Winter Break Homework: Pre Proposal Guidelines
You have one assignment for Winter Break: to write the first draft of your Pre Proposal for Senior Thesis!
One: Choose Your Thesis Topic
It is time to make the decision and commit your thesis topic to paper. Before making your final choice, consider the following:
· Are you sure that you would like working on this topic for a year?
· Have you done some preliminary research? How did it go?
· Have you discussed the thesis with your family and friends?
· Are you confident that you will benefit from learning about the field you have chosen?
· Does your choice take advantage of your academic strengths?
Write answers to the following questions:
I plan to study______
because I want to find out ______
______
in order to help my reader understand better ______
Pre Proposal Guidelines
Answer the following questions about your thesis. The write-up must be typed and in Times New Roman 12 pt font. You will follow APA format rules for the entire document.
Use the following section headings:
Statement of Need (includes introduction and review of relevant scholarship)
Explain the problem or area of study to be investigated in your thesis. Describe the focus of the project, including a clear statement of the problem/main issues/questions to be investigated or the areas you’ll be exploring. This section should include a review of prior research/scholarship in this area, citing relevant sources that are included in the bibliography.
Main Goal of the Project
List your governing question and answer the following questions: What is the purpose of the study? Do you have specific hypotheses or predictions, based on prior work in this area? Describe why this is a worthwhile topic. What is the significance of the issue – to your discipline and/or the world? Please address the degree to which it is original/unique and how it could potentially be adding to your field. Include the following:
· Primary field of study
· Secondary field(s)
· Subtopics/Sub questions needed to answer this topic
Methods
Include a description of the main methods/procedures/tasks you’ll be using or performing. How will you be proceeding? How will your data/sources/materials/ideas be collected, produced, analyzed, and/or interpreted?
Final Product
Include a general description of what your final product will look like. Include expected format, length, sections or chapters, etc. (For example, is it a research paper of approximately 60 pages with 3 chapters plus a bibliography; a scientific report with a literature review, tables reporting data, and section analyzing the data; a script of a play with a videotaped performance and 25 page explanation and analysis; a computer program plus description of the problem, methods, and solution; a portfolio of a certain number of paintings plus artist statement, etc.)
Problems:
Describe the problems you expect to encounter and how you hope to solve them. For example, texts might be unavailable, necessitating travel to other libraries or use of inter-library loan facilities; people you had hoped to interview might be unavailable or unwilling to participate, necessitating that you select other interviewees or change the focus; internet sites might be down or no longer available, etc. (Try to imagine every possible problem so that you have contingency plans and the project doesn't become derailed.)
References (used to answer the above – at least 5)
Potential Sources Bibliography (at least 5)
Winter Break Homework
Title of Project:
Give your project a working title, which may or may not become the title of your paper. / Advanced
Proficient
Just Okay
Needs Work
Statement of Need
Comments: / Advanced
Proficient
Just Okay
Needs Work
Main Goal of the Project
Comments: / Advanced
Proficient
Just Okay
Needs Work
Subtopics/Sub questions
Comments: / Advanced
Proficient
Just Okay
Needs Work
Possible Methods, Limitations & Concerns
Comments: / Advanced
Proficient
Just Okay
Needs Work
References & Potential Sources
Comments: / Advanced
Proficient
Just Okay
Needs Work
Grammar, Style
Comments: / Advanced
Proficient
Just Okay
Needs Work
Final Grade
Grading Scale
Points / 100-93 / 92-85 / 84-77 / 76-69 / 68-0
Criteria / Excellent performance; demonstrates complete fulfillment of the assignment with some minor errors. / Good performance; demonstrates fulfillment of the objective of the course, but with a number of errors. / Average performance; that demonstrates a smaller degree of fulfillment of the assignment with many significant errors. / Passable performance; demonstrates the lowest acceptable degree of fulfillment of assignment. / Inadequate performance; does not demonstrate an acceptable degree of fulfillment of the objectives of the assignment.