analysis of the Different Receptions of John Steinbeck’s novella, The Moon is Down During WWII
· Friendship, Dissatisfaction, and Travel: Similar Cyclical Processes of Characterization in Kerouac’s On the Road and Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
MUSIC
· A Musical Comparison: Tim Burton's "A Nightmare Before Christmas" To "Les Miserables"
· Elements of Composition Used to Create Debussy's Style
· On Wicked’s Success as a Musical: Applying Aristotle’s Poetics in an Analysis of Wicked
· A Comparison of Lyrics to Fundamental Elements of Poetry
PHILOSOPHY
· The Philosophy of Language: Why Language Requires Two States of Being
· Unhealthy Food Advertising and Obesity: An investigation grounded in liberty based political philosophy
· Trust as the Vehicle to Societal Acceptance of Artificial Intelligence
· The Flaws of Ethics in Medical Research: Human Ignorance or Flawed Ethics?
PHYSICS
· Antimatter Transportation: Should antimatter knowledge and technology be steered toward the eventual goal of using antimatter to fuel future rocket engines?
· A Brief History of Early Experimentation in Elementary Particle Physics and its Application in Transuranium Element Synthesis
POLITICS
· Preventing Discrimination in Health Insurance as a Result of Genetic Testing
· How the Political Environment Affects the Research Concerning HIV and AIDS
· Do Personal Religion and Theology Significantly Affect Presidential Leadership, or Are They Merely Symbols Manipulated by Presidents to Pacify the Religious Among the Electorate?: A Comparative Case Study of United States Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan
SCIENCE
· Alternative Automotive Energies: H2ydrogen and Beyond
· A study of improvement in nutritional habits and their effects concerning allergies and asthma in the United States Social and Cultural
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
· Crop Circles: The Unexplained Phenomenon
· An analyzation of Popular Culture and Religion: Do the American people Subconsciously view Superheroes as Biblical Figures?
· An Examination of the Possible Causes of the Salem Witch Trials and the Evidence that supports the Interpretations of Ergotism and Hysteria
· The Controversial Regulation of Artificial Sweeteners
· The Presidents’ Struggle in Ending Poverty in America Due to the Clash in Politics and Religion Social and Cultural
· Impact and Significance of Racial Diversity on Undergraduate Students’ Learning
· Disney’s Princesses as Reflections of Women’s Roles in Twentieth Century America
· A Pirate's Life For Me: A Study in Pirate Utopias Created in Opposition to Established Government
THEATRE
· Stages of Life: The Actor and the Essence of His Self in Theory of the Theatrical Method
· The Living Art of Theatre: A look on the connections between indigenous African theatre and Modern African Theatre
· Pushing the Boundaries of the Acceptable: Theatre throughout the Russian Revolutions of 1905 and 1917
· The Effect of a Matriarchal Society on Shakespearean Plays
VISUAL ARTS
· How did photography affect the American view of war during the Vietnam War?
· How does photojournalism impact the public perception of society?
WORLD RELIGION
· A Grain of Biblical Salt: How Understanding the Nature of Translation Affects Modern Bible Study
· The Influence of the Pre-Reformed Catholic Church on the Lifestyle of the People During the Reformation in Europe
· The Motif of the Number Three in the Bible and its Correlation to the Trinity in Christianity
· Success in the Peoples Temple Cult
Mrs. Jones English Honors 10: MYP Research Proposal 19
Exploring Your Topic in Writing
“How am I supposed to narrow my topic when I haven’t even begun researching yet?” In fact, you may already know more than you realize. Review your list and identify your top five topics. Explore each one through freewriting. Simply taking the time to focus on your topic may yield fresh angles.
Conducting Preliminary Research
Another way writers may focus a topic is to conductpreliminary research. Like freewriting, exploratory reading can help you identify interesting angles. Surfing the web and browsing through newspaper and magazine articles are good ways to start. Find out what people are saying about your topic on blogs and online discussion groups. Discussing your topic with others can also inspire you. Talk about your ideas with your classmates, your friends, or your instructor.
Tip
The reliability of online sources varies greatly. In this exploratory phase of your research, you do not need to evaluate sources as closely as you will later. However, use common sense as you refine your paper topic. If you read a fascinating blog comment that gives you a new idea for your paper, be sure to check out other, more reliable sources as well to make sure the idea is worth pursuing.
EXERCISE 2
Review the list of topics you created inExercise 1 and HIGHLIGHT THREE you would like to explore further. For each of these topics, spend a few minutes writing about the topic without stopping. Then review your writing to identify any possible areas of focus.
Use your own paper to do this. Highlight FIVE POTENTIAL RESEARCH TOPICS.
Conduct preliminary research about your potential topics—this is where you can use any resources to find out what people know about the topic and what you might be able to contribute. After you’ve done this, choose a single topic to pursue for your research paper. Get it Monte approved before moving on.
A Plan for Research
To work with your topic successfully, you will need to determine what exactly you want to learn about it—and later, what you want to say about it. Before you begin conducting in-depth research, you will further define your focus by developing a working thesis (proposal statement).