Sample Research Proposal Abstract

If you end up writing something different in the actual paper itself, that’s ok! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For your reference, here are two abstracts that demonstrate how the principles above work. Through analysis of Marge Piercy’s classic feminist novel, , alternative ways of conceptualizing the place of law in lesbian and gay familial lives are considered and explored [Sentence 4–Her specific material in the paper]. It does this by exploring the nineteenth-century relationship of history to poetry and to truth in the context of the emerging discipline of history in Bengal [Sentence 3–Her project fills the gap].

Kristie Sweet has been writing professionally since 1982, most recently publishing for various websites on topics like health and wellness, and education.

She holds a Master of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado.

An abstract summarizes, usually in one paragraph of 300 words or less, the major aspects of the entire paper in a prescribed sequence that includes: 1) the overall purpose of the study and the research problem(s) you investigated; 2) the basic design of the study; 3) major findings or trends found as a result of your analysis; and, 4) a brief summary of your interpretations and conclusions.

Sometimes your professor will ask you to include an abstract, or general summary of your work, with your research paper.

These are the conferences and publications that a few years down the line, set your c.v. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The paper abstract is highly formulaic. It needs to show the following: 1) big picture problem or topic widely debated in your field. Sentence 3: Your project fills this gap (“My paper addresses the issue of xx with special attention to xxx”).

Sentence 4 (length here depends on your total word allowance, and more sentences may be possible): The specific material that you are examining–your data, your texts, etc.

Remember, the abstract is a summary of material in the paper, so only include information in the abstract that will also appear in the actual paper.

First person point of view -- "I" and "my" -- are usually acceptable in APA proposals, but you should double check your field's style guide.

What type of sample and procedures will you use to obtain your data?

Add a sentence at the end of the abstract to indicate the conclusion you expect to draw from the project and the implications of the results, which will create a sense of closure for the document.