Log 5: Proposal for the Final Essay
We're now at that point in the semester when it's time to start thinking seriously about your final essay for the seminar. This entry in your research log asks you to develop a proposal for that essay.
In the entry, please include the following:
- A working title for your essay
- A 250-word abstract for your essay (including the motivation for your research, a statement about an observed problem or issue, a brief explanation of methodology, and a working claim/thesis; you are welcome to add information about preliminary results and possible implications, if you'd like)
- A list (in MLA format) of your primary sources
- A brief, informal statement (~50 words) on how you plan to further your research between now and the semester's end
- A brief, informal statement (~50 words) on how this particular essay builds upon, revises, and/or complicates your existing research (e.g., from other seminars/projects or from your undergraduate studies)
- A brief, informal statement (~50 words) on your essay's scope, with an emphasis on what you know you cannot address or examine by the semester's end
- A brief, informal statement (~50 words) expressing any concerns you have at the moment, including any questions for your peers and me
- A peer-reviewed academic journal to which you could ultimately submit your essay (regardless of whether the journal's print, online, or hybrid)
- What you will likely use to publish your web-ready essay (e.g., GitHub Pages [HTML], WordPress, Scrollkit, Scalar, or our private GitHub repo [Markdown])
During seminar on March 3rd, we will use a creative writing model to workshop your proposals. Each of your proposals will be reviewed in depth by your peers and me. During this review, you will listen to the feedback. Once the feedback is finished, you will then have an opportunity to briefly respond. We will dedicate roughly twelve minutes to each proposal.
Just in case: to cover our bases here, please submit your proposal in two forms: 1) by email to me (PDF, MD, HTML, or TXT is fine), and 2) via our GitHub repo. That way, on Monday morning, everyone can access and read it.
Get in touch with questions or concerns, and thanks again. Hope all's well. I'm looking forward to reading these proposals.