2. • Prior to the submission of project proposal, proponents are
requested to submit a summary of what the project is all about,
the reason for conducting the project and how it will be carried
out. This summary document is called Concept Paper. A concept
paper provides an overview of the project and helps funding
agencies eliminate proposals that are likely to be disapproved.
Hence, it helps save time and effort for both the proponents and
the funding agencies.
What is a concept paper?
3. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CONCEPT PAPER
AND A RESEARCH
Concept paper is the plan you make to create a
research paper. It is written in future tense. While
research paper is the study you make. It is usually written
in past tense if your done making the actual research.
4. • The point of a concept paper is to provide a clear
summary of the research project. It should enable a casual
reader to understand what the researcher is investigating,
why it is important, and how the investigation will
proceed.
5. EXAMPLE:
As a student you may be asked to prepare your concept paper for your
thesis proposal. This means that you will have to develop an idea and express
it for others to understand. You may glean from either your experience or
from the literature that you have read. Of course, your topic should be within
your respective area of specialization.
If you are a student of computer science, you might want to study the
behavior of wi-fi signals bounced to different kinds of material. Alternatively,
maybe you wish to create a simple gadget to concentrate signals for a
portable USB wi-fi connection to improve its performance. Or maybe you
would like to find out the optimum cache size for greatest browsing
experience on the internet. The list could go on.
6. A CONCEPT PAPER HAS A SEVERAL USES:
• 1. It serves as the foundation of the full proposal.
• 2. It helps determine whether a certain project is feasible or not.
• 3. It is used to pique the interest of the potential funding agencies.
• 4. it is used to obtain informal feedback on the ideas prior to preparing
the full proposal.
7. Since a concept paper is a preliminary document for a
proposal, it shows a preview of the improvements that a
proponent would like to have implemented. Concept Paper can
be helpful in addressing social issues especially when they aim
to show solutions to tangible issues which plague society
8. THREE WAYS IN EXPLAINING A CONCEPT
1. Definition
- is a method of identifying a given term and making its
meaning clearer. Its main purpose is to clarify and explain
concepts, ideas and issues by answering the question,
“What does it mean?”
This mode of explanation contains the term to be defined
and the detail exposition of the term through the use illustration,
examples and description.
9. A definition can be presented in three ways:
a. An Informal definition is done, through a parenthetical or a brief
explanation.
Example: Tocopherol (Vitamin E) is naturally found in vegetable oil, fish
and nuts.
b. A Formal definition explains a term by incorporating the term to be
defined (species), the general category of the term (genus) and the quality that
makes the terms different from other terms in the same category (differentia).
Example: Vitamin E is a light yellow-soluble vitamin that acts as
antioxidant.
10. c. An Extended definition is a detailed way of defining a term and is usually
composed of at least one paragraph. This type of definition incorporates various
patterns of development. (e.g., formal and informal definition, comparison and
contrast, narration, description, classification, function analysis, process, analogy,
and cause and effect)
Example: Subsequent to materials design is the preparation of learning
materials. Learning materials refer to both printed and non-printed object or
items that teachers and learners use to facilitate language learning.
Nowadays, material are becoming more and more sophisticated,
incorporating authentic language samples they also incorporate and realise
that makes help a connection technology (ICT), role-plays, information-gap
activities, songs, taped transcripts, integrated macro-skills, and explicit rubrics.
11. To better present ideas, you should identify the important elements contained in
a definition. This include the term being defined, the detailed explanation and the
specific examples.
The following signal words will help you in writing this kind of text.
Signal Word of Definition
as defined
for example
for instance
is defined as
means
such as
to define
to define
12. 2. Explication
- is a method of explanation in which sentence verses, quotes,
quotes, or passages are taken from literary or academic work and
then interpreted and explained in a detailed way. When using this
technique, you need to clearly present your thesis in the
introduction and followed it up in a detailed analysis of a passage
or text. You may begin the body of explication by analysing and
explaining how the text was constructed. Your explication should
end with concise conclusion by restarting your thesis and major
arguments.
13. “The Road Not Taken”
The poem titled “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is about man reflecting on a choice he
once made. While the outcome of this choice is not implied to be positive or negative the
speaker notes that the choice in itself and the consequences of that choice have made a huge
difference.
The poem is all about the importance of choices. The poem begins with the speaker regretting
that he could not have at some point in his life taken two roads instead of being confined to
one. He looked as far as he could see what was ahead on one of the roads he could have
taken, but he was limited to seeing only as far as where it turned and disappeared in the
bushes. In the second stanza he was less travelled, though not much more than the other
road. The third stanza says both roads were covered in leaves that have been walked on
frequently, to the extent that the leaves covering them had not been made black from
tramping feet. He also says he continued on the road he chose. And because he knew that
one thing leads to another way (“way leads to way”) he doubted he would ever return to this
part of the road. Finally, he says he will tell the story when he is much older (Somewhere ages
and ages hence”) that he had the choice of taking the one road over another, and having
taken the one he did made a big difference of his life
And excerpt from
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14. 3. Clarification
- is a method of explanation in which the points are
organized from a general abstract idea to specific and concrete
examples. It entails the analysis of the concept by looking at the
examples and specifying some of its characteristics to arrive at one
working definition which can be used throughout the paper.
SIGNAL WORDS FOR CLARIFICATION
-after all
-as an example
-consider the
following
-for example
-for instance
-in other words
on particular
-in short
-namely
-put another way
specifically
-stated differently
-that is
-to be specific
-to clarify
-to illustrate
15. Sample of Clarification Text
Justice is a board which encompasses a wide set of ideas, most of which also branch
into a smaller nations. For instance, it can refer to the sentencing of a criminal based on a
due process. When an individual get what he deserves, even outside the hands of the law,
it is considered justice in some contexts. This may come in the form of vigilante justice, in
which a person dissatisfied with the system doles out punishment to wrong doers. Poetic
justice is also another related concept which is used in literature to show how the good is
always rewarded while the bad forces always meet a grim end. In the context of this paper,
justice will be clearly delineated into any instance in which the law is successfully and fairly
applied to an individual, resulting in either arrest or release. To illustrate that a thief is
caught and tried in court through due process, and it is found to be guilty and then
sentenced accordingly, it can be said that justice was served. However, if the same thief is
caught in the act by the band of villagers and was beaten right then and there, it will be
considered justice in the context of the paper, as the process has not undergone due
process.
16. Parts of a Concept Paper
A concept paper usually ranges from 500 to 2000 words and is usually divided
into several parts. The following sections discussed in this lesson are merely
suggestions for the content of the paper, ultimately, the project proponent needs
to follow the format and design required by the funding agency.
The parts of the concept paper may also vary depending on the nature of the
project/activity.
There are two outlines of a concept paper based on the context:
Concept Paper for a Project
Concept Paper for Academic Research
18. 1. Cover Page
• States the name of the proponents and their affiliations.
• State the addresses, contact numbers, and email addresses of the
proponents
• State the head of the agency and his/her contact information.
• State the date of submission
19. 2. Introduction
• States the information about the funding agency to show that you
understand its mission.
• State the mission of the agency that the proponent represent and align
to the funding agency’s mission. Also, state the year for the proponent’s
agency was established, its major compliments, and other details that
demonstrate its capability to undertake the proposed project.
• Present and describe other partner agencies and why they are qualified
as such.
• Provide reasons why the funding agency should support the project.
20. 3. Rational or Background
• States the gap in knowledge objectives of the project.
• State the problems to be solved.
• State the project’s significance.
21. 4. Project Description
• States the goals and objectives of the project.
• Present the methodology (Sometimes termed as Action Plan, Project
Activities, or Approach).
• State how success of outcomes will be evaluated.
