Reference no: EM132273915

Instructions

As you know, one of the requirements in a graduate program is to write a thesis. At this stage of your graduate experience, the thesis might seem like a tiny speck in the sky. But one day it will loom large. If you choose the thesis option, then one of the first steps you take would be crafting a Thesis Research Prospectus.

A Prospectus should include a Summary and Statement of the Research Problem, Argument, or Inquiry.

A prospectus (sometimes referred to as an Abstract in other programs) should contain a concise description of:

a) The question or topic to be examined in the research;

b) The topic's relevance, including its relevance/importance to the field of study in your graduate degree program, related disciplinary field, and any other logical audiences;

c) The topic's new, original or innovative approach/ inquiry to be used in the research.

If any of this sounds vaguely familiar, then it should. It consists of the same Topic + Question + Significance (or T + Q + S) three-step rubric described in book "The Craft Of Research" by Wayne C. Booth, 3rd Ed

For the purposes of this assignment:

1) Choose one of those rubrics that you have begun researching in the library and exploring in online databases for scholarly literature, journal articles, and other information.

2) Write (using complete sentences) a statement (no longer than 500 words for statement) of the problem, the procedure or method, and the results and conclusions. (The latter part might be tentative pending further research.)

Be sure to integrate into your statement index or key words or names of individuals or works related to your topic, which allows for quick retrieval by other researchers and can be used to find your thesis when searching a library's database.

The writing style of your statement should be clear and concise, and be sure to check your spelling and grammar, but do not fret too much at this point about paragraphing, sentence structure, or punctuation.

For assistance in writing your Prospectus, feel free to consult the resources (especially the links) located in the module "The Importance of Writing" under Content.