During the study, students often have to deal with a research proposal. It is a paper that represents the necessity to study the subject or its fields and problems, and at the same time, a direction in which the research on the selected subject or fields should be conducted. So, professors like to give this task in order to see how their students persuade the audience to hit one target. For instance, when speaking of the doctor’s degree, their students need to write a proposal to get funding for some projects or researches. If you are in the Master’s degree, be ready to present this paper to get your dissertation approved. Other reasons for its writing are:
So, depending on the goals, you need to possess time in stock to provide the most persuasive statements for your future public.
Women and Gender Studies is a discipline that studies, researches or examines gender as a social or cultural object. The whole course of this field involves studying of history, psychology, anthropology, biology, and even cultural disciplines. Such an approach helps students to widen the boundaries of a common understanding of sexes, and raise essential challenges regarding discrimination. Moreover, those who study it, consider gender as a category of analysis and know how to explain the manifestations of social variables. Finally, it is the discipline that allows students to discover their intellectual and personal ambitions and skills.
Writing a research proposal on this subject, you have to only determine the direction. Women and Gender Studies encompass such concerns as a class, religion, nationality, sexuality toward gender. So, if you are a lady, think of choosing the topic that will somehow reflect your challenges or difficulties in real life. If you are a male student, choose the mainstream topics, for example, gender in politics or show business. However, note there should be no banal statements otherwise, your work will not be approved or you won’t get desired funding.
Selecting the topic, and further on its title may require a profound investigation into the latest trends and problems around the world. It is no surprise that some people just by glancing at the cover of the book may skip reading it. So, make sure your topic is catchy and provokes the desire to at least find out the content. For such purposes, you can refer to news or Internet, and see what is going on in the world, who leads, who rules the countries, who are the richest, and successful, and what are the skills and behavior inherent to businesswomen and those ladies who struggle from discrimination or even domestic violence. Here is a list of the most actual topics you may choose for your research proposal:
Try to avoid such topics that will speak only of the definitions of gender or the ones revealing well-researched truth about women empowerment. To be safe, you can at anytime ask for approval of your professor or refer to the syllabus of topics or basic recommendations.
The best way to start your writing is to ask yourself several questions that will lead to understanding the purpose of your topic.
A supervisor will need to see the enthusiasm of your research, so basically, you have to prove you can solve some issues and they will have a positive result.
Concerning the structure of your research proposal, it obligatorily consists of Title Page, Introduction, Literature Review, Research Plan, Bibliography or Reference List, Time Frame. There may be some fluctuations in the names of these sections but if there is no information from your educational establishment, stick to the above-mentioned ones.
It does not differ much from other types of papers. Make sure to attach the name of your research proposal, yours and your supervisor’s names, and college/university name along with a department or faculty.
This paper is usually of 2,500 words only. In case of having such a length or bigger, a student might need to attach a table of content or abstract to guide the examiner.
It is a common mistake to neglect the importance of the introduction. It is your first chance to drive the attention of the reader and explain to him what is the significance or purpose of your work. If possible, you can use a hook that will trigger the reader and will provoke some food for thought. In this stage, you the same can ask yourself some questions for determining the directions:
Note, it should be neither long nor short. And, you do not have to spill the beans about the ways of how you proceed with the methods.
In this chapter, a student has to prove that he is familiar with most of the studies that have been previously conducted on the same subject or topic. Moreover, a strong list of literature may convince a professor that your work will have a solid background in research. But, most importantly it is a true indicator that a person wrote everything on his own without plagiarising other’s works.
For the top results, you can demonstrate the main theories, methodology, tricks, debates or even arguments contributed to studying this topic. Stay critical, and also attach those methods that proved to have only strength in discovering.
One more tip for this part, there is no need to structure the literature review in alphabetical order. Divide it relying on the concept, the purpose, and significance. For instance, the first sources will be concentrated on the occurrence of gender discrimination, the next ones for demonstrating statistics and results of such inequality.
Besides, follow the next 4 rules:
If you managed to follow all of them, proceed with the next chapter.
This section is somehow the heart of your research proposal. It serves for demonstrating the methodological techniques that you applied for your work. However, do not forget that together with the theoretical background, there should be practical steps mentioned.
Keep in mind, students often do one mistake they simply list the methods. It is not a table of content. So, aim for making a precise and spread answer to all the mentioned sources, ways, and methods.
Cite all sources you have used using online generators. Some supervisors may ask you to mention all the texts you just consulted to prepare for writing a research proposal. So, make sure to know whether you need a bibliography or reference list.
Mention the exact date of data collection, surveys, submission of the work.
In some cases, students may also write a Budget chapter, especially if they require research funding. Thus, if you need to mention it, attach the final cost, justification of such a price, and a source – how you came up with such a price.
The last stage will be dedicated fully to proofreading. If you lack professional vocabulary, persuasive language, and of course the availability of correct grammatical tenses in your work, the chances to receive positive feedback will be minimal. For your convenience, check the essential tips before submitting your research proposal:
At last, think of this work as an experience. If you want to pursue your career in Women and Gender Studies, it is a good exercise before submitting valuable proposals that involve high budgets and profit. Otherwise, at any time possible it is highly appreciated to attach this paper to your CV, and you can further demonstrate how you cope with persuasive motives. Follow the above-mentioned advice and forget about missed deadlines and bad grades.
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