Research Proposal Assignment

Your research proposal contains two parts: an annotated bibliography and a formal proposal.

Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography is thorough note-taking. For each source you consult, you should have the MLA citation and write a two-paragraph annotation. The first paragraph should take the form that we discussed in the last class. As a reminder it should include the following: a brief summary and a brief rhetorical analysis of the source.

This first paragraph can also take the form of a précis, modeled here. Follow those directions carefully if you do use this. It is the same information, just a more precise way of writing.

The second paragraph should be a short reflection on the usefulness of this source: What did it make you think about? What did you learn? What surprised or troubled you? Can you use this source? How? As you write your annotations, you may begin drawing connections between sources in this reflection portion, forming a sort of conversation between your sources.

Your annotated bibliography should contain annotations for 3-5 sources when you turn it in the first time. As you continue researching, you should continue writing annotations—they will help you think about your sources and your project, and they are much easier to do as you go rather than all at the end (trust me on this; I’ve made that mistake many times).

Research Proposal
Finally, you will write a formal proposal. The proposal should be one single-spaced page (500 words) and should accomplish the following:

 · Identify a research question: What do you wish to explore? Why is this question important and necessary?

 · Identify the contexts in which the question is situated: To what general conversation are you adding your voice? What have others said about your topic/question?

 · Explain how the question develops a better understanding of a particular text or issue: What new insights does your focus make possible? What kind of contribution will you make?

 · Identify the trajectory of your paper: How will you organize your paper? What path will it follow? What exactly is your focus?

 · In general: Where is your project headed? How is the research process working for your question? What major types of sources are you using?

Consider following up this assignment with
Argumentative Paper