University of Michigan - Flint

A. PREPARATORY RESEARCH

Where do I look?

• Do a library search (books, articles) on the background of the topic.
• Do a more specialized search concerning specifics of the project. Enlist the help of a reference librarian, or ask your advisor, or the off-campus advisor for help.
• Ask the off-campus advisor for materials, bibliographies, articles he or she has written, the grant proposal, if the lab work is funded by a grant.
• Research websites produced by reputable institutions.
• Ask for information concerning internships and study abroad programs.

What do I need to find?

• You need wider studies introducing the topic, since you will need to provide a context for the work you plan to do.
• You will need more specific studies describing the narrower, more specific study you will be carrying out.
• You will need background information on any institute, university, or other site you will be attending.

B. INITIAL DRAFTS OF THE PAPER

• Write notes and summaries of your research sources. Use quotations from the sources if this is considered appropriate for your discipline. (History and English, for example)
• Set up a tentative outline based on the required format of the thesis.
• Set up weekly or bi-weekly meetings to consult with your advisor on a regular basis concerning the best way to present your topic.
• Discuss any necessary modifications of the proposal format outlined below.
• Develop a rough draft of your proposal, and present it to your advisor for comments. At this point, you should also present a draft to the Honors Director.

C. WRITING THE FINAL DRAFT

Your audience consists of professors from many different disciplines. They do not share the expertise and specialization of your advisor. You must explain the topic simply and clearly to an intelligent and educated reader who is not a specialist in the field.

1. HEADER

The following information should appear at the top, left hand corner of the first page of your written proposal.

Name
Advisor
Destination
Institute/University
Off-Campus Advisor
Title of Topic

2. RUNNING HEADER

Upper right hand corner of each page should have your last name and the page number

3. SUMMARY

Provides the dates, the place you will attend, a brief mention of the professor and his or her credentials, and a very brief description of the project (2-3 sentences maximum). See samples.

4. BACKGROUND

This provides the wider context, or area of research for the specific work you will be carrying out. You should

• discuss the significance of the work you will be doing within this wider context.
• introduce the off-campus mentor, the destination, and any information that will clarify where you are going.
• include subheadings such as Definitions, History, and other pertinent general information about the topic.

5. OVERVIEW OF PREVIOUS RESEARCH/CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS

This section gives documented summaries of previous research, or previous discussions of the topic in order to show where the research stands at this point.

You need to provide a backdrop, or background for the actual project you will be carrying out. This section is like a research paper, with careful documentation according to the codes required by your discipline.

6. DISCUSSION OF THE PROJECT

This section gives a detailed discussion of the actual project you will be undertaking. You will need specific information about the research methods, about the internship, the study abroad program, or other site you have chosen.

If you are working in a lab, or conducting research, you will need to give a detailed account of the research methods, showing how the research will be carried out, and telling what methods and techniques you will be using to carry out the research. You may need to contact the off-campus advisor for specialized information.

7. MY ROLE

Tell as precisely as possible the role you will play as assistant, or as helper with the project.

8. OBJECTIVE/CONCLUSION

This will state tentatively what you hope to accomplish. This includes the fact that you will provide a product –the research you will gather, and the thesis you will be writing based on the research.

9. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Choose the name appropriate to your discipline for this list of references: References, Bibliography, Works Cited.

Format:
1. Title, Works Cited centered at top, starting a new page.
2. Alphabetical order by author. See research handbook for your discipline.
3. Hanging indent. First line of entry flush with margin, subsequent lines indented.
4. Appropriate code for your discipline: Footnotes (History, use Turabian), MLA (Modern Language Association) for English and languages, APA (American Psychological Association) or author, date system for Psychology. Sociology, Business and other similar fields. Number system if required.