Chapter Three

Chapter Three

            Chapter Three focused on the development of research questions and research proposals. Research question are helpful because they give a direction for critical reading and exploration of issues in a topic. In creating a research question, something to observe is the present writing situation. That includes looking back on what has been learned since the beginning of research, and looking at the biases, values and beliefs of the writer and also the readers. These variables can attribute the research question. When trying to create the question, making a list of possible research questions can help. This list can contain questions about information, history, outcomes, definitions, sequential analysis, and others. Taking into account the writer’s situation, a question should be chosen and considered. From that question, another question should be created, based on the interests of the writer and whether or not it will accomplish the necessary goals. Once a research question has been chosen, it can be refined by use of words and phrases which allow the question’s scope to be narrowed. The addition of more specific words and phrases allow the question to contain more focus. The research question can then be tested through research. If no results are yielded, then expanding the scope of the question may be necessary.

            A research proposal is a formal presentation of the project. It generally introduces the topic issue and research question, reviews literature, explains how information will be collected, gives a project timeline, a working bibliography, and a title page. In the process of identifying the topic issue and research question, the writer’s position, if one exists, should be stated, along with the purpose of the project and the genre. The literature review presents the sources and the information, ideas, and argument within them. How the information will be collected should also be presented. This means identifying the relevant sources, correct search tools, and research methods. The project timeline gives a description of the timeframe of the project and what happens in that timeframe. The working or annotated bibliography is included show the sources and also give a description of the sources. An elaboration and clarification of the core proposal can also be included. This ranges from a summary to an overview of the key challenges within the project. For one who is planning to publish, it can also be an overview of the costs necessary for the project.