English 410: 001 & 003
George Mason University

Fall 2008

In this assignment, you will present a short proposal for your final research project. The audience for this proposal is the instructor. The proposal can be in a memo format (Fig 12.11), and should contain the following components::

1. Statement of Problem: What is the issue you want to analyze? Why does it require analysis? If necessary, include a Background section to provide context.
2. Scope: The final project will be 10-15 pages and will be due in a few weeks  How will you limit your research to fit into this limit?
3. Timeline: This should at least a week-by-week level of detail.  Certain dates are already set (Progress Report due on July 15, for example).
4. Possible sources: Be as specific as possible. List books, articles, authors, websites. Don't simply say "the Library and the Web"

Possible topics (or you may develop your own)

1. GMU Campus construction: what is being planned?  Why? What impact (on parking, for example)?
   
   
2. Textbook prices: How are textbook prices determined? Why did the textbook for this class cost $5 more than the publisher's suggested retail price? 
   
   
3. Imminent  changes in your field of study / career: Professional fields are changing rapidly as technology makes information easier to access and harder to control.  What changes do you see approaching? 

Once the proposal is approved, you can begin the final report.

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