Research Proposal

Due: Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Required Content & Guidelines:

In a 3-page proposal worth 10 pts (10% of course grade), you will want to include the six parts generally outlined below. Parts 1-3 can be seen an “introduction” to culture; 4-5 the “approach” aspect of a proposal; part 6 the conclusion of a proposal, used to explain relevance of project.

MLA format, 12 pt. Times New Roman, with a creative & informative title.

Use the outline below, but also do not write like a robot. Pay attention to your prose, and work on language that will bring your project to life in our imaginations!

Proposal Outline

I. Introduction of Culture (~3-5 paragraphs):

1) Define your subject culture. What are some “defining” characteristics of the culture that would allow your reader to visualize them? What do they look like? What are their major beliefs? What are normal general behaviors? What is their history? Is there a historical nugget important to getting to know culture?

These questions should inspire you to give a portrait-in-words to your audience. Another category that might be relevant to address, depending on your culture: place. How important is location – are they buried deep in the Amazon (kidding!)?

2) Provide your original, personal interest in doing this Cultural Inquiry, including: knowledge and current level of “insiderness.” Why this culture? How much are you already part of culture?

3) Provide your original line of inquiry that you are using to look at culture beyond surface. Provide two to three “starter” questions gives the audience reading your proposal a clear idea of what you want to explore about the culture beyond the surface; show that you have thoughts about culture you want to investigate and have identified those questions.

Also, provide a clear exploratory thesis/tagline à Ex: “My major aim in exploring ‘going emo’ is to meditate on the representational value of dress and persona within Columbia College’s Emo culture.”

II. Plan of Attack (~3-5 paragraphs):

4) Outline your plan of attack going forward, using specific detail. Detail is key. Depth of detail is key. Giving context to the steps in your plan is key.

What places will you visit, and why? Do you have specific people to already interview, or to use as “informants” in doing project? Do you plan to take pictures of, or record your cultureà How are you documenting your observations?

Offer specific, detailed steps, rather than just vague actions you will take. Show your thought process in your steps. Let your audience see that you are taking considerate steps, not thoughtless ones!

Here is an example of effective and ineffective outlining language:

Effective (good level of detail):

Since a large part of my original inquiry revolves around the question, “Do teens at the youth shelter come there to escape the dangers of the neighborhood or out of genuine interest in a specific activity offered at Urban Youth,” I will be looking for texts centered on the social sciences that include discussion of adolescent or teen mindsets and the idea of safety; the role of community centers in impoverished areas; studies done on peer pressure; texts written about artistic ambition in teenagers, especially in urban areas.

In general, search terms like “urban teens”, “community centers” and “art” seem important to finding relevant articles.

Ineffective (generic, obvious, empty detail):

I will go to the library and look up books on psychology and sociology. I hope to find articles on youth culture and community centers. I want to leave no stone unturned. (Look at that icky cliché! What empty words!)

5) Spend one to two developed paragraphs discussing your background research.

What author(s), theories, and specific texts have you already read whose material you are using to shape the way you look at culture? What linguistic, psychological, sociological, historical, biological theories or hypotheses are you going to use in research? Have you read up on another culture that you want to compare to this culture – what texts? Beyond just listing the texts read, provide key ideas taken from them and clarify how you are applying them to your project now. This is an extension of your “plan of attack,” where you discuss steps already taken.

III. Conclusion (~1-2 well-developed paragraphs) à Why the World Will Care…

6) Relevance to world*. Why will an audience be interested in your study? What are you going to add to the academic/intellectual community by doing this project? Reflect upon the research that’s already been done on subject, or the lack of reading material on the group!!!

Put the culture into context of the contemporary world we live in…. What is going on, or do you see happening out in the world that makes your writing on this culture something people will want to read??? As writers, you have to defend what you want to write . . .

*Don’t be afraid to reference popular culture. What’s hot? Vampires, celebutantes, reality tv, economic crisis, two wars, gossip, Gosselins, going “green,” . . .?