Capstone Research Project
Initial Proposal
In the first stages of your research, focus on finding at least two sources to begin with.
 First, use the database system to find articles from peer reviewed journals and other
periodicals.
 Read through the articles to be sure this is a topic you feel comfortable learning and
writing about.
 Explain in about 100 – 150 words what you have discovered so far, and how you think
you will approach this assignment.
Here is a sample of what a proposal might look like:
I have always found tattoos rather interesting, so I decided to learn a bit more about
them. The Tattoo Encyclopedia explains the process of tattooing and how techniques have
evolved over the years. However, I also wanted to look into why people get tattoos, so I
found the book Bodies of Inscription: A Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community.
While this book discusses the history of tattooing, it also addresses media representations of
tattooing, conventions, and tattoo organizations. While I was searching, I also found several
articles about how tattoo removal is on the rise. It makes sense to explore why more and
more people are having tattoos removed in a time when tattoos are becoming more
culturally accepted.
Notice how the writing is rather informal, but clearly shows the conclusions drawn from the
preliminary research. Be sure to list a couple of the sources you have found as I have in the
above example. This will give your argument more credibility.
Once your proposal is complete, clarify your central research question, and the claim you
intend to make with this paper. That claim will essentially be your preliminary thesis and will
guide the rest of your research.
Proposal
1. What is your central question?
2. What is my paper’s subject and intended claim (preliminary thesis)?