dissertation law proposal

Legal Dissertation: Research and Writing Guide

About this guide, video on choosing a topic, tools on westlaw, lexis and bloomberg, circuit splits, research methodologies, additional methodology resources, conducting a literature review, beginning research, writing style guides, citation guides, ask a librarian.

Ask a librarian:

Reference Hours:

Monday - Friday: 9am-5pm

(812) 855-2938

Q&A Form

About This Page

Choosing a topic can be one of the most challenging aspects of writing an extensive paper. This page has resources to help you find topics and inspiration, before you get started on the in-depth research process.

Related Guides

Citation and Writing Resources

Legal Research Tutorials

Secondary Sources for Legal Research

Methods of Finding Cases

Methods of Finding Statutes

Current Awareness and Alerting Resources

Compiling State Legislative Histories

Locating International and Foreign Law Journals

This guide contains resources to help students researching and writing a legal dissertation or other upper-level writing project. Some of the resources in this guide are directed at researching and writing in general, not specifically on legal topics, but the strategies and tips can still be applied.

The Law Library maintains a number of other guides on related skills and topics that may be of interest:

The Wells Library also maintains guides. A few that may be helpful for managing research can be found here:

Choosing a Topic

This video discusses tips and strategies for choosing a dissertation topic.

Note: this video is not specific to legal dissertation topics, but it may still be of interest as an overview generally.

The Bloomberg/BNA publication United States Law Week can be a helpful resource for tracking down the major legal stories of the day.  Log into Bloomberg Law, in the big search box, start typing United States Law Week and the title will appear in the drop down menu beneath the box. This publication provides coverage of top legal news stories, and in-depth "insight" features.

If you have a general idea of the area of law you wish to write about, check out the Practice Centers on Bloomberg. From the homepage, click the Browse link in the top left-hand corner. Then select Practice Centers and look for your area of law. Practice Centers are helpful because they gather cases, statutes, administrative proceedings, news, and more on the selected legal area.

Bloomberg has other news sources available as well. From the homepage, click the Browse link in the top left-hand corner. Then select News and Analysis, then select News or Analysis, and browse the available topics.

If you know what area of law you'd like to write about, you may find the Browse Topics feature in Lexis Advance helpful for narrowing down your topic. 

Log into Lexis Advance, click the Browse Topics tab, and select a topic.  If you don't see your topic listed, try using the provided search bar to see whether your topic is categorized as a sub-topic within this list. 

Once you click on a topic, a box pops up with several options.  If you click on Get Topic Document, you'll see results listed in a number of categories, including Cases, Legislation, and more.  The News and Legal News categories at the right end of the list may help you identify current developments of interest for your note.  Don't forget about the filtering options on the left that will allow you to search within your results, narrow your jurisdiction, and more.

Similar to Lexis Advance, Westlaw Edge has a Topics tab that may be helpful if you know what area of law you'd like to write about.

Log onto Westlaw Edge, and click on the Topics tab.  This time, you won't be able to search within this list, so if you're area is not listed, you should either run a regular search from the main search bar at the top or try out some of the topics listed under this tab - once you click on a topic, you can search within its contents.

What is great about the Topics in Westlaw Edge is the Practitioner Insights page you access by clicking on a topic.  This is an information portal that allows you quick access to cases, legislation, top news, and more on your selected topic.

In United States federal courts, a circuit split occurs whenever two or more circuit courts of appeals issue conflicting rulings on the same legal question. Circuit splits are ripe for legal analysis and commentary because they present a situation in which federal law is being applied in different ways in different parts of the country, even if the underlying litigants themselves are otherwise similarly situated. The Supreme Court also frequently accepts cases on appeal that involve these types of conflicted rulings from various sister circuits.

To find a circuit split on a topic of interest to you, try searching on Lexis and Westlaw using this method:

in the search box, enter the following: (circuit or court w/s split) AND [insert terms or phrases to narrow the search]

You can also browse for circuit splits on Bloomberg. On the Bloomberg homepage, in the "Law School Success" box, Circuit Splits Charts appear listed under Secondary Sources.

Other sources for circuit splits are American Law Reports (ALR) and American Jurisprudence (AmJur). These publications provide summaries of the law, point out circuit splits, and provide references for further research.

"Blawgs" or law-related blogs are often written by scholars or practitioners in the legal field.  Ordinarily covering current events and developments in law, these posts can provide inspiration for note topics.  To help you find blawgs on a specific topic, consider perusing the ABA's Blawg Directory or Justia's Blawg Search .

Research Methodology

Types of research methodologies.

There are different types of research methodologies. Methodology refers to the strategy employed in conducting research. The following methodologies are some of the most commonly used in legal and social science research.

Doctrinal legal research methodology, also called "black letter" methodology, focuses on the letter of the law rather than the law in action. Using this method, a researcher composes a descriptive and detailed analysis of legal rules found in primary sources (cases, statutes, or regulations). The purpose of this method is to gather, organize, and describe the law; provide commentary on the sources used; then, identify and describe the underlying theme or system and how each source of law is connected.

Doctrinal methodology is good for areas of law that are largely black letter law, such as contract or property law. Under this approach, the researcher conducts a critical, qualitative analysis of legal materials to support a hypothesis. The researcher must identify specific legal rules, then discuss the legal meaning of the rule, its underlying principles, and decision-making under the rule (whether cases interpreting the rule fit together in a coherent system or not). The researcher must also identify ambiguities and criticisms of the law, and offer solutions. Sources of data in doctrinal research include the rule itself, cases generated under the rule, legislative history where applicable, and commentaries and literature on the rule.

This approach is beneficial by providing a solid structure for crafting a thesis, organizing the paper, and enabling a thorough definition and explanation of the rule. The drawbacks of this approach are that it may be too formalistic, and may lead to oversimplifying the legal doctrine.

Comparative

Comparative legal research methodology involves critical analysis of different bodies of law to examine how the outcome of a legal issue could be different under each set of laws. Comparisons could be made between different jurisdictions, such as comparing analysis of a legal issue under American law and the laws of another country, or researchers may conduct historical comparisons.

When using a comparative approach be sure to define the reasons for choosing this approach, and identify the benefits of comparing laws from different jurisdictions or time periods, such as finding common ground or determining best practices and solutions. The comparative method can be used by a researcher to better understand their home jurisdiction by analyzing how other jurisdictions handle the same issue. This method can also be used as a critical analytical tool to distinguish particular features of a law. The drawback of this method is that it can be difficult to find material from other jurisdictions. Also, researchers should be sure that the comparisons are relevant to the thesis and not just used for description.

