Sample Research Proposals in the Humanities

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Tom Head, Jun 16, 2002.

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  1. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    I'm going to need to get cracking and finish my Research Proposal by early Fall; so far I've been approaching it more-or-less like a book proposal, but my supervisor tells me that most research proposals in the humanities aren't quite that in-depth. Most of the sample research proposals I've found on the net are effectively case study projections in the natural and social sciences, so of course they have to run to some length to address methodology, sample concerns, etc. etc. etc., which is made up for by the fact that dissertations in those fields tend to run somewhat shorter than humanities dissertations. So I guess what I'm asking is:

    (a) Anyone know where I can find sample research proposals in the humanities (especially philosophy and religious studies, but I'll take what I can get)?

    (b) If you were always looking for an excuse to link to your own research proposal and/or post it here, here you go--I know some of you are working on projects in very interesting fields like history (hint hint) and theology (hint hint hint). If you'd rather not broadcast it here (and with all the psychos lurking in AED, I can certainly understand that), you can send it to me in an email at [email protected].


    Cheers,
     
  2. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Here's one in the history of the Protestant reformation, from the University of Virginia:

    http://www.virginia.edu/history//graduate/dispro/example.html

    This is one on Renaissance cultural history from Rutgers:

    http://newark.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Diss/proposal.html

    Here's some proposal guidelines from Vanderbilt's religion department:

    http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/gdr/requirements/proposalguide.html

    Here's a links page for all kinds of stuff of interest to history graduate students, including dissertation proposals:

    http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~grad/fyi/

    Here's some more examples from Berkeley. They are in a more social science vein, but are linked to an interesting website on dissertation and grant proposal writing in general:

    http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/DissPropWorkshop/examples/
     
  3. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    Great stuff, Bill--thank you!


    Cheers,
     
  4. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

    ========================================

    Tom

    Unizul required a very short proposal done on the University's form which only indicated that a problem had been discovered and a modest comment on aim and strategy with a brief bibliography.This may have satisfied the powers there ,but it was was insuffient for me to see clearly the way. I did have a guide from another school (now lost) which urged the student to after considerable review of the literature from that experience elicit questions related to the problem. Then the answering of these questions provides each chapter's content. Therefore, the student has these stepping stones his chapter outline, clearly before him. I did this and defined nine questions and can demonstrate the connection of each to my problem and to the best of my knowledge (and I've searched theses , articles , monographs, and systematics) this approach is novel. So, even after my "proposal" was OK'd I spent much time on this activity and am now nearly done. An email today from my supervisor indicated the writeup of this will constitute the first chapter (of ten). This in essence is what I think the proposal should be when the other items as aim, strategy, and bibliography are added..

    I expect to be done with this in two weeks and will "post it here" as you suggest if I can do that. I would, then, value constructive criticism. I think my skin is thick enough!;)
     

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