Starting to write - proposal

Two weeks ago, I talked about starting your prospectus, but how do you start your actual proposal? First, I want you to read a few things to make you feel more comfortable. Begin reading the dissertation guide, available in the research center. This walks you through all of the many rules that go with the dissertation. Next, go to the library, find Walden's dissertation database, and go through a few recent (2014) dissertations. See if there are any related to your topic, but also look for a similar methodology. You might also want to take a look at one for which your chair was the chair. You don’t need to carefully read them, but get a feel for how they are laid out, look at how they write the literature review. Save them all on your computer, you will want to look at them when you are stuck on a section.

Now download the dissertation template and the checklist that fits your methodology (all are in the research center). Look through the first three chapters of these – this will be your proposal. Hopefully, you are beginning to feel a little more confident! Now let's start with a new word document; copy in everything from the dissertation template's chapter 2. Then go through c. 2 of the checklist and add in the info for chapter 2. You should now have a good idea of the direction you are needing to go. I then suggest that you open your prospectus and copy in the background section as a starting place. This is your working draft of chapter 2, which I recommend you start in. Go ahead and name the file and add the date in the file name. 

I always recommend that you lay out an outline of the topics that you want to cover in your literature review. Start with broadest topic then work down to the most narrow one. Make sure all of your variables are included in your outline. What topic do you feel you already know the most about? Start there- there is no reason for your to start at the beginning of the chapter. You will eventually have to fill in all of those sections of your outline, but first let's build up your confidence a little. 

Once you have a draft of the first section, ask your chair to take a look at it for you. Pay attention to the feedback that you get; does your chair mention APA issues? Look them up in the APA manual; try to not make that error again. You might want to start your own checklist of common problems that you have, so you can always remember to check them. Does your chair say you need more evidence? This is a common issue. Think of as you are building a case for your argument; support each step. Do not assume that your reader knows anything about the topic: educate them!

Next time I will talk about integrating research as you write. Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu