1.3: Develop a Research Proposal
1.3.1: Discovering and Choosing a Topic
After completing the reading for this subunit, identify a preliminary topic for your research paper by stating your topic idea as a question and then identifying the main concepts or key words. You will have time to revise and refine your topic later.
Although you may work through this course completely independently, you may find it helpful to connect with other Saylor students about this activity through the discussion forums. You may access the discussion forums here.
1.3.2: Develop a Working Thesis and a Research Proposal
Read this section and complete the exercises. This section will provide you with a slightly different approach to developing a research topic and will describe how to develop research questions and a proposal that will help you guide your research.
After reading this text, go back to your research topic, refine your topic as necessary, develop your research questions, and develop a short research proposal.
Use your refined research topic and synthesize the research questions you developed in this subunit in order to write a working thesis. Remember that your thesis is the argument you will work to prove with your research in your paper. Keep in mind that you will have time to revise and revisit your thesis later in the course.
1.3.3: Mapping Your Topic
Concept mapping, also known as webbing, is a method for generating ideas related to your topic that you want to explore in your research and writing process.
Watch this video and then map out concepts for the research topic you identified in subunit 1.3.1. Use this "Mapping a Concept" worksheet for some ideas on getting started.