YOUR DISSERTATION PROPOSAL

1. What is a proposal?
A proposal is an 800-1,000 word summary of your dissertation AIMS and OBJECTIVES. It also includes very brief chapter summaries, a bibliography of primary texts and a bibliography of secondary texts. 2. What is the purpose of the proposal?
The proposal is like an ESSAY PLAN. You have a title, or working title, a set of questions you want to answer and an outline of what you intend to cover in each chapter. If you keep to the proposal framework, it will make your task of writing the dissertation much easier.
A proposal also indicates to the marker/s that you have made a start on the PRIMARY texts and that you are not going to be scrabbling around at the last minute, trying to find primary texts on which to focus. 3. How is the dissertation proposal marked?
It is a PASS/FAIL mark, but it is marked by 2 members of staff. 4. What is the marking criteria?
The marker is looking for a) a sound and detailed knowledge of your primary texts b) some indication of the topic and questions that will guide your dissertation c) a bibliography of critical reading that demonstrates that you have made some attempt to find material that will help you.
You are not expected to have read the critical material BEFORE you have read closely and carefully the secondary sources that you will use. You should not substitute critical readings from other sources for your own knowledge at this stage. 5. Can I change my title, or my focus?
Yes, you can change your title: you can of course change your focus and the way that the chapters are structured but a proposal gives you a chance to think about how the material you have gathered might be arranged.

FRAMEWORK FOR WRITING YOUR PROPOSAL | PROPOSED TITLE | TOPIC/S: (I INTEND TO FOCUS ON…….) | QUESTIONS: (WHAT QUESTIONS WILL I USE TO GUIDE MY RESEARCH? FOR EXAMPLE- | * DOES THE WRITER USE AND DEPEND ON CONVENTIONAL GENDER ARCHETYPES OR ARE HER CHARACTERS