From Inquiry to Academic Writing A Practical Guide, 3rd edition

324 CHAPTER 11 | OTHER METHOdS Of InquIRy: InTERvIEwS And fOCuS GROuPS

an annoTaTeD sTUDenT ProPosal

Our student Laura Hartigan submitted a formal proposal for a study of

different types of writing. Hartigan’s proposal was exceptionally well pre-

pared, thorough, and thoughtful, and she included a number of additional

materials: a script of questions for focus groups with students; sample

questions for the teacher and students she planned to interview; and con-

sent forms. We reprint only the main part of her proposal — the part that

includes a brief overview of the conversation about different modes of

writing, her aims for conducting her study, methods, and implications

sections — for you to consider as a model for proposal writing. A more

complete example would include a separate review of relevant research.

Notice how Hartigan summarizes her issue, explains how it motivated the

study she proposes, formulates a set of guiding research questions, and

helps readers understand why her research is important, particularly in

the implications she draws.

Steps to Writing a Proposal

■^1 Describe your purpose in the introduction. Summarize your

issue, describing how it has led you to the question motivating

your research.

■^2 Review relevant research. Show that you are aware of the

most important studies conducted in your area of research,

identify points of agreement and disagreement, and define

key terms.

■^3 Define your method. What tools and strategies are you plan-

ning to use? Why are they appropriate and sufficient for your

purposes?

■^4 Discuss your implications. What is the context of the conversa-

tion you are entering? What significant information do you expect

your study to uncover?

■^5 Include additional materials that support your research. These

may include an annotated bibliography, a series of interview

questions, and blank consent forms.

To view Laura Hartigan’s completed paper, with guidelines for a presentation

poster, visit macmillanhighered.com/frominquiry3e.

11_GRE_5344_Ch11_313_342.indd 324 11/19/14 11:02 AM