This type of research uses data analysis to study legal systems. A detailed guide on empirical methods can be found here . The process of empirical research involves four steps: design the project, collect and code the data, analyze the data, determine best method of presenting the results. The first step, designing the project, is when researchers define their hypothesis and concepts in concrete terms that can be observed. Next, researchers must collect and code the data by determining the possible sources of information and available collection methods, and then putting the data into a format that can be analyzed. When researchers analyze the data, they are comparing the data to their hypothesis. If the overlap between the two is significant, then their hypothesis is confirmed, but if there is little to no overlap, then their hypothesis is incorrect. Analysis involves summarizing the data and drawing inferences. There are two types of statistical inference in empirical research, descriptive and causal. Descriptive inference is close to summary, but the researcher uses the known data from the sample to draw conclusions about the whole population. Causal inference is the difference between two descriptive inferences.

Two main types of empirical legal research are qualitative and quantitative.

Quantitative, or numerical, empirical legal research involves taking information about cases and courts, translating that information into numbers, and then analyzing those numbers with statistical tools.

Qualitative, or non-numerical, empirical legal research involves extracting  information from the text of court documents, then interpreting and organizing the text into categories, and using that information to identify patterns.

Drafting The Methodology Section

This is the part of your paper that describes the research methodology, or methodologies if you used more than one. This section will contain a detailed description of how the research was conducted and why it was conducted in that way. First, draft an outline of what you must include in this section and gather the information needed.

Generally, a methodology section will contain the following:

• Statement of research objectives
• Reasons for the research methodology used
• Description and rationale of the data collection tools, sampling techniques, and data sources used, including a description of how the data collection tools were administered
• Discussion of the limitations
• Discussion of the data analysis tools used

Be sure that you have clearly defined the reasoning behind the chosen methodology and sources.

• Legal Reasoning, Research, and Writing for International Graduate Students Nadia E. Nedzel Aspen (2004) A guide to American legal research and the federal system, written for international students. Includes information on the research process, and tips for writing. Located in the Law Library, 3rd Floor: KF 240 .N43 2004.
• Methodologies of Legal Research: Which Kind of Method for What Kind of Discipline? Mark van Hoecke Oxford (2013) This book examines different methods of legal research including doctrinal, comparative, and interdisciplinary. Located at Lilly Law Library, Indianapolis, 2nd Floor: K 235 .M476 2013. IU students may request item via IUCAT.
• An Introduction to Empirical Legal Research Lee Epstein and Andrew D. Martin Oxford University Press (2014) This book includes information on designing research, collecting and coding data, analyzing data, and drafting the final paper. Located at Lilly Law Library, Indianapolis, 2nd Floor: K 85 .E678 2014. IU students may request item via IUCAT.
• Emplirical Legal Studies Blog The ELS blog was created by several law professors, and focuses on using empirical methods in legal research, theory, and scholarship. Search or browse the blog to find entries on methodology, data sources, software, and other tips and techniques.

Literature Review

The literature review provides an examination of existing pieces of research, and serves as a foundation for further research. It allows the researcher to critically evaluate existing scholarship and research practices, and puts the new thesis in context. When conducting a literature review, one should consider the following: who are the leading scholars in the subject area; what has been published on the subject; what factors or subtopics have these scholars identified as important for further examination; what research methods have others used; what were the pros and cons of using those methods; what other theories have been explored.

The literature review should include a description of coverage. The researcher should describe what material was selected and why, and how those selections are relevant to the thesis. Discuss what has been written on the topic and where the thesis fits in the context of existing scholarship. The researcher should evaluate the sources and methodologies used by other researchers, and describe how the thesis different.

The following video gives an overview of conducting a literature review.

Note: this video is not specific to legal literature, however it may be helpful as a general overview.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few suggestions for digging into sources once you have selected a topic.

Research Guides

Research guides are discovery tools, or gateways of information. They pull together lists of sources on a topic. Some guides even offer brief overviews and additional research steps specifically for that topic. Many law libraries offer guides on a variety of subjects. You can locate guides by visiting library websites, such as this Library's site , the Law Library of Congress , or other schools like Georgetown . Some organizations also compile research guides, such as the American Society of International Law . Utilizing a research guide on your topic to generate an introductory source list can save you valuable time.

Secondary Sources

It is often a good idea to begin research with secondary sources. These resources summarize, explain, and analyze the law. They also provide references to primary sources and other secondary sources. This saves you time and effort, and can help you quickly identify major themes under your topic and help you place your thesis in context.

Encyclopedias provide broad coverage of all areas of the law, but do not go in-depth on narrow topics, or discuss differences by jurisdiction, or  include all of the pertinent cases. American Jurisprudence ( AmJur ) and Corpus Juris Secundum ( CJS ) have nationwide coverage, while the Indiana Law Encyclopedia focuses on Indiana state law. A number of other states also have their own state-specific encyclopedias.

American Law Reports ( ALR ) are annotations that synopsize various cases on narrow legal topics. Each annotation covers a different topic, and provides a leading or typical case on the topic, plus cases from different jurisdictions that follow different rules, or cases where different facts applying the same rule led to different outcomes. The annotations also refer to other secondary sources.  

Legal periodicals include several different types of publications such as law reviews from academic institutions or organizations, bar journals, and commercial journals/newspapers/newsletters. Legal periodicals feature articles that describe the current state of the law and often explore underlying policies. They also critique laws, court decisions, and policies, and often advocate for changes. Articles also discuss emerging issues and notify the profession of new developments. Law reviews can be useful for in-depth coverage on narrow topics, and references to primary and other secondary sources. However, content can become outdated and researchers must be mindful of biases in articles. 

Treatises/Hornbooks/Practice Guides are a type of secondary source that provides comprehensive coverage of a legal subject. It could be broad, such as a treatise covering all of contract law, or very narrow such as a treatise focused only on search and seizure cases. These sources are good when you have some general background on the topic, but you need more in-depth coverage of the legal rules and policies. Treatises are generally well organized, and provide you with finding aids (index, table of contents, etc.) and extensive footnotes or endnotes that will lead you to primary sources like cases, statutes, and regulations. They may also include appendices with supporting material like forms. However, treatises may not be updated as frequently as other sources and may not cover your specific issue or jurisdiction.

