CHARACTERISTICS OF A “GOOD” RESEARCH PROPOSAL

9:05 and 10:10 classes: Your lists of "good" research proposal characteristics were so uncannily similar that I combined them into one assessment list. Here's my first go at it. Leave any suggestions or revisions in the comments section, including the order, the format, or the wording.

An understanding of the audience, including the audience’s prior knowledge of your topic, assumptions and beliefs about the world, and hopes for the future. This might include predicting and responding to the audience’s possible reactions to your proposal, which could happen in a limitations section or elsewhere. The writer should also be generous with the audience, accounting for their values and perspectives.

An understanding of the genre of the research proposal—including visual presentation of ideas—and good writerly decisions based on this understanding. These decisions might include tone or voice, font, and citation style.

A clear purpose for proposing this research to these people at this time. Should both identify a gap and present a question that the research will answer. The length should follow from this: the proposal should be detailed without being extraneous or redundant.

A detailed description of what you plan to do and how you plan to do it, possibly including data collection, data analysis, monetary needs and allocation, time distribution, and location of research.

A respectable and audience-appropriate ethos, or presence as a writer. As one student put it, you “need to be able to prove that you have actually done research on the group and that you do in fact know some stuff about them.”

An introduction of some sort that gives a brief history if needed, explains new or contested terminology, introduces relevant facts or previous research, clearly states the goals of the research proposal, and attends to the intended audience.

Acknowledgement and integration of previous writing and research (or a lack of research) on your topic or community. When appropriate, this includes well-integrated and properly formatted citations and a unified style of citation, appropriate to your subject and audience.

Support for claims, including citations, explanations, stories, descriptions, logical explanations, etc.

A logical and natural organization, using subject headings in a helpful but concise manner. Paragraphs not too short or excessively long. Transitions smooth and logical.

An ending that re-emphasizes the need for this research, explains what will be different once the research is completed (answers the “so what?” question), and encourages either agreement or action from the audience.

Clear, concise, professional writing with accurate and audience-appropriate uses of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.