Research Proposal Assignment
NOTE: Some of the information for this assignment is described in Locker's Business and Administrative Communication, on reserve in the
UI Library. Ask at the reserve desk for Drake's 313 Textbook.
Assignment Guidelines:
1) Preliminary Purpose Statement: Write a brief, well edited EMAIL describing the problem your proposal and research paper will address. This email should address the following questions:
a) What problem or topic will you investigate or what is the purpose of your research; what do you want?
b) What is the name of the organization facing the problem, or what organization
or business entity would fund the investment? List the name of the person in power who would be able to implement your
recommendation.
c) Why is it important that the organization solve this problem? (two sentences max)
d) What solution or action might you recommend to solve the problem?
e) If you are working in a group, list the names of everyone involved. Credit will only be given to those listed.
f) Tell me whether anyone in the group is working on this same topic or assignment for another class.
(Think of this, and then use it, as the first paragraph “summary” section of your proposal)
This is worth twenty points of the overall Proposal. Points will be deducted for emails which posted late, are poorly edited, or are incomplete or
unclear.
I will send you a return email either confirming your topic choice, requesting more information on it, helping you better define it, or asking you to
choose another topic. If you do not receive my written confirmation you do not have permission to use this topic.
2) Formal Proposal for Research Report: Follow the Proposal Main Points
outline and refer to the Proposal
Example. You might also refer to the assignment description for “Writing a Proposal for a Student
Report” (pg. 402 Fifth ed.). Omit the section/heading “Work Schedule”. Format the document as a memo and address it to Tom Drake.
Methods and Sources: Use a combination of the following to come up with approximately 5-8 sources.
a) Library sources: including texts, journal articles, internet sources etc.
b) Interviews: including those of people directly affected by the problem and authorities on the topic (professors and public
officials). Note that you must include in the final report transcripts of your interviews.
c) Surveys: (must be a reasonable representative sampling). Note that you must include in the proposal a copy of the survey(s)
you will use, and in the report you must include the completed surveys.
You may list sources on the proposal you plan to use but have not yet read or transcribed (for instance, if you arrange an interview with a
source but have not yet conducted the interview; if you have administered a survey but have not yet received the completed forms etc.).
List the methods and sources as described in the textbook, page 374, or use either an MLA or APA style Works Cited page as you
would for any other report. You need to cite your sources in text or that information will be considered plagiarized.
On the syllabus, note that this assignment is worth 200 points, or twice as much as any other assignments we’ve worked on so far (the report
itself is worth 300). Actually writing the proposal is fairly simple, but it is still time consuming. Also note that completing the proposal actually
often requires more time and effort than writing the report itself, so schedule your work accordingly and don’t try to complete it at the last
moment.