1. Research Design Proposal Template 1
Research Design Proposal
9th Literature/Composition
Maxwell and The Unquiet Library
Period 2
February 6, 2012
Introduction
A “research design” jump-starts your paper and gets you thinking about your topic in a concentrated
way. Your pre-search work of the last few days should inform the content that will go into this proposal.
The research design must be typed and may be single-spaced or double-spaced using the
electronic template we will provide you.
The proposal must be typed in Google Docs so that you can share it electronically with Ms.
Hamilton and Ms. Maxwell as well as your research partner. Both learning partners should
contribute to the document.
Structure of the Proposal
Research Paper Topic
Describe your research topic in 2-3 sentences.
What We Know about the Topic at This Point and Why We’re Interested in This Topic
Complete a paragraph of 6-10 sentences explaining what you’ve learned at this point through your pre-
search about your topic and why you as a team are interested in this topic.
What We Want To Learn
In a paragraph of 5-8 sentences, briefly describe what you hope to learn through your research.
Our Initial List of Questions We Have About Our Topic
You should identify at least 6-10 questions you have generated as a result of your pre-search; you
should use questions you’ve identified on your pre-search graphic organizer; you may also add
additional questions that you want to explore that have come from your reading but may not have
made it onto the graphic organizer.
Our Three Primary Research Questions
You may number or bullet your three major research questions.
Our Research Plan
Identify which resources (print materials and databases) seem the most promising right now. You
should also make notes about how you and your partner will share the research and writing
responsibilities; if you foresee any challenges to the project, you may also identify those.
Preliminary Bibliography
We will copy and paste this list from your EasyBib shared project.
Example research proposal from Tom Romano http://www.users.muohio.edu/romanots/Tom_Romano.html