Remember: the point of the research proposal is to provide an overview of the topic and to suggest a research question. The proposal is open ended-you do not need a thesis or to answer the research question. You must provide background or context for the topic and describe the major arguments over the topic. You must refer to (and properly cite) sources to show the extent of your research and your knowledge of the topic. The research question should not be one that can be simply answered by “yes” or “no,” or that simply asks for information. Rather, the research question should lead to a thesis—an informed opinion on the topic.

Format

Font: 12 pt. Times New Roman …………. ………….
Proper margins …………. .…………
Text double spaced throughout paper (check references)
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Title page

Title is original (not “Research Proposal”) …………. .…………
Title makes sense …………. .…………
Colon is used for subtitle …………. .…………
Proper title capitalization …………. .…………
Proper title format (no underline, etc.) …………. .…………
Correct short title for running header …………. .…………
Correct pagination for running header …………. .…………
5 spaces in running header …………. .…………
Correct class information …………. .…………
No abbreviations …………. .…………
Professor’s last name only, correctly spelled …………. ………….
Full date format …………. .…………

Title on first line of page 2 exactly as it appears on title page
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Citations
First mention of author uses full name or first initial and last name
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Subsequent mention of author uses last name
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First mention of author is followed by a date in parentheses
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All article titles properly capitalized and put into quotes
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All book and periodical titles properly capitalized and italicized
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All quotations properly cited …………. .…………
All paraphrases cited where necessary …………. .…………

References
“References” written on first line (without quotation marks)
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Entries properly formatted with hanging indent
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Entries alphabetized by author’s last name …………. .…………
First initial of first name only …………. .…………
Correct format for titles of articles …………. .…………
Correct format for name of books …………. .…………
Correct format for name of periodicals …………. .…………
Correct format for name of web sites …………. .…………
Correct Retrieved statement for Internet …………. .…………
Correct Retrieved statement for databases …………. .…………

Introduction
Does the introduction get quickly to the point?
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Does the introduction tell the reader the topic of the research?
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Can the introductory paragraph be made more interesting (remember that you do not need a thesis)? …………. .…………
Body
Is each paragraph devoted to a single, comprehensible idea?
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Does the author frequently use topic sentences at the beginning of each paragraph to tell the reader the main idea of that paragraph?
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Does the author provide transitions from one paragraph to another that show how the paragraphs are related? …………. .…………
Does the author show familiarity with the topic?
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Do you think the author has done significant research on the topic?
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Does the author provide background or history or context for the topic?
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Does the author show differences of opinion about the topic?
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Does the author discuss specific sources?
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Does the author quote and paraphrase sources?
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Does the author quote properly—not too much and not too little?
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Does the author quote interesting and significant language?
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Is the author clear about where the ideas in the essay come from?
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Has the author properly paraphrased the original material, i.e., completely transformed it? (Check a few examples of paraphrase against the original in the source.)

Research Question
Is the research question interesting? …………. .…………
Will the research question lead to significant research?
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Is the research question appropriate for a ten page paper?
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Does the research question suggest a purpose beyond giving information?
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Does the author provide a convincing account of the next step in his or her research?
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Proofreading
Has the author corrected the spelling, grammar and punctuation?
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Revision
The group should offer the author at least three suggestions for improving the essay. The suggestions should pertain to content. Write and number the suggestions here.