These expectations guide assessment of written and presented assignments:
• Demonstrate understanding of the meaning of the key headings of the proposal template
• Evidence of some engagement with the appropriate research literature
• Address the requirements (above)
• Well written (expression, grammar, spelling, referencing)
• Well presented (layout, figures, images, organisation of the references)
• On-time submission
The proposal comprises the following key elements:
1. Title page with student details
2. Title – working title
3. Topic – what the thesis is about (broad area + main problem + research gap)
4. Objectives – the main aims
5. Conceptual framework – theories and general ideas from literature review
6. Methodology – proposed method(s), data analysis techniques and ethics protocols
7. Data sources – primary and secondary data to be used
8. Output – how you see the work being organised and presented
9. Implications – anticipated key findings and their significance
10. Time line – diagram/table of key tasks to thesis completion
11. References – sources cited in the proposal