Proposal
English 102
Korpi

Before writing a tentative thesis, read through the materials at and do the exercise located at this web site:  http://thor.clark.edu/diggma/102/thesis.htm

The proposal is a place for you to present detailed plans for your long research paper. The subsequent conference will focus on ways to improve the design of the paper. This should prevent you from finding out (too late) that your paper has no focus, no argument, or no meaningful organization. The proposal MUST be typed and well organized.

You should write a 1-2 page OVERVIEW of your topic (minimum 300 words--I may ask those who submit shorter proposal to expand or provide an outline with the submission of the annotated bibliography). This will include:

• an introduction to the general topic

• a brief discussion of key sources and debates

• several questions you will try to answer in your research

• a tentative thesis for the paper.

The purpose of this section is to help you focus your topic, formulate some questions that will help you develop the paper, and develop a thesis sentence (or two sentences) that indicates the structure of the essay and your tentative position on a question at issue. Review Bedford 563-64 and 566-68 for information on developing a thesis. If you are doing this work for a concurrent course, you need to note this here; otherwise, the English Department Plagiarism Policy may apply to you.

Due Date:

Note: Students may change their topic, WITH MY PERMISSION, between the time they submit their first proposals on the dates noted above and the time that the annoatated bibliography is due.  See syllabus for details.

            Students may also change their proposal AFTER the annotated bibliography due date WITH MY PERMISSION.  See syllabus for details.  I consider such a late change to be unwise and most prevalent to the slippery slope of plagiarism.

            Students CANNOT change their topic after submission of the rough draft unless they are directed by me to do so.