Your preliminary research should have helped you begin to understand the issue. Now, narrow your scope. Decide on your position or approach and determine an appropriate audience and format. A research proposal is similar to an outline in that it incorporates a thesis, topics, subtopics, and specific examples, but it is written in prose format, not in a list. This proposal should include at least the following bulleted items (You may also want to include your list of research questions or other questions you still have about your topic and paper. Your paper should be in paragraph form, not bullets, but it doesnt need a title beyond “Research Proposal”): Describe your working thesis or argument. For example, I will argue that, in this highly digital age, college students should be required to take a course in writing and developing web pages. Explain why you are interested in this topic and why it is an important issue of public debate. Briefly describe the audience to whom you will address the paper.