Citation and Writing Style

• Legal Writing in Plain English Bryan A. Garner University of Chicago Press, 2001. Call # KF 250 .G373 2001 Location: Law Library, 3rd Floor Provides lawyers, judges, paralegals, law students, and legal scholars with sound advice and practical tools for improving their written work. The leading guide to clear writing in the field, this book offers valuable insights into the writing process: how to organize ideas, create and refine prose, and improve editing skills. This guide uses real-life writing samples that Garner has gathered through decades of teaching experience. Includes sets of basic, intermediate, and advanced exercises in each section.
• The Elements of Legal Style Bryan A. Garner Oxford University Press, 2002. Call # KF 250 .G37 2002 Location: Law Library, 1st Floor, Reference This book explains the full range of what legal writers need to know: mechanics, word choice, structure, and rhetoric, as well as all the special conventions that legal writers should follow in using headings, defined terms, quotations, and many other devices. Garner also provides examples from highly regarded legal writers, including Oliver Wendell Holmes, Clarence Darrow, Frank Easterbrook, and Antonin Scalia.
• Grammarly Blog Blog featuring helpful information about quirks of the English language, for example when to use "affect" or "effect" and other tips. Use the search feature to locate an article relevant to your grammar query.
• Plain English for Lawyers Richard C. Wydick Carolina Academic Press, 2005. Call # KF 250 .W9 2005 Location: Law Library, 3rd Floor Award-winning book that contains guidance to improve the writing of lawyers and law students and to promote the modern trend toward a clear, plain style of legal writing. Includes exercises at the end of each chapter.
• The Chicago Manual of Style University of Chicago Press, 2010. Call # Z 253 .U69 2010 Location: Law Library, 2nd Floor While not addressing legal writing specifically, The Chicago Manual of Style is one of the most widely used and respected style guides in the United States. It focuses on American English and deals with aspects of editorial practice, including grammar and usage, as well as document preparation and formatting.
• The Chicago Manual of Style (Online) Bryan A. Garner and William S. Strong The University of Chicago Press, 2017. Online edition: use the link above to view record in IUCAT, then click the Access link (for IU students only).
• The Bluebook Compiled by the editors of the Columbia Law Review, the Harvard Law Review, the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, and the Yale Law Journal. Harvard Law Review Association, 2015. Call # KF245 .B58 2015 Location: Law Library, 1st Floor, Circulation Desk The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is a style guide that prescribes the most widely used legal citation system in the United States. The Bluebook is taught and used at a majority of U.S. law schools, law reviews and journals, and used in a majority of U.S. federal courts.
• User's Guide to the Bluebook Alan L. Dworsky William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 2015. Call # KF 245 .D853 2015 Location: Law Library, Circulation Desk "This User's Guide is written for practitioners (law students, law clerks, lawyers, legal secretaries and paralegals), and is designed to make the task of mastering citation form as easy and painless as possible. To help alleviate the obstacles faced when using proper citation form, this text is set up as a how-to manual with a step-by-step approach to learning the basic skills of citation and includes the numbers of the relevant Bluebook rules under most chapter subheadings for easy reference when more information is needed"--Provided by the publisher.
• Legal Citation in a Nutshell Larry L. Teply West Academic Publishing, 2016. Call # KF 245 .T47 2016 Location: Law Library, 1st Floor, Circulation Desk This book is designed to ease the task of learning legal citation. It initially focuses on conventions that underlie all accepted forms and systems of legal citation. Building on that understanding and an explanation of the “process” of using citations in legal writing, the book then discusses and illustrates the basic rules.
• Introduction to Basic Legal Citation (Online) Peter W. Martin Cornell Legal Information Institute, 2017. Free online resource. Includes a thorough review of the relevant rules of appellate practice of federal and state courts. It takes account of the latest edition of The Bluebook, published in 2015, and provides a correlation table between this free online citation guide and the Bluebook.
• Last Updated: Oct 24, 2019 11:00 AM
• URL: https://law.indiana.libguides.com/dissertationguide

(Stanford users can avoid this Captcha by logging in.)

• Send to text email RefWorks EndNote printer

Law dissertations : a step-by-step guide

Available online, at the library.

Law Library (Crown)

More options

• Find it at other libraries via WorldCat
• Contributors

Description

Creators/contributors, contents/summary.

• Introduction
• Finding and perfecting your topic
• From a topic to a question
• Creating a good research project
• Planning the project
• Creating a research plan
• Online research
• Methodology
• Empirical research
• Processing literature
• Literature review
• Writing the dissertation
• Referencing
• Structuring the dissertation
• Navigating supervision
• Obtaining a first and avoiding fails
• Preparing for submission.

Bibliographic information

Browse related items.

• Stanford Home
• Maps & Directions
• Search Stanford
• Emergency Info
• Terms of Use
• Non-Discrimination
• Accessibility

© Stanford University , Stanford , California 94305 .

• A-Z Databases
• Training Calendar
• Research Portal

Law: Proposal and Dissertation Writing

Structure of the proposal.

• Conventions of Scholarship
• Dissertation Writing
• Getting started
• Generate Research Ideas
• Brainstorming
• Scanning Material
• Suitability Analysis
• Difference between a topic and a research question
• Literature Review
• Referencing

Faculty Librarian: Law

A proposal should proceed along the following steps:

(1) a clear problem statement is formulated;

(2) the significance of the problem is explained;

(3) a clear research question is formulated;

(4) an answer or solution to the problem is suggested;

(5) the originality of the answer or solution is indicated through a literature survey;

(6) the way in the which the argument will be substantiated in the bulk of the dissertation is outlined;

(7) the method used (and its suitability) to answer or solve the problem is explained;

(8) any definitional issues are clarified; and

(9) a bibliography of materials used is supplied.

• Step 1: Problem Statement
• Step 2: Significance of the Problem/Issue
• Step 3: Research Question
• Step 4: Argument/Answer
• Step 5: Originality of Argument(Literature Survey)
• Step 6: Substantiating the Argument (Chapter Outline)
• Step 7: Methodology
• Step 8: Defining Concepts (Optional)
• Step 9: Bibliography

A proposal commences with a clear problem statement.

• What is the problem that intrigues you?
• What is the issue that you want to deal with?
• What is the question that you want to answer?
• It is often useful to state in your first paragraph as clearly and succinctly as possible what is the problem that you are addressing. Once that is done, the problem is unpacked.
• What is the background to the problem?
• What are the logical building blocks in law and practice that lead to the problem?

These building blocks are very important because they are again reflected in the chapters, where argument is substantiated. Vital to a successful dissertation is a narrowly defined problem. As a research paper is confined to 18 000 words, the issue must be much more limited than that for a mini-dissertation (30 000), full thesis (50 000) or a doctoral dissertation (100 000).