22. 5. Project Needs and Cost
• States the name of the proponents and their affiliations.
• Outline the main budget; include the item description and amount.
• Explain or justify how the budget will be used.
• List the personnel or equipment needed for the project.
24. a. Title Page
-provides a tentative title for the dissertation. The title of
the Concept Paper should be a stand-alone statement
that can fully describe the project by summarizing the
main idea of the manuscript. The title should concisely
identify the variables being investigated and the
relationship among those variables (American
Psychological Association [APA], 2010). Words should
serve a useful purpose; avoid words that do not add
substance or words that are misleading. The title of the
Concept Paper may become the title of the dissertation.
25.
26. b. Statement of the Problem
-provides the purpose for the research. This section of the
Concept Paper introduces the problem under investigation,
addresses why the researcher wants to investigate this
problem, and how the research findings may help.
Supporting documentation, including statistical data if
available, should be used to emphasize the need for this
research. This section is one of the most important sections
of the Concept Paper; its serves to gain the reader’s
attention and support.
-As you begin to write the problem statement of your
Concept Paper, consider your research. First consider why
you feel the problem is important.
27. c. Preliminary Literature Review
-provides identification of major literature that supports and
validates the topic; focuses on areas that offer support for new
research, and offers the student an opportunity to analyze and
synthesize past research in the context of their present problem. For
the Concept Paper, the student should connect their research project
to a theoretical model reported in the literature. The most successful
research projects have been based on the research of predecessors,
and this section of the Concept Paper provides enough of a
description of previous research to plant seeds in the mind of the
reader suggesting more information is needed. A strong Concept
Paper is based on a wide-range literature review that is condensed into
a summary of key points.
28. d. Goal Statement
-provides a broad or abstract intention, including the
research goals and objectives. This part of the Concept Paper
tells the reader “who, what and when” regarding the research
goal.
29. e. Research Questions
-provides a preliminary view of the questions the student will
investigate. Questions are based on theory, past research, experience,
and need. These questions will direct the research methodology; their
inclusion in the Concept Paper links the research problem with the
methodology. For some, composing the research questions may be the
most difficult part of the research project, or possibly the most difficult
aspect of writing the Concept Paper. The questions will direct
everything that will be done; therefore, it is important that they are
accurate and focused to the main research problem. These research
questions will specifically direct the research and the type of analyses
conducted, as such their compatibility is essential.
30. f. An Abriged Methodology
-provides the student’s best idea on how to conduct the
research and analyze the data. The goals and objects identified
in previous sections of the Concept Paper should relate to the
research methods described in this section. For the Concept
Paper, the methodology is simplified or summarized, serving as
a general outline of the methods that will be employed.
31. g. Timeline
-provides a range of time for completion of the project,
highlighting key elements for each stage of the project. This
element is unique to the Concept Paper and provides the
student structure for managing sections of the project within a
realistic time frame.
• h. References
-provides references to the material cited in the literature
review and elsewhere in the Concept Paper.
32. All research projects need a concept paper: a short summary
that tells the reader what the project is, why it is important, and
how it will be carried out. Even if no one else ever reads it, the
concept paper helps a researcher spot holes in her or his project
that might later prove fatal. It is far better to be clear at the
beginning than to put in a lot of effort for nothing!
34. 1. Implicit concept
is related to what psychologist call prototypes, its purpose is to
store casual information, which traditional prototype theories
leave out, and because a lot of traditional prototypes theories are
formulated in ways that recommend they contain explicit
information. And implicit explains one range of phenomena.
35. 2. explicit concept
may encode statistical and causal information, but more significantly,
they may encode syntactic information, definitional information, and no
matter what is needed for the language faculty to process them.
Explicit concepts are essential for explicit cognition – thedistinctively
human ability to use language, represent unobservable, nonexistent,
abstract, and ad hoc aspects of the world, and conduct linguistic
inferences. Explicit concept explains a separate range of phenomena.
