Research Proposals ENGL 1302 What is a research

Research Proposals ENGL 1302

What is a research proposal? A document that provides a description of the intended research Serves as both an outline and a summary Provides context and exigence Context: The “situation”—factors which play in to the argument Example: English student, in 2016, in Texas, at TTU vs. Math student, in 1948, in Canada Exigency: The need or importance for making your claim Example: Students need free parking because they are running late and missing exams

Getting Started with Writing a Proposal Remember the Burkean Parlor! Think of a potential thesis statement or central topic/claim for your work Remember to ask yourself “so what? ” The point of the proposal, at this stage, is just to demonstrate that your topic is worth investigating (exigency) and that you know enough to get started with research (context)

Tips for Writing a Research Proposal Use the Critical Inquiry exercise we did today in class: What do I already know about this topic? How do I know this? What do I want to know about this topic? How might I find this out? What are some of the main debates or issues with this topic? Swales’ Four Moves™

Swales’ Four Moves™ Move One: Announce the topic and show its importance Example (simplified): Star Wars is a cultural phenomenon: it’s earned an estimated 4. 63 billion dollars in the box office, all six films have been nominated for or won Academy Awards, and the franchise has launched several, successful spin-off media products—including an upcoming theme park.

Swales’ Four Moves™ Move Two: Review and summarize previous research pertinent to the topic. Example (simplified…and sort of made up): Countless film critics have determined that Star Wars is an epic space opera, and have compared it favorably to Joseph Campbell’s mythos of The Hero’s Journey.

Swales’ Four Moves™ Move Three: Make a gap in the previous research, showing that it is incomplete in some way. Example (simplified/made up): However, there has been no discussion about whether or not Star Wars fits another genre of film: the Western.

Swales’ Four Moves™ Move Four: Introduce the author's present research as filling that gap. Example: Therefore, this paper will redefine Star Wars as a Western film through a critical comparison of John Wayne movies and an analysis of film theory.

Simplified? “They say, I say” Star Wars is a cultural phenomenon: it’s earned an estimated 4. 63 billion dollars in the box office, all six films have been nominated for or won Academy Awards, and the franchise has launched several, successful spinoff media products—including an upcoming theme park. Countless film critics have determined that Star Wars is an epic space opera, and have compared it favorably to Joseph Campbell’s mythos of The Hero’s Journey. However, there has been no discussion about whether or not Star Wars fits another genre of film: the Western. Therefore, this paper will redefine Star Wars as a Western film through a critical comparison of John Wayne movies and an analysis of film theory.

Assignment: Write a Research Proposal For your final topic, write a research proposal that is at least 150 words, but no more than 250 words Remember to establish context and exigency Follow Swales’ Four Moves It’s alright if you’re not sure how you’re going to “prove” your point—right now the attention should be on demonstrating that your topic is worth researching You will have to do some outside reading on your topic! Bring your proposal to our next class (2/8) as a hard-copy (printed)