As you will be spending a considerable amount of time on the dissertation, you have to justify this endeavour to yourself, your supervisor and your examiners. Moreover, if the problem is significant, the solution or answer to the problem will be equally important. The significance of the problem may lie in a number of areas. In the case of divergent judgments on an issue, the conflict creates confusion and conflict in practice. The importance could lie in poor service delivery because of badly designed governance structures. Overall, the aim is to state the importance of the research that you will be doing.

Given the problem outlined and having shown its significance, a research question must be formulated that it captures the problem statement. What is the issue or problem that you want to answer? This is a short, concise statement that hones the problem statement into one or more questions.

Very important is that this research question must have a legal focus. It is the legal question you want to answer. Although sub-questions may include issues of development, etc., the main focus must be on some form of law/regulation,etc.

This should also be a measurable question. Indicating your research question as "Examining the effectiveness of insider trading legislation" is not feasible. How will you measure the effectiveness of this legislation?

Having done the reading of the relevant materials you have by now developed a tentative argument or an answer to the problem. You need to state upfront how you will be addressing the problem, what will be the answer or solution. This argument is what binds the dissertation together – providing the central measuring rod in deciding whether any material is relevant or not.

When you start off the proposal writing, you will have some idea of what the answer / argument will be. However, as you develop and substantiate the argument in the various chapters through your thorough engagement with the materials, you may find that the argument is refined, adapted, or changed. This is totally acceptable and even expected. Therefore, while the proposal signals the commencement of the dissertation (and is chapter 1 of the dissertation), it may also be last piece that you write in order to reflect the refinement and reshaping of the argument that occurred along the way.

The criterion by which you will be measured is whether your dissertation has added or contributed to knowledge on the topic. What is the point of the dissertation if the problem has already been solved or the issue addressed?

You must demonstrate the originality of the argument by showing how it compares with the existing literature on the issue. This is done by reading extensively around the issue to determine what other authors have written. In some cases, when you have described the literature on the topic (who wrote and what did they say – not a listing of article or book titles!), you may conclude that no one has yet addressed the particular issue, and therefore, you will provide a unique contribution. Even if you find that the issue has been addressed, you may conclude that it was wrongly or inadequately done. You may argue, for example, that the academic interpretation of a line of court judgments was wrong. The academic enterprise is about challenging accepted views and doctrines.

The focus in the literature survey is on “literature”, namely what other scholars have written. This is not the place to describe the Constitution, legislation or court cases.

The main purpose of the literature survey is to:

(A) Indicate what has been written on the subject and

(B) What will your contribution be? ie, What has not been covered by the literature? How will you contribute?

The bulk of the dissertation is devoted to substantiating the argument. This is done through breaking down your argument into its basic components and devoting a chapter to each component. In the proposal the chapters are outlined, showing how each form part of the argument and contributes to the answer or solution. This is not done by just providing chapter headings. You have to indicate whatthe purpose is of each chapter and what will be argued in that chapter. The emphasis falls on the logical flow of the argument and how each chapter contributes to that flow.

This should be done by way of a brief paragraph description of what will be covered in each proposed chapter.

Having outlined how the argument will be substantiated in the various chapters, you have to show how you will go about this task. What are the materials that you will rely on? What is the methodology that you will follow? If you are analysing court judgments, your primary source of information are case reports. A further primary source of information is legislation, official documents, policies, notices, etc. A secondary source is what other authors have written about the same cases or legislation in the relevant field. As all these materials are found in a library or the internet you may refer to it as a desktop study.

You may want to use empirical data in substantiating your argument. There are a variety ways of collecting such data. Official sources may be used. Newspapers may also be referred to. You may even venture out and collect your own data by, for example, conducting interviews, or inspecting court records. In the case of interviews you need ethical clearance from the University’s Senate Research Committee.

If you are going to do a comparative research, you must explain why, indicate your comparators (comparative countries, etc.) and you must explain why you are using these specific comparators.

In the context of your proposal (and later in chapter 1 of the dissertation), it may be necessary to define some key concepts that will be used in the chapters. This is done to provide the necessary clarity when confusion and ambiguity may be present.

All the materials referred to in the proposal must be listed alphabetically in the bibliography. Use the following main headings:

• Laws, regulation and other legal instruments
• Other government publications: policies, reports, etc.
• Books, chapters in books, articles, reports, internet sources
• << Previous: Home
• Next: Conventions of Scholarship >>
• Last Updated: Oct 6, 2023 3:12 PM
• URL: https://libguides.uwc.ac.za/c.php?g=1352878

UWC LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICES

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Dissertation

How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal

Published on September 21, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.

When starting your thesis or dissertation process, one of the first requirements is a research proposal or a prospectus. It describes what or who you want to examine, delving into why, when, where, and how you will do so, stemming from your research question and a relevant topic .

The proposal or prospectus stage is crucial for the development of your research. It helps you choose a type of research to pursue, as well as whether to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

You can download our templates in the format of your choice below.

Download Word template Download Google Docs template

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

What should your proposal contain, dissertation question examples, what should your proposal look like, dissertation prospectus examples, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about proposals.

Prior to jumping into the research for your thesis or dissertation, you first need to develop your research proposal and have it approved by your supervisor. It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives .

Depending on your department’s requirements, there may be a defense component involved, where you present your research plan in prospectus format to your committee for their approval.

Your proposal should answer the following questions:

• Why is your research necessary?
• What is already known about your topic?
• Where and when will your research be conducted?
• Who should be studied?
• How can the research best be done?

Ultimately, your proposal should persuade your supervisor or committee that your proposed project is worth pursuing.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Strong research kicks off with a solid research question , and dissertations are no exception to this.

Dissertation research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly
• What are the main factors enticing people under 30 in suburban areas to engage in the gig economy?
• Which techniques prove most effective for 1st-grade teachers at local elementary schools in engaging students with special needs?
• Which communication streams are the most effective for getting those aged 18-30 to the polls on Election Day?

An easy rule of thumb is that your proposal will usually resemble a (much) shorter version of your thesis or dissertation. While of course it won’t include the results section , discussion section , or conclusion , it serves as a “mini” version or roadmap for what you eventually seek to write.

Be sure to include:

• A succinct introduction to your topic and problem statement
• A brief literature review situating your topic within existing research
• A basic outline of the research methods you think will best answer your research question
• The perceived implications for future research
• A reference list in the citation style of your choice

The length of your proposal varies quite a bit depending on your discipline and type of work you’re conducting. While a thesis proposal is often only 3-7 pages long, a prospectus for your dissertation is usually much longer, with more detailed analysis. Dissertation proposals can be up to 25-30 pages in length.

Writing a proposal or prospectus can be a challenge, but we’ve compiled some examples for you to get your started.

• Example #1: “Geographic Representations of the Planet Mars, 1867-1907” by Maria Lane
• Example #2: “Individuals and the State in Late Bronze Age Greece: Messenian Perspectives on Mycenaean Society” by Dimitri Nakassis
• Example #3: “Manhood Up in the Air: A Study of Male Flight Attendants, Queerness, and Corporate Capitalism during the Cold War Era” by Phil Tiemeyer

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

Research bias

• Survivorship bias
• Self-serving bias
• Availability heuristic
• Halo effect
• Hindsight bias
• Deep learning
• Generative AI
• Machine learning
• Reinforcement learning
• Supervised vs. unsupervised learning

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

The research methods you use depend on the type of data you need to answer your research question .

• If you want to measure something or test a hypothesis , use quantitative methods . If you want to explore ideas, thoughts and meanings, use qualitative methods .
• If you want to analyze a large amount of readily-available data, use secondary data. If you want data specific to your purposes with control over how it is generated, collect primary data.
• If you want to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables , use experimental methods. If you want to understand the characteristics of a research subject, use descriptive methods.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

• Your anticipated title
• Your abstract
• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims, that you collect high-quality data, and that you use the right kind of analysis to answer your questions, utilizing credible sources . This allows you to draw valid , trustworthy conclusions.

The priorities of a research design can vary depending on the field, but you usually have to specify:

• Your research questions and/or hypotheses
• Your overall approach (e.g., qualitative or quantitative )
• The type of design you’re using (e.g., a survey , experiment , or case study )
• Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects
• Your data collection methods (e.g., questionnaires , observations)
• Your data collection procedures (e.g., operationalization , timing and data management)
• Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical tests  or thematic analysis )

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

George, T. (2023, July 18). How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal. Scribbr. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/thesis-dissertation-proposal/

Is this article helpful?

Tegan George

Other students also liked, a step-by-step guide to the writing process, 10 research question examples to guide your research project, dissertation & thesis outline | example & free templates, what is your plagiarism score.

• School of Law
• Postgraduate

Writing a PhD research proposal

The following guidance has been compiled to help you submit a high quality application that is targeted to the research strengths of The School of Law.

Choosing a research topic

PhDs are supposed to contain an element of originality and innovation. Originality need not mean that you explore a wholly new concept. For instance, it might also include applying new methods or new theories to existing scholarship on the topic. They also need to be backed up by logically reasoned evidence and argument – whether that is provided by theoretical or empirical sources.

The types of thesis that could be constructed:

An analysis of a specific area of law or criminology on which there is no significant existing literature. The lack of existing literature may be explained by the relative newness of the body of law and/or creation of institutions; or the previous lack of attention given to the practical impact of the chosen area of study. A thesis in this area might attempt to describe, explain and rationalise the development of this particular area of law and/ or critically analyse the content of the legal system being researched.

An analysis applying, analysing, or evaluating existing studies in a new context. For instance, one might extend a study of one jurisdiction to another, providing comparative evidence that tests the applicability of existing research and enables the existing theory to be challenged, reconsidered, or expanded upon.

An empirical study of  an area of law or criminology where there is existing doctrinal, conceptual, or theoretical literature, but limited empirical evidence to test those doctrines, concepts, or theories. Such an empirical study would still require a degree of originality but would be academically interesting if it offers a view of the area of study not previously attempted and/or allowed for an appraisal of the effectiveness of the law as it currently stands and is organised.

An in-depth critical study of a specific aspect of law or criminology. Such an examination may consist solely or mainly of library based or theoretical work, or include an element of socio-legal research. As well as recognising existing literature, such an approach needs to make clear how this project would build on and add to that work. The answer may be that the area of law or criminology has evolved or the work itself takes a very different approach to analysing the problem.

Before drafting a research proposal it is a good idea to consult with any academic contacts you already have for their feedback.

The Research Proposal

Applications must include an outline research proposal. If a proposal is submitted without a proposal it will be automatically rejected.

The application asks you to give a description of your research project, including the research questions to be addressed, the methodology to be used, the sources to be consulted and a brief timetable. Your proposal should be included in the application as a separate attachment, and distinguished from your supporting statement (if you include one).

There is no set format or page length for proposals, although to keep the proposal concise and clear while still providing enough information, we recommend limiting yourself to 1,500-2,500 words. Within your application it is useful to identify and bear in mind some or all of the following points:

It is important that you demonstrate clearly the area that you intend to research and provide some indication that you are already knowledgeable in the area that you intend to research. This can be achieved through suitable references and/or by supplying a bibliography to support your application.

Research is about more than collating knowledge already in the public domain. Within your application you should indicate how you intend to add to the knowledge that you will be uncovering. Examples of potential aims include: adding to existing theory; disproving previous understandings; a critique of the current legal position; a defended positive/negative prognosis of the impact of a new legal provision; new empirically obtained findings. You may find it helpful to express your research aims as questions to be answered, or as aims to fulfil by doing the research. Try to limit the number of aims of your study as much as possible.

A research application is more likely to be accepted if you can demonstrate that it has relevance and academic merit. Ultimately PhDs are awarded where a piece of work can demonstrate some originality and innovation. This should be explained within your application.

It is rare for an entirely original piece of research to be written. Therefore, the links with existing research should be made clear, as should the possibilities your work might open up for future research. You should provide some background to the research, exploring the wider literature and making as clear as possible what makes your proposed research original in the context of that literature.

In other words, how do you intend to undertake the research? Methods may include reviewing library-based resources or empirical research. If the latter, then what form – e.g. quantitative or qualitative analysis, and what evidence can you provide that you have the skills to undertake such research. These methods should be carefully considered in relation to the research aims and questions you are seeking to address in the proposed research.

You must consider the partnerships, knowledge exchange and impacts associated with your proposed research. If you already have collaborative arrangements in place with relevant external stakeholders then you should describe these and potentially also provide letters of support, in principle, if you have them. You should consider the likely impacts of your proposed research and how these will be achieved, as well as your plans for disseminating your research findings beyond academia.

If you are applying for WRDTP or WRoCAH scholarships, it is essential that you consider how your proposed research fits in with the research pathways or clusters of these two funders. The quality of your scholarship application will be judged partly by the fit of your research within these pathways or clusters.

Your application should not be too unrealistic as to what can be delivered. It is also wise to predict the likely challenges that you will face in undertaking the research and suggest ways in which those challenges can be overcome.

What to avoid

Research proposals should not be viewed as binding contracts. Most first-year PhD students adapt their research proposal once they start studying the topic in more depth and working with their supervisor. Nevertheless, a PhD proposal should amount to a coherent, intelligent, realistic and relatively well thought-out idea of an area of potential research.

The following errors should be avoided if possible:

Simplistic descriptions of an area of study should be avoided – eg ‘I want to research EU law’. The specific focus of the research must be clear.

Offer to review or analyse an area of law on which there is already a significant existing literature. PhDs should be attempting something more than bringing together knowledge that already exists.

Develop a research proposal primarily because the topic is or has been fashionable. Topics such as the legality of the war in Iraq, the operation of the International Criminal Court or the Human Rights Act 1998 remain extremely important areas of academic study, but as a PhD student it is going to be very difficult to say anything interesting, new or original about these topics.

Avoid trying to resolve grand problems in one thesis. The best research proposals tend to focus on discrete and well-confined subject areas.

Relying upon a comparison to provide the intellectual component of the proposal, whether that is a comparison between different institutions, different bodies of law or different countries. Comparative research proposals are worthy if properly thought out. If the comparison is between different legal systems for instance, in the submission it needs to be made clear why that comparison could be a useful one and what can be learnt from the comparison. For instance, you may be undertaking research in the UK and from Botswana, but that does not mean that there are any valid reasons why comparing the UK to Botswana is actually worthwhile in your subject area.

Relatedly, you should consider the research expertise of supervisors at the University of Sheffield, and the value that studying at Sheffield adds to your research. Generally a PhD submitted in a UK university should contribute to knowledge about the UK, or about global/international issues. If you want to research another country of jurisdiction, you need to provide a credible reason for why Sheffield is a good place to undertake that study, as opposed to an institution in that country.

Make sure that your methodology is as clear and specific as you can make it at this early stage. Proposals that say, “I will use qualitative methods” are unlikely to succeed because they suggest an ignorance of the diversity of qualitative methods. Ideally, you should be able to say something about: 

the methods you will use (e.g. surveys, documentary analysis, interviews, observation, ethnography, audio-visual methods...); 

the target populations of your research (eg, a study of criminal courts might seek to recruit judges, lawyers, ushers, defendants, police officers, or other actors. Which groups do you want to participate in your research, and why? The answer to this question should bear some relation to your research aims); and, 

If possible, the approximate number of participants you want to recruit for each method (for instance, you might want to conduct 10-15 interviews with each of two groups of participants, or to survey 500 people) and how they will be accessed/recruited. Try to be realistic about how long empirical research takes, and how many research participants it is possible to study.

How these chosen methods are likely to illuminate the research questions of the proposed research

Ethical considerations of the research in relation to things like informed consent, anonymity, the safeguarding of researchers and participants

It may not be possible to say much at this stage, but the more details you can provide, the clearer it will be that you have thought seriously about your research project, and the easier it will be for the School of Law to evaluate its feasibility.

Positive steps to take

When we make an offer we will do so on the basis of various considerations. Making an effort to foreshadow those considerations in your application is a good idea. It is advisable to submit a supporting statement alongside the research proposal. Issues to consider include:

Why did you choose to apply to the University of Sheffield?

Can you provide any evidence to suggest that you are capable of completing an extensive piece of research and have the character to undertake three years of study, on a relatively low income and with only supervisory support?

Does the research proposal fit into one of the areas in which the Law School has a speciality ? Often a proposal only needs minor adaptation to fall within an area the School can supervise, but to improve your chances of success it is worthwhile reviewing the academic profile of the various staff in the Law School before you submit an application.

If you are able, it would be helpful to have a look at some past PhD theses in your own area of interest which have been successfully submitted at a UK university. Most UK universities have copies in the library of all past successful PhDs, either as physical copies or in an online repository. 

The online application form requires you to provide some standard information about yourself and your past academic performance. Please ensure that this information is correct and that you provide evidence to support your qualifications.

The references that your referees provide are important sources of information for us. Wherever possible, it is helpful to provide (where possible) a reference from at least one academic who is aware of your research potential and has read some of your work.

Search for PhD opportunities at Sheffield and be part of our world-leading research.

University of Warwick Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research.

• Search WRAP
• Browse by Warwick Author
• Browse WRAP by Year
• Browse WRAP by Subject
• Browse WRAP by Department
• Browse WRAP by Funder
• Browse Theses by Department
• Search Publications Service
• Browse Publications service by Year
• Browse Publications service by Subject
• Browse Publications service by Department
• Browse Publications service by Funder
• Help & Advice

The Library

Law dissertations : a step-by-step guide.

Lammasniemi, Laura (2021) Law dissertations : a step-by-step guide. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780367568771

This is the latest version of this item.

Research output not available from this repository.

Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.

Request Changes to record. --> Request Changes to record.

Law Dissertations: A Step-by-Step Guide provides you with all the guidance and information you need to complete and succeed in your LLB, LLM or law-related dissertation. Written in a simple, clear format and with plenty of tools to help you to put the theory into practice, Laura Lammasniemi will show you how to make writing your law dissertation easy, without compromising intellectual rigour.

As well as explaining the process of research and outlining the various legal methodologies, the book also provides practical, step-by-step guidance on how to formulate a proposal, research plan, and literature review. Unlike other law research skills books, it includes a section on empirical research methodology and ethics for the benefit of students who are studying for a law-related degree.

Packed full of exercises, worked examples and tools for self-evaluation, this book is sure to become your essential guide, supporting you on every step of your journey in writing your law dissertation.

Item Type:	Book
Subjects:
Divisions:
Publisher:	Routledge
Place of Publication:	London
ISBN:	9780367568771
Official Date:	14 December 2021
Dates:	Date Event 14 December 2021 Published 1 September 2021 Accepted 2nd edition Request changes or add full text files to a record --> Request changes or add full text files to a record Available Versions of this Item Law dissertations : a step-by-step guide. (deposited 17 Dec 2021 14:51) [Currently Displayed] Repository staff actions (login required) View Item Email us: [email protected] Contact Details About Us HLS Dissertations, Theses, and JD Papers S.j.d. dissertations, ll.m. papers, ll.m. theses, j.d. papers, submitting your paper to an online collection, other sources for student papers beyond harvard, getting help, introduction. This is a guide to finding Harvard Law School (“HLS”) student-authored works held by the Library and in online collections. This guide covers HLS S.J.D Dissertations, LL.M. papers, J.D. third-year papers, seminar papers, and prize papers. There have been changes in the HLS degree requirements for written work. The library’s collection practices and catalog descriptions for these works has varied. Please note that there are gaps in the library’s collection and for J.D. papers, few of these works are being collected any longer. If we have an S.J.D. dissertation or LL.M. thesis, we have two copies. One is kept in the general collection and one in the Red Set, an archival collection of works authored by HLS affiliates. If we have a J.D. paper, we have only one copy, kept in the Red Set. Red Set copies are last resort copies available only by advance appointment in Historical and Special Collections . Some papers have not been processed by library staff. If HOLLIS indicates a paper is “ordered-received” please use this form to have library processing completed. The HLS Doctor of Juridical Science (“S.J.D.”) program began in 1910.  The library collection of these works is not comprehensive. Exceptions are usually due to scholars’ requests to withhold Library deposit.  HLS S.J.D. Dissertations in HOLLIS To refine these search results by topic or faculty advisor, or limit by date, click Add a New Line. Hein’s Legal Theses and Dissertations Microfiche Mic K556.H45x Drawers 947-949 This microfiche set includes legal theses and dissertations from HLS and other premier law schools. It currently includes about 300 HLS dissertations and theses. Hein's Legal Theses and Dissertations Contents List This content list is in order by school only, not by date, subject or author. It references microfiche numbers within the set housed in the Microforms room on the entry level of the library, drawers 947-949. The fiche are a different color for each institution. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses @ Harvard University (Harvard login) Copy this search syntax: dg(S.J.D.) You will find about 130 SJD Dissertations dated from 1972 to 2004. They are not available in full text. DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard Sponsored by Harvard University’s Office for Scholarly Communication, DASH is an open repository for research papers by members of the Harvard community. There are currently about 600 HLS student papers included. Unfortunately it is not possible to search by type of paper or degree awarded. The Master of Laws (“LL.M.”) degree has been awarded since 1923. Originally, the degree required completion of a major research paper, akin to a thesis. Since 1993, most students have the option of writing the LL.M. "short paper."  This is a 25-page (or longer) paper advised by a faculty supervisor or completed in conjunction with a seminar.  Fewer LL.M. candidates continue to write the more extensive "long-paper." LL.M. candidates holding J.D.s from the U.S. must write the long paper. HLS Written Work Requirements for LL.M. Degree The current explanation of the LL.M. written work requirement for the master of laws. The library generally holds HLS LL.M. long papers and short papers. In recent years, we require author release in order to do so. In HOLLIS, no distinction is made between types of written work created in satisfaction of the LL.M. degree; all are described as LL.M. thesis. Though we describe them as thesis, the law school refers to them solely as papers or in earlier years, essays. HOLLIS records indicate the number of pages, so at the record level, it is possible to distinguish long papers. HLS LL.M. Papers in HOLLIS To refine these search results by topic, faculty advisor, seminar or date, click Add a New Line. HLS LL.M. Papers are sometimes available in DASH and Hein's Legal Dissertations and Theses. See descriptions above . The HLS J.D. written work requirement has changed over time. The degree formerly required a substantial research paper comparable in scope to a law review article written under faculty supervision, the "third year paper." Since 2008, J.D. students have the option of using two shorter works instead. Of all those written, the library holds relatively few third-year papers. They were not actively collected but accepted by submission from faculty advisors who deemed a paper worthy of institutional retention. The papers are described in HOLLIS as third year papers, seminar papers, and student papers. Sometimes this distinction was valid, but not always. The faculty deposit tradition more or less ended in 2006, though the possibility of deposit still exists.  J.D. Written Work Requirement Faculty Deposit of Student Papers with the Library HLS Third Year Papers in HOLLIS To refine these search results by topic, faculty advisor, seminar or date, click Add a New Line. HLS Student Papers Some third-year papers and LL.M. papers were described in HOLLIS simply as student papers. To refine these search results, click "Add a New Line" and add topic, faculty advisor, or course title. HLS Seminar Papers Note that these include legal research pathfinders produced for the Advanced Legal Research course when taught by Virginia Wise. Prize Papers HLS has many endowed prizes for student papers and essays. There are currently 16 different writing prizes. See this complete descriptive list with links to lists of winners from 2009 to present. Note that there is not always a winner each year for each award. Prize winners are announced each year in the commencement pamphlet. The Library has not specifically collected prize papers over the years but has added copies when possible. The HOLLIS record for the paper will usually indicate its status as a prize paper. The most recent prize paper was added to the collection in 2006. Addison Brown Prize Animal Law & Policy Program Writing Prize Victor Brudney Prize Davis Polk Legal Profession Paper Prize Roger Fisher and Frank E.A. Sander Prize Yong K. Kim ’95 Memorial Prize Islamic Legal Studies Program Prize on Islamic Law Laylin Prize LGBTQ Writing Prize Mancini Prize Irving Oberman Memorial Awards John M. Olin Prize in Law and Economics Project on the Foundations of Private Law Prize Sidney I. Roberts Prize Fund Klemens von Klemperer Prize Stephen L. Werner Prize Harvard Law School Prize Essays (1850-1868) A historical collection of handwritten prize essays covering the range of topics covered at that time. See this finding aid for a collection description. The following information about online repositories is not a recommendation or endorsement to participate. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses HLS is not an institutional participant to this collection. If you are interested in submitting your work, refer to these instructions and note that there is a fee required, which varies depending on the format of submission. EBSCO Open Dissertations Relatively new, this is an open repository of metadata for dissertations. It is an outgrowth of the index American Doctoral Dissertations. The aim is to cover 1933 to present and, for modern works, to link to full text available in institutional repositories. Harvard is not one of the institutional participants. DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard Sponsored by Harvard University’s Office for Scholarly Communication, this is an open repository for research papers by members of the Harvard community. See more information about the project.  Some HLS students have submitted their degree paper to DASH.  If you would like to submit your paper, you may use this authorization form  or contact June Casey , Librarian for Open Access Initiatives and Scholarly Communication at Harvard Law School. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (Harvard Login) Covers dissertations and masters' theses from North American graduate schools and many worldwide. Provides full text for many since the 1990s and has descriptive data for older works. NDLTD Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations Union Catalog Worldwide in scope, NDLTD contains millions of records of electronic theses and dissertations from the early 1900s to the present. Law Commons of the Digital Commons Network The Law Commons has dissertations and theses, as well as many other types of scholarly research such as book chapters and conference proceedings. They aim to collect free, full-text scholarly work from hundreds of academic institutions worldwide. EBSCO Open Dissertations Doctoral dissertations from many institutions. Free, open repository. Dissertations from Center for Research Libraries Dissertations found in this resource are available to the Harvard University Community through Interlibrary Loan. British Library EThOS Dissertation source from the British Library listing doctoral theses awarded in the UK. Some available for immediate download and some others may be requested for scanning. BASE from Bielefeld University Library Index of the open repositoris of most academic institutions. Includes many types of documents including doctoral and masters theses. Contact Us!   Ask Us!  Submit a question or search our knowledge base. Chat with us!  Chat   with a librarian (HLS only) Email: [email protected]  Contact Historical & Special Collections at [email protected]   Meet with Us   Schedule an online consult with a Librarian Hours  Library Hours Classes  View  Training Calendar  or  Request an Insta-Class  Text  Ask a Librarian, 617-702-2728  Call  Reference & Research Services, 617-495-4516 Last Updated: Sep 12, 2023 10:46 AM URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/studentpapers Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy Have a language expert improve your writing Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, automatically generate references for free. Knowledge Base Dissertation How to Write a Dissertation Proposal | A Step-by-Step Guide Published on 14 February 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 11 November 2022. A dissertation proposal describes the research you want to do: what it’s about, how you’ll conduct it, and why it’s worthwhile. You will probably have to write a proposal before starting your dissertation as an undergraduate or postgraduate student. A dissertation proposal should generally include: An introduction to your topic and aims A literature review  of the current state of knowledge An outline of your proposed methodology A discussion of the possible implications of the research A bibliography  of relevant sources Dissertation proposals vary a lot in terms of length and structure, so make sure to follow any guidelines given to you by your institution, and check with your supervisor when you’re unsure. Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text Be assured that you'll submit flawless writing. Upload your document to correct all your mistakes. Table of contents Step 1: coming up with an idea, step 2: presenting your idea in the introduction, step 3: exploring related research in the literature review, step 4: describing your methodology, step 5: outlining the potential implications of your research, step 6: creating a reference list or bibliography. Before writing your proposal, it’s important to come up with a strong idea for your dissertation. Find an area of your field that interests you and do some preliminary reading in that area. What are the key concerns of other researchers? What do they suggest as areas for further research, and what strikes you personally as an interesting gap in the field? Once you have an idea, consider how to narrow it down and the best way to frame it. Don’t be too ambitious or too vague – a dissertation topic needs to be specific enough to be feasible. Move from a broad field of interest to a specific niche: Russian literature 19th century Russian literature The novels of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky Social media Mental health effects of social media Influence of social media on young adults suffering from anxiety The only proofreading tool specialized in correcting academic writing The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts and by native English editors. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students. Correct my document today Like most academic texts, a dissertation proposal begins with an introduction . This is where you introduce the topic of your research, provide some background, and most importantly, present your aim , objectives and research question(s) . Try to dive straight into your chosen topic: What’s at stake in your research? Why is it interesting? Don’t spend too long on generalisations or grand statements: Social media is the most important technological trend of the 21st century. It has changed the world and influences our lives every day. Psychologists generally agree that the ubiquity of social media in the lives of young adults today has a profound impact on their mental health. However, the exact nature of this impact needs further investigation. Once your area of research is clear, you can present more background and context. What does the reader need to know to understand your proposed questions? What’s the current state of research on this topic, and what will your dissertation contribute to the field? If you’re including a literature review, you don’t need to go into too much detail at this point, but give the reader a general sense of the debates that you’re intervening in. This leads you into the most important part of the introduction: your aim, objectives and research question(s) . These should be clearly identifiable and stand out from the text – for example, you could present them using bullet points or bold font. Make sure that your research questions are specific and workable – something you can reasonably answer within the scope of your dissertation. Avoid being too broad or having too many different questions. Remember that your goal in a dissertation proposal is to convince the reader that your research is valuable and feasible: Does social media harm mental health? What is the impact of daily social media use on 18– to 25–year–olds suffering from general anxiety disorder? Now that your topic is clear, it’s time to explore existing research covering similar ideas. This is important because it shows you what is missing from other research in the field and ensures that you’re not asking a question someone else has already answered. You’ve probably already done some preliminary reading, but now that your topic is more clearly defined, you need to thoroughly analyse and evaluate the most relevant sources in your literature review . Here you should summarise the findings of other researchers and comment on gaps and problems in their studies. There may be a lot of research to cover, so make effective use of paraphrasing to write concisely: Smith and Prakash state that ‘our results indicate a 25% decrease in the incidence of mechanical failure after the new formula was applied’. Smith and Prakash’s formula reduced mechanical failures by 25%. The point is to identify findings and theories that will influence your own research, but also to highlight gaps and limitations in previous research which your dissertation can address: Subsequent research has failed to replicate this result, however, suggesting a flaw in Smith and Prakash’s methods. It is likely that the failure resulted from… Next, you’ll describe your proposed methodology : the specific things you hope to do, the structure of your research and the methods that you will use to gather and analyse data. You should get quite specific in this section – you need to convince your supervisor that you’ve thought through your approach to the research and can realistically carry it out. This section will look quite different, and vary in length, depending on your field of study. You may be engaged in more empirical research, focusing on data collection and discovering new information, or more theoretical research, attempting to develop a new conceptual model or add nuance to an existing one. Dissertation research often involves both, but the content of your methodology section will vary according to how important each approach is to your dissertation. Empirical research Empirical research involves collecting new data and analysing it in order to answer your research questions. It can be quantitative (focused on numbers), qualitative (focused on words and meanings), or a combination of both. With empirical research, it’s important to describe in detail how you plan to collect your data: Will you use surveys ? A lab experiment ? Interviews? What variables will you measure? How will you select a representative sample ? If other people will participate in your research, what measures will you take to ensure they are treated ethically? What tools (conceptual and physical) will you use, and why? It’s appropriate to cite other research here. When you need to justify your choice of a particular research method or tool, for example, you can cite a text describing the advantages and appropriate usage of that method. Don’t overdo this, though; you don’t need to reiterate the whole theoretical literature, just what’s relevant to the choices you have made. Moreover, your research will necessarily involve analysing the data after you have collected it. Though you don’t know yet what the data will look like, it’s important to know what you’re looking for and indicate what methods (e.g. statistical tests , thematