a) A statement of the research topic or question you propose to investigate and why it is of interest (to you personally and – more importantly – to the wider world). You may also wish to provide a working title for your dissertation. NB: Your title should not be a question along the lines of a tutor-set essay question, eg: ‘Does gender account for differences in conversational style?’ It should be a descriptive label that summarizes what you have investigated, e.g.: ‘An investigation of gendered conversational styles in teenagers’ mixed-sex interactions’.
(b) A description of the data you intend to collect. This section should include as much specific detail as you can give of the following aspects: • what your data will consist of • how you intend to collect it • possible problems you might encounter • how you intend to get round any such problems
NB: if you have already started to collect your data, then your description of this aspect will not be a statement of intention so much as a report of what you have done!
c) An outline of the linguistic theories, models, or methods and the previous research your study draws on. This section should • explain what is involved in the theories / concepts etc relevant to your study • outline how other research studies that you have encountered in your reading relate to your chosen topic • Indicate how the linguistic concepts and previous research findings combine to influence your expectation of what you are likely to find in your own study.
(d) An outline of how you propose to analyze your data, including (as appropriate) detail of how you will sample or present your data.
(e) A full list of references for any readings mentioned in (c), plus any other relevant readings you have identified and intend to draw on.