Thesis Proposal

Thesis Statement

Following an optional introduction, the basic function of this section is to articulate a phenomenon that you propose to investigate (whether a social event, process, a literary work, an intellectual idea, or something else), and the question(s), issue(s), or problem(s) related to that phenomenon that you plan to address in the thesis. The core of the statement may take the form of a hypothesis that you will test, of a proposition or argument that you intend to support, or of a general problem or question that you will explore. The section puts that basic problem statement in a larger context by explaining its historical origins (where did it come from?) and its intellectual, social, and/or artistic context (what conversation, debate, or line of inquiry does it participate in?). It also describes the sub-questions or themes that constitute the general problem. You will cite appropriate scholarly, professional, and other sources for the ideas, questions, and background information contained in the section.

Research Methods

In this section, you will identify (a) the kinds of information that you need in order to answer the question(s) raised in the Thesis Statement, (b) the methods that you will use to gather that information, and (c) the strategies by which you will organize and analyze the information in such a way as to reach and support a conclusion, to construct a sound argument. If your central problem has several facets, you may need an array of different methods for collecting and analyzing information. Be as precise as you can in each stage of the methods statement: Do you need information about the stylistic techniques in a novel, about changes in the poverty rates in Kenya since independence, about the ways children think about nature? Will you pull out the metaphors in a text, find government reports on household income, interview kids about their experiences in the woods? Will you deploy statistical forms of content analysis, correlate poverty rates with political changes, interpret themes in children’s stories? You should reflect on the broad methodological approach that you propose to use, and cite approach sources from which you derive your methods and tools. Your central goal is to demonstrate that you know how to go about answering the question(s) you have raised.

Please note that if you intend to conduct research on living people, you will need to get the approval of the University Committee on Activities Involving Human Subjects (UCAIHS). Before you apply for that approval, you will need to take a tutorial and pass a test on the various regulations. Refer to the UCAIHS website for more information.

Justification and Limitations

This section of the proposal should explain the rationale for the thesis and the importance of the topic. Indicate the reasons why this study is important to conduct and whom it will benefit. Identify the limits beyond which the inquiry will not go. For instance, if you are writing on a historical subject, explain the relevance of the time period you will be exploring. Finally, describe the contribution your work will make to the field.

Conclusion

This section should summarize the nature and intention of your work. Conclude your discussion and mention any pertinent information which may not have been included above.

The artistic thesis proposal follows the same format as the research thesis proposal in every way except for the following modifications:

Thesis Statement

The artistic thesis consists of an artistic work and essays, and it is important to conceive of them as a coherent whole. You should therefore begin this section with a brief introduction which forms the framework for your entire thesis and which shows how the creative project and essays work together. Include the following information under the heading "Thesis Statement:"

• Background Research Essay
  This portion of the proposal should be modeled on the "Thesis Statement" of the research proposal described above. The background research essay of the thesis (see section on "Artistic Thesis" for details) is a scholarly approach to a problem or issue related to some aspect of your artistic work. This section of the proposal should explain that problem and provide the reader with relevant historical or critical information to place the subject in context.
• Description of the Artistic Work
  Describe, as clearly as possible, the kind of artistic work you will present. Will it be a collection of short stories, a novel, an evening of dance, an exhibition of paintings, a film, etc.? Be careful to show how the presentation relates to the framework you have already lain out and to your background essay. If, for example, it is a performance, include whether it will be viewed publicly or privately.
• Artistic Aims Essay
  Briefly describe the artistic goals that will guide you in developing your creative work. You may want to refer to particular artistic influences or genres that will inform your work, or describe the aesthetic from which your creative work derives.

Research Methods

This section should identify and justify the methods by which you will gather and analyze information relevant to the thesis subject that has been articulated in the thesis statement. You should reflect on the broad analytical approach you will use and on the school(s) of thought that will inform your investigation of the problem. Moreover, the methods section will comment on the kinds of information you will need to address the central questions. What sorts of things will you need to find out? On the more technical level, this section specifies the precise steps you will use to collect and interpret that information (or “data”). What kinds of printed sources will be reviewed, and how will information from them be used? Who will be interviewed, and what kinds of questions will they be asked? What social contexts will be observed, and how will data be organized? If you plan to conduct experiments, describe them clearly. The proposal should refer to works on methodology pertinent to your field of study, or to examples of previous research employing the methods you propose to use. In general, the methods section should demonstrate that you know how to go about answering the question(s) you have posed.

Justification and Limitations

This section should explain the importance of your work in the context of your particular artistic discipline. While you are not required to “justify” your artistic work, you are being asked to discuss the contributions you think your overall thesis/artistic work will make to your field. Here you may also refer to some of the artistic reasons that led to your decision to embark on this particular project.

Conclusion

This section should summarize the nature and intention of your work. Conclude your discussion and mention any pertinent information which may not have been included above.

The project thesis includes two major components: (a) an activity (program, intervention, campaign, etc.) designed to address (solve, remediate, improve) a problem, issue, or opportunity in your domain as a professional or activist; and (b) a written document that describes, rationalizes, analyzes, and assesses the activity. It is not strictly a research study, but rather an exercise in reflective practice. Therefore, the proposal takes a form different from that of the research or artistic thesis. Please note, as well, that a project thesis must be not only designed but implemented and evaluated.

Problem Statement

This section of the proposal identifies, describes, and analyzes the problem (issue, need, opportunity) that you will address in the project. Clearly articulate the nature of the problem: its historical, social, and professional context; its dimensions and extent; its impact, and perhaps some previous efforts to address it. Present information that explains your understanding of the origins or causes of the problem, to set up the rationale for your choice of a strategy to solve it. At each stage, refer to appropriate scholarly and professional literatures.

Project Plan

Spell out your plans for addressing the problem. Describe the institutional setting within which the project will take place, as well as the individuals, groups, or organizations with whom you will work. What will you (and, perhaps, others) do? What resources and strategies will you use? If you need funds, how will you raise and disburse them? What schedule will you follow? Be efficient, but concrete and clear in specifying the activities that will make up the project. Identify the professional and theoretical sources of your strategies for the project: What precedents and ideas are you drawing on?

Also discuss the means by which you will record and report the project activities for the members of your thesis committee. Will you write a journal, shoot videos, keep material artifacts and documents? Be clear about how you intend to document the project. You may also elect to invite the members of your committee to witness the project first-hand.

Assessment

The proposal speaks to three aspects of the assessment process. In all three, be concrete, and refer to appropriate literatures as sources of your plans.

• Criteria. First, describe and justify the criteria by which you will determine whether the project has succeeded. What are your goals and objectives? What changes do you want to see in the participants, the organization, the larger world?
• Methods. What information will you need in order to determine whether your goals and objectives have been met? How will you collect and organize that information?
• Analysis. How will you utilize that information to describe the project’s success or failure? What sorts of lessons do you hope to draw from the assessment?

Justification and Limitations

This section of the proposal should explain the rationale for the thesis and the importance of the topic. Indicate the reasons why this study is important to conduct and whom it will benefit. Identify the limits beyond which the inquiry will not go. Finally, describe the contribution your work will make to the field.

Conclusion

This section should summarize the nature and intention of your work. Conclude your discussion and mention any pertinent information which may not have been included above.