A research proposal outlines the key aspects of a research project, including the research question, literature review, methodology, and significance. It should follow a standard format, typically including an abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, limitations, and references. The introduction defines the research problem and question, while the literature review analyzes previous work. The methodology explains how the research will be conducted and analyzed. The proposal convinces readers that the research is important and merits funding or approval. Common mistakes include lacking focus, organization, or methodological details.