The Prevalence of Depression Among International Students

RESEARCH PROPOSAL REPORT

This report is a hybridization of the short and long proposal in your textbook. You are writing it as the second step in the process of researching your major assignment topic this term. First, you researched your topic (Annotated Bib); now you are putting your thoughts in order on what information you will use and how you will use it (Proposal); and then you will present your research topic. 

This handout should govern how to write and organize your proposal report. Your report will utilize headings of the different sections as is detailed below (your sections may not be large, but they do need to be adequately developed as that is a crucial grading criterion of this paper). 

Writing Your Proposal Essay

Your proposal essay will not have a minimum length or source requirement. Instead, you will need to make it adequately developed and include credible sources that enhance your ethos. Use the following sections:

• Introduction to the Argument—identifies your essay topic and provides clear, understandable background on and scope of the topic you have chosen, while also clarifying why it is worth investigating. This section is, in essence, your (working) thesis statement and the rationale for choosing your particular topic. It should give enough background to enable an informed layman to place your particular research problem in a context of common knowledge. In this section, you will also identify the audience (classmates, police department, etc.,) and tone (informer, advocate, etc.) for your essay. You may be incorporating research into this section. Provides a detailed description of argument and why it needs to be explored. Identify the issue you are arguing and provide support, with research, for your point (i.e., pros of your argument). You’ll begin answering the research questions you had in your Annotated Bib, demonstrating to your reader that you have seriously investigated your topic and recognize the issues surrounding the topic; you may also be integrating research into this section.
• Qualifications—who are you? Why are you interested in this subject? This section will likely be a personal narrative and your shortest section. If you have a group, identify the collective reason you chose this topic to explore and research.
• Conclusion—as you would in any other persuasive document, end with a call to action, encouraging the reader (your teacher) to approve your choice of topic.
• Bibliography—this section does not need to be on a separate page since it is just one more section of your report; there is no minimum number of sources (but I will be grading for adequate development and, therefore, sufficient and credible source support/research); entries should be set up in MLA format in this section. TIP: A bibliography contains sources you may or may not use in this report but that you are considering using in your presentation.

Make sure that you use the above headings to distinguish between each section and that you have the appropriate information in the appropriate section. Follow the guidelines below when writing your proposal:

• Include a title page, with your own unique title, the date, and your name.
• Font should be Times New Roman
• Spacing use single space in this report; double space between every paragraph and section but do NOT indent your paragraphs; use block style paragraphs. 
• Sections are not set up on separate pages. They are simply below the previous section, with a space between them. 
• Headings should be bold and on the left margin. They shouldn’t require underlines and italics as bolding them will set them apart from the rest of the text. Double space above and below your sections.
• Set all margins at one inch (sides, bottom, and top margins).
• Your Bibliography section is merely another section of the report (not a separate page) and is set up according to MLA (e.g., in alphabetical order, with hanging indents, etc.). NOTE: You have sources in your annotated bib, so that will help to develop this section of the proposal report.

Grading Criteria for Proposal Report

When grading your proposal report, I will be looking predominately at a coherent and well-developed proposal. There is no word length. I will be looking at the following, also, if that helps, but pay particular attention to the grading rubric: 

• Introduction: thesis is clearly identified; background is presented; audience for the presentation is identified; background is sufficient to explain the topic.
• Body sections: the problems are clearly identified and research shows a strong knowledge and understanding of the problem; the info is logical and indicates the application of critical thought. 
• Coherence/Organization: information is presented in a logical, coherent order and all relevant information is included in relevant sections. 
• Unity: no information is presented that should be omitted or placed into a different section; all info is relevant to your topic.
• Adequate Development: each section is adequately developed, leaving the reader with no additional questions.
• Credible Sources: sources you choose show proper ability to support and are credible, thereby enhancing your credibility/ethos.
• Grammar & Mechanics: writing is correct and free of grammatical/mechanical (punctuation) errors.
• Style & Tone: writing style and tone are at appropriate level for academic-level writing and for your audience (your teacher).
• MLA Formatting: proper use of quotes and citations within the essay; correct layout of sources.