Your proposal for your final paper must contain the follwing items, in this order, and with these headings. Please be succinct and specific.
Thesis Statement:
This is a one- or two-sentence condensation of the argument that is to be discussed, analyzed and developed in your paper. It should test your ideas by distilling them into a sentence or two in order to better organize your argument. It should state your topic and provide your reader with an introduction to your argument.
Your thesis statement should express ONE topic for discussion and be specific in nature. Choose a topic which invites discussion and exploration and takes a particular "stand" on the subject matter. Don't be wishey-washey; vague thesis statements are almost always the result of insufficient preliminary research and study.
A thesis statement contains two essential items: A topic, and an assertion about that topic which will be discussed, supported, and “proved” through research.
Specific objectives and significance of the project:
This part of the proposal deals with why this is an interesting or valid paper to research and write. To be blunt, it should answer the question, "why should I read this?" asked by a potential reader. Why is this an interesting or important topic for discussion? What new insights will be explored? Why are you interested in writing the paper? This can be two or three paragraphs in length and should “defend” your proposed paper. This section is important; much useful information can be gleaned from its careful writing.
Annotated bibliography:
Preliminary research is essential to the development of a topic and a thesis. While your general exploration of an author's work may raise questions you would like to explore, it is through preliminary research that you begin to refine your ideas . . . or even find a more specific topic.
A preliminary annotated bibliography is part of this step. You may change your sources as you develop your paper, but you need to start with a strong set of sources to work from.
The annotated bibliography itself will consist of contains two parts: the citation of the source in correct MLA format, followed by two paragraphs. The first paragraph should provide a general description of your source. After providing this general background on your source, you should then provide a critical analysis of this source and discuss specifically how it is relevant to your research question. In other words, discuss how you plan to use this source. Does it offer specific claims that will be part of your argument? Does it offer an argument that you plan to position yourself against?
While working on the annotated bibliography, please keep in mind the following:
The proposal must include a minimum of five preliminary research sources in addition to the plays you have read.
Do not annotate everything you come across related to the topic. Rather skim the source for relevance and evaluate it for credibility before including it in your annotated bibliography.
You are responsible for evaluating the sources for appropriateness and credibility. If you plan to use a web page that is not part of the library database, please remember that you will need to explain to me how and/or why this source is legitimate.*
Calendar of progress:
This calendar takes the form of a list of the deadlines for the project. This will include the dates as assigned for the proposal, and final submission, but should also include dates that you have set for yourself for the intermediary goals. It should look something like this:
Date of proposal w/ preliminary annotated bibliography
Completion of primary research
Date of first draft
Date of revised second draft
Date of finished bibliography
Due date of the paper
* The description of the annotated bibliography is taken, in large part, from an assignment sheet by Prof. Bryan Trabold, Suffolk University.
Final Paper Proposal