Topic 3: Making academic presentations
The ability to present information confidently and convincingly in a classroom and beyond is a valuable skill for students. In this topic , you will learn how to prepare proposals and reports and how to deliver successful academic classroom presentations.
You will also learn how to prepare posters, banners and logos for academic purposes. The competence developed in this topic will enable you to prepare convincing and captivating presentations and visual aids. It will also help you master the art of public speaking and enhance your academic performance and future career prospects.
Research proposals
A research proposal is a written document that describes the intended study project, including its aims, methods, and expected results. Usually, it is submitted to an academic institution like school to request approval or to a research organization or funding agency to request funding and approval for the suggested study. Writing a proposal, therefore means describing convincingly, the study you intend to embark on in order to secure approval and where need be funding.
This means that one must describe where the research will be conducted, who or what will the data source be, when the research will begin and end, how the data will be collected, who will collect the data, how the data will be analysed and the report be written, how much the research will cost, what ethical issues will be observed, and so on. A research proposal also elucidates the significance of carrying out the research.
However, the nature or goal of the research will determine the particular requirements of a proposal. A grant proposal, for instance, will have distinct specifications. It is necessary to refer to various sources to ascertain the requirements of a particular research proposal. Usually, a proposal is written and reviewed by experts and peers to determine the feasibility of the research. Generally, all research proposals must be convincing, successful, and clear. A well-written proposal produces a quality report. As a student at one point in time you will be subjected to this academic process.
You should, therefore have the knowledge of the strategies to ensure clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness of your proposal.
Strategies to consider when preparing a proposal
Understand the requirements.
Before you embark on the drafting of your proposal, you should carefully read and understand the guidelines and requirements provided by your teacher or school. Address all the specified components and follow any other given instruction.
Identify your interests.
If the topic or theme for your project is not allocated to you by your teacher or institution, you should start by identifying topics or themes that resonate with your interest and passion.
Align with Curriculum.
Conducting research in school is part of the learning process. Any learning activity has to align with curriculum or learning objectives so is the proposed study. This helps demonstrate the educational value of the project and its integration into your academic experience.
Express objectives.
You should clearly express the objectives of the project you are proposing by specifying what you will learn and achieve through the project. These objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
Conduct a thorough literature review.
Before you start writing you proposal you should familiarise yourself with existing information on your topic. You can do so by conducting a comprehensive literature review whereby, existing gaps or unanswered questions will be identified and used to justify what your research will address.
Craft a compelling introduction
A proposal is supposed to convince the one you are seeking their approval or financial support from. A convincing proposal should clearly state the problem gap you aim to tackle, therefore, start with an engaging introduction that provides context for your research, explains its significance, and highlights the key research question(s) or hypothesis(es).
Develop a clear methodology
Any research undertaking has to be guided by research design, methods, and procedures. Explain in details why you have chosen a particular approach and how it corresponds with your research objectives. You should describe how you will sample a portion of the population of interest in your study, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques you will use. also how you will sample your respondent sample for a research.
Consider feasibility
Any research undertaking is time, resources limited. Make sure your research plan fits within the time allocated and resources available. In other words, you need to be realistic about what you can accomplish and consider any potential challenges or limitations.
Address ethical considerations
If your study includes sensitive data, animals, or human subjects, explain how you will handle ethical issues and make sure that rules and regulations are followed.
Seek feedback
After drafting your proposal, seek feedback from your teachers, fellow students or any other relevant person. They can offer valuable insights, identify areas for improvement, and help you strengthen your argument.
Revise and polish
You should revise and polish your proposal after you have received comments from others and after you have had time to go through it and identify any issues. At this point your focus should be on clarity, coherence, and grammar so that the writing becomes succinct, well-organized, and free
Exercise
1. Reflect on any of the proposal or report you have ever written and explain how convincing and captivating it was.
2. Describe the following aspeets involved in developing research methodology: research design, population, sampling and sampling methods.