1. Statement of Interest Plan of Study

2. What it must include… What Why How

3. Make me want to read it Do not assume I am familiar with your proposed research topic

4. What I do not want to know.. Your childhood fascinations are of no concern to me….. That you are the only person to ever think about this topic..

5. What I do want to know…. It is a worthy project (and why) Why is it relevant in today’s world Your project has to have a wider social, cultural, historical, political, community relevance If it builds on earlier work you have done

6. Let me know you are familiar with the existing academic literature on the topic (but you do not need to list every relevant source! Be selective).

7. Theoretical context Demonstrate you are familiar with this as relevant But do not ramble to impress here!

8. Clearly state what question/aspect of this issue/subject you intend to examine further in your research

9. But at the same time… Be modest Be realistic Be aware of the limitations of what you can accomplish

10. Organizing your text Your question/focus The larger context

11. Organizing your text…. The larger context… Your question/focus

12. How are you going to do your research? Community based research Archival work (where) Policy analysis (which ones) Interviews (broadly who) Experiments (psychology) Textual analysis (which authors)

13. At what university you plan to do your research In what program –And why it is the right place to do it –If you know, with whom and why

14. The absolute basics…. Write clearly and succinctly Do not use jargon Eliminate all grammatical, spelling, syntax errors.

15. Have at least four people read it….three of these must be professors/supervisors Proofread, proofread, proofread and proofread again…

16. Words to avoid!!! Interesting Important Fascinating ‘very’