How do I write a Dissertation Proposal?

As you will no doubt become all too well aware of very quickly, in many undergraduate and postgraduate subjects studied at many colleges and/or universities the world over there is a need to produce your own dissertation - or what many call a thesis - regarding some aspect of a subject that you are studying in your dissertation proposal. This is usually a largely independent piece of work that you - the student - will get to pick the title for (in conjunction with an elected supervisor's advice of course to keep you on the right lines!).

However, before you get to this stage of looking to work with your chosen supervisor, you will usually be asked to first produce a dissertation proposal of your very own detailing the area that you would like to write about in your chosen subject and the title that you would like to work to.

Therefore, in this brief article I shall look to detail the practical requirements for a dissertation proposal in general regardless of the subject that you have studied (of course, you may have to allow for the requirements of your individual institution and the subject you are studying!).

As a result, you should raise and set out your proposal in the manner that follows below with little or no factual/descriptive material except where it directly explains, contextualises, or exemplifies the objectives of your proposal -

ABSTRACT - This will usually comprise a maximum of 250 words that serves to explain in brief terms, the context and academic issues that are to be addressed in the dissertation proposal to be expanded on in your dissertation/theses.

OPENING SECTION – A clear justification for the research area with an indication of the current academic issues being addressed in this area is also necessary for your dissertation proposal. In addition, an indication should also be given here as to any major and or recent shift/review of rank in your subject area. Moreover, you also need to appreciated that if your proposal is intended to be heavily exemplary, some justification of focus and emphasis should also be provided for you here.

CRITICAL RESEARCH QUESTION: It would be useful to set out in your dissertation proposal at least two main persuasive questions that will be addressed throughout the dissertation's discussion that you look to produce in your study. In addition, you also need at least six subsidiary/supportive critical questions.

But what are 'Pervasive Questions'?

An example is - To what extent are the risk to self-determination and/or development exemplified regarding the current land claims of Mozambique's bush people?

What is a subsidiary/supportive critical question?

An example is - What level of self-identification and/or historic cohesive need to be satisfied by a nation or culture in order to make a claim for self determination?

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This part of your dissertation proposal will serve to indicate the mode of inquiry and or main research methodology. By way of illustration, there is a need to consider whether you are engaged in a practical or theoretical study in your dissertation proposal. Moreover, you work should also indicate your main research tools for your dissertation proposal - are they quantitative or qualitative? In addition, you must also look to explain the appropriateness of your chosen methodology and/or your research tools for what you are looking to discuss in your dissertation/theses in your dissertation proposal. Furthermore, your dissertation proposal should also discuss whether you have considered and or rejected other relevant modes/tools of analysis and explain the reasons why you have chosen to reject such alternatives approaches.

AN ANNOTATED BIBBLIOGRAPHY: This bibliography in your dissertation proposal is to be limited to relevant material with all the material cited - whether it is a textbook, journal articles, from out of a newspaper or off of a website with a justification and an explanation of the value of the materials that you have chose to help with the dissertation writing proposal from out of your dissertation proposal.

CONCLUSION: What readers are you targeting? What use do you foresee for your dissertation proposal? What do you intend to resolve regarding your chosen subject area of discussion?