Using a Sample Dissertation Proposal to Your Advantage


Nothing is helpful if you do not know what you actually need. Naturally, if you want to benefit from a sample dissertation proposal, you should understand what a dissertation proposal is and how it should be written.

What Is a Dissertation Proposal?

This is a piece of academic writing often done by graduate students to convince their supervisor and the committee that the dissertation research is worth conducting and suggests a testable hypothesis. It consists of the following elements, namely:

  • a title
  • an introduction
  • goals and objectives of research
  • scientific approach
  • a literature review
  • an outline of chapters and sub-chapters
  • a working schedule
  • a list of references

What Makes an Effective Dissertation Proposal?

A good research question is what makes your proposal effective. It should be stated clearly based on a significant amount of academic reading you have done. Do not forget that you have a limited amount of time to complete the research, so you should be able to reach the main goal and objectives of the study within the certain time limits. Look at the main scientific approaches you want to use. Are they academically justifiable? Can you practically use them? Do you provide enough references to support your methodology?

How Can You Use a Sample Dissertation Proposal?

Numerous online dissertation proposal samples are very helpful if you want to learn using certain examples. However, it is better to choose your research topic first and then search for related examples.

Most online resources provide search by subject option, e.g. the sciences, philosophy, languages, history and others. The easiest way to find a reliable example is to look at your university library. They often share good examples with other students for educational purposes. Get to know how other students compose their proposals, what language they use, and what literature review they provide.

Most dissertation proposals have a similar structure. However, excellent proposals often provide the thesis statement early in the text and describe it precisely without giving too many details. It is a valuable skill to learn writing to the point.

The language is extremely important. Choose the literary language and do not write complicated and long sentences. Great proposals are easy to read and understand. Proofread your text and make sure there are no grammar and spelling mistakes.

When you read a literature review in a sample dissertation proposal, notice that similar to an essay it consists of a short introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. This is kind of a story about the experience you want to apply in your research.

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