I. Framework

Senior research projects in Economic History have the following elements in common:

1.     An economic history question is identified.

2.     Other people's work on the topic is collected and evaluated in a lit review.

3.     Data necessary to solving the problem are demonstrated to exist and if possible collected.

4.     If possible, data are analyzed with overview statistic.

5.     Results of the analysis will not be completed in this class, but you should report the predicted results with an argument why you believe you prediction to be true.

The final outcome of this process will not be completed in this class.  The goal of this incomplete project is that you identify a research topic, formulate a hypothesis, understand the background of your project, develop or adapt appropriate methods, and summarize the state of your project as a thesis proposal.

The purpose of writing a thesis proposal is to demonstrate that:

1.     the thesis topic addresses a significant economic history problem;

2.     an organized plan is in place for collecting or obtaining data to help solve the problem;

3.     methods of data analysis have been identified and are appropriate to the data set.

If you can outline these points clearly in a proposal, then you will be able to focus on a research topic and finish it rapidly.   A secondary purpose of the proposal is to train you in the art of proposal writing.  Many future careers, whether it be in industry or academia, will require these skills in some form.

I am well aware that the best laid out research plans may go awry. Therefore, when evaluating a thesis proposal, I am not trying to assure ourselves that you have clearly described a sure-fire research project with 0% risk of failure. (If there was no risk of failure, it wouldn't be research.)

Instead, what I am interested in seeing is if you have a clear handle on the process and structure of a project as it is practiced by our economics discipline. If you can present a clear and reasonable thesis idea, if you can clearly relate it to other relevant literature, if you can justify its significance, if you can describe a method for investigating it, and if you can decompose it into a sequence of steps that lead toward a reasonable conclusion, then the thesis proposal is a success regardless of whether you can possibly complete it as described.

II. Structure of a thesis proposal

Your thesis proposal should have the following elements.

• Title page
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Thesis statement
• Literature Review
• Approach/methods
• Preliminary results and discussion if possible
• Implications of research
• List of references

Title page

• contains short, descriptive title of the proposed thesis project  (should be fairly self-explanatory)
• and author, institution, department, and date of delivery

Abstract

• the abstract, included on the title page,  is a brief summary of your thesis proposal
• its length should not exceed ~200 words
• present a brief introduction to the issue
• make the key statement of your thesis
• give a summary of how you want to address the issue
• include a possible implication of your work, if successfully completed

Introduction

• this section sets the context for your proposed project and must capture the reader's interest
• explain the background of your study starting from a broad picture narrowing in on your research question
• provide an initial review what is known about your research topic as far as it is relevant to your thesis
• cite relevant references
• the introduction should be at a level that makes it easy to understand for readers with a general science background, for example your classmates

Thesis statement

• in a couple of sentences, state your thesis
• this statement can take the form of a hypothesis, research question, project statement, or goal statement
• the thesis statement should capture the essence of your intended project and also help to put boundaries around it

Literature Review

·        review previous authors’ papers on your topic

·        review previous authors’ methodology that may aid your research

·        include at least five works

Approach/methods

• this section contains an overall description of your approach,  materials, and procedures
  • what methods will be used?
  • how will data be collected and analyzed?
  • what materials will be used?
• include calculations, technique, procedure, equipment, and calibration graphs
• detail limitations, assumptions, and range of validity
• citations should be limited to data sources and more complete descriptions of procedures
• do not include results and discussion of results here

Preliminary results and discussion

• present any results you already have obtained
• discuss how they fit in the framework of your thesis

Implications of Research

• what new knowledge will the proposed project produce that we do not already know?
• why is it worth knowing, what are the major implications?

List of references

• cite all ideas, concepts, text, data that are not your own
• if you make a statement, back it up with your own data or a reference
• all references cited in the text must be listed

IV. Tips

Figures

• "Pictures say more than a thousand words!" Figures serve to illustrate important aspects of the background material, sample data, and analysis techniques.
• A well chosen and well labeled figure can reduce text length, and improve proposal clarity.  Proposals often contain figures from other articles.  These can be appropriate, but you should consider modifying them if the modifications will improve your point.
• The whole process of making a drawing is important for two reasons.  First, it clarifies your thinking.  If you do not understand the process, you cannot draw it. Second, good drawings are very valuable.  Other economists will understand your paper better if you can make a drawing of your ideas.  .

Grammar/spelling

• Poor grammar and spelling distract from the content of the proposal.  The reader focuses on the grammar and spelling problems and misses keys points made in the text.  Modern word processing programs have grammar and spell checkers.  Use them.
• Read your proposal aloud - then have a friend read it aloud. If your sentences seem too long, make two or three sentences instead of one.  Try to write the same way that you speak when you are explaining a concept. Most people speak more clearly than they write.
• You should have read your proposal over at least 5 times before handing it in
• Simple wording is generally better
• If you get comments from others that seem completely irrelevant to you, your paper is not written clearly enough never use a complex word if a simpler word will do.

source: This is a modified set of direction prepared by Martin Stute.