Proposal Writing Workshop

More information:  cronjej@cput.ac.za  Tel +27825585311

Join Prof Johannes Cronje and Dr Franci Cronje for an online proposal writing workshop guided by Zoom and WhatApp.

Programme

Finding your purpose

• Here is "Chapter 6"

• Here is the GROW worksheet

• Here is my GROW paper

Literature review

Resources for literature reviews

The purpose of the literature survey is not to impress us with how much you have read. Its purpose is to show why your research was unique and necessary. A good literature survey would describe the current state of the field, identify gaps or errors, add new perspectives and present the basis of your argument.

There are two main "metaphors" that you could use for your literature survey, the debate and the foil. 

    You could present the reader with one point of view, and contrast that with another point of view, and then point out that your research will either side with one of them, or produce a third position, which could be a synthesis of theirs, or could be an entirely new position all together.

    Alternatively you could use the literature as a foil, or a sword to "cut down" all the current positions already taken.  You would present an argument by a certain author, and then show why it is not the ultimate solution. Maybe the sample size is too small. Perhaps it is a quantitative study whereas you need the depth of a qualitative study or vice versa. Maybe it was done too long ago, or, maybe it was so good that it needs to be replicated.

• • Here is a Checklist for evaluating introductions and literature reviews from Indiana University. 

  • And HERE is the definitive PRISMA STATEMENT of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Resources

How to write an introduction

How to conceptualise your research in a four-sentence summary. Check out this suggestion by Amanda Wolf of a Four Sentence Research Proposal.  Such a proposal makes a good introductory setting.  Now write your own:

• 1. Narrative hook

  2. Puzzle or curiosity

  3. Researchable opportunity

  4. Purpose / significance

Now that you have the concept you need to structure your writing accordingly. Here is an example of the outline of an academic paper.

Here is Wikihow's structure of an introduction for a research paper.

If you are writing an article for publication, you want to avoid what Tanya Maria Golash-Boza's Get a life, PhD blog calls "Rookie mistakes".

Here is a "Guide to writing your research paper" by Ashley Leeds of Rice University.

Here are some workshop notes.

Chris Kapp's four parts of an introduction

The late Prof Chris Kapp developed this four part formula for an introduction. The first two parts correspond roughly with Amanda Wolf's "Narrative hook". The third, "Disruption" talks to the Wolf's "Puzzle or curiosity", while her "Researchable opportunity" and "Purpose / Significance" map onto the "Resolution".

Opening Moves

This is the hook to get your reader interested. You could use a general statement that would be a "catch all", you could use an anecdote or describe an event - people love a good story. You could use statistics, quotations or provocative facts.

Common ground

Here you present the context in a way that will resonate with the reader. Show why this research is relevant and significant. Describe the current status of the problem. Discuss previous studies and show their benefits, but specifically also their limitations and omissions. Explain where your research fits into the current body of literature.

Disruption

Now it is your turn. Explain what does not work. (On the other hand...). Show gaps, inconsistencies or misunderstandings in previous research. Finally show the cost of leaving the matter unresolved, or the benefit of the solution.

Resolution

Present YOUR response to the problem What is the purpose of your research and how will it differ from others. Indicate your research methods, clarify concepts and give an indication of what is to follow.

Here is Arkansas State University's example of an introductory paragraph.

Background

Here are some academic writing checklists from:

• The University of York

• Warwick University

Research methods

The purpose of the research methods section is to establish the credibility of your results and to enable replication.

The pattern is:  I did this, because I wanted to achieve the following, as is suggested by this author. 

Grammar and style

Most of your article will be in the past tense. The literature survey is in the present tense, but Don't be tense about tense.

Delete all your commas. Then go back and put them only where they belong.

Take a break and watch some comics for grammar nerds.

Here is a nice free online writing course..

Revision and Review

Here are the guidelines for reviewers used by Taylor and Francis.

Advice from Tanya Maria Golash-Boza's Get a life, PhD blog on How to Respond to a “Revise and Resubmit” from an Academic Journal: Ten Steps to a Successful Revision http://getalifephd.blogspot.co.za/2011/03/how-to-respond-to-revise-and-resubmit.html?m=1

Feedback form to use at the end of each day