Description
Introduction to Research in Africana Studies – Research Proposal
The aim of this course is to make you an informed consumer of literature pertaining to Africana Studies, and help you explore ways you can conduct research and make your own contribution. Answer each question below in the three-part outline in order to create your research proposal. Upload your document in Microsoft Word or PDF formats only.
Part I: Introduction and Research Question (total 1 – 2 paragraphs as follows:)
1. State your general topic within Africana Studies and the theme you are exploring within that topic. (1 paragraph)
2. What is your specific RESEARCH QUESTION within this theme?
3. Who are TWO major scholars in this “conversation” who are discussing your theme? Identify them.
a. What are their points of view, respectively? (1/2 paragraph)
b. How do their viewpoints differ from each other? (1/2 paragraph) Remember to include these scholars in your bibliography (part II) below.
4. How will your research question and exploration add to the ongoing scholarly “conversation” on this topic? (2 or 3 sentences)
Part II: Literature Review (about 1 page)
Following the APA or MLA citation methods, create a bibliography(list of sources) for your topic. The bibliography must consist of a minimum of 4 sources (you may include more if you wish), as follows, of which the two scholars you identified above in Part 1 are a part:
* 2 articles from scholarly (peer reviewed) journals that deal with your theme – (not more than two from the same
journal)
* 1 book that deals with your theme, published by university press or other scholarly publisher.
* 1 article that deals with your theme, from credible mainstream newspapers/periodicals
* 1 credible source that deals with your theme, from the internet (provide URL) .
Part III: Methods and Analysis (about 1 to 2 paragraphs)
1. Which specific sources and techniques would you use to investigate your research question beyond the sources listed in your bibliography? Examples: archives, oral history, interviews, surveys, questionnaires, observation, etc. Describe your selected source/s. Why do you think these sources/techniques would be useful to you? (3 – 4 sentences).
2. What is the method (quantitative, qualitative, etc) by which you will observe, sort through, analyze, and/or synthesize the information you have obtained through your research? Describe your selected method. Why do you think your selected method will be appropriate for answering your research question? What kind of reasoning (deductive, inductive, etc) will you use? (3 – 4 sentences).
3. Which rhetorical devices – ethos, pathos, logos, or kairos – do you think will be useful in your argument?
