Synopsis of Writing #2 Since the final three major writing tasks of the term are

Synopsis of Writing #2
Since the final three major writing tasks of the term are

Synopsis of Writing #2
Since the final three major writing tasks of the term are all connected, this second piece is actually the starting point for your fourth piece. (See “A Preview of Writing #4” below.) Rather than being a “paper,” Writing #2 is a research “prospectus” or (“proposal”) that will preview for me such issues as what your documented study (Writing #4) will be about, how you will go about it, and what other theorists have already said about the topic you are working on.
The prospectus should be at least three pages long, and it will use MLA documentation
Components of the Prospectus (Writing #2)
Since this is a different sort of writing than most of you have ever written, we will spend some time talking about what a prospectus needs to be like. (For this, we will build on the sample prospectus on Canvas.)
The following will serve as the essential components of your prospectus:
What is the central research question in the study?
What is so important about the question? (i.e. why/how is it of worth to an academic audience?)
What have other theorists/researchers had to say about the central research question you are investigating? (This is also known as the “Review of the Literature” section of a prospectus.) Must include at least 5 sources.
What do you plan as your methodology for the study?
What are your qualifications for carrying out this study?
What is your tentative schedule for completing this study?
Audience for the Prospectus
Assume for the prospectus that you are writing directly to me (your “research director”), convincing me of your capabilities to carry out the project. What this means, of course, is that I probably know very little about the area you are investigating. Therefore, you will have to be quite specific so I am clear about what you are planning to do in the study.
Evaluation of the Prospectus
The following will be my criteria for evaluating Writing #2:
Are all of the necessary elements present?
How convincing is it?
How thorough has the writer been in investigating what he/she wants to study?
How specific are the details, especially in the review of literature section?
How clear is the style?
How well-arranged are the sections: overall? Within paragraphs?
How well-controlled are grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation?