Project 3: Research Proposal for a Conference Paper

Now that you have analyzed the writing done by scholars in your field and have examined some of the overlapping conversations that are already happening, you can take your first step towards finding your place in the larger conversation. One of the major ways for scholars to share their new and original research is to present their work at professional and academic conferences. While these projects do not undergo the same rigorous peer review as full-length articles and books, conference paper proposals are still selected by a panel of scholars in the field.

Over the course of the next two projects, you will choose a topic, pose a question, propose a research project, and write a conference paper. Make sure you enjoy your topic.

Assignment

Find a CfP

Conference papers are usually written in response to a Call for Papers (or CfP) from a professional or academic organization. See what organizations exist in your field of study and find their latest CfP.

Pose a Question

Most CfPs have a basic theme that can encompass a lot of different approaches and questions. Come up with a question that you would like to answer through research that might fit the theme of your organization’s CfP and that will add some kind of new knowledge to the conversation.

·Note: “New knowledge” does not necessarily mean conducting an experiment. It can just as easily be about discussing a new angle, new analysis, or new interpretation of information that others have not considered. You could use your literature review as a jumping off point.

oEx 1: What strategies could be used in the medical field to encourage more men to become nurses? (Find out what has already been done and add to or expand on these strategies.)

oEx 2: How can graphic novels make learning about literature more interesting for college students? (See what has been done in K-12 and argue for a strategy that will work for college students.)

oEx 3: How does the work of this up-and-coming new artist provide social commentary on current world issues? (Examine how other artists have done this in the past and analyze a few pieces from this new artist to show how they do similar or different things in their work.)

Write Your Proposal

A proposal typically consists of an introduction to your topic, a justification of why the topic is important, your preliminary thesis statement, a description of your approach to the topic, and tentative findings/conclusions.

·Context and Research Question: Start with a contextualization of your topic. Provide enough background information about your topic so that someone unfamiliar with it is informed about definitions, recent developments, and the main question you are considering.

·Importance and Justification: Explain why your topic is important to your field and how your idea responds to the ongoing debate about your topic. This will require situating your topic in the larger conversation of other researchers. Use at least 3 outside sources. You need to show an awareness of current terms and issues in order to make your topic seem timely.

·Thesis and Major Arguments: State your thesis or main claim about the topic, along with the evidence and sources you will discuss in your paper to show that your claim is true. A brief overview of this is enough—no one expects you to prove your point fully in a proposal.

·Tentative Conclusions/Findings: Finally, give a tentative outlook of the conclusion at which you will arrive in your paper.

Formatting

·500-600 words

·APA or MLA format

·Reference/Works Cited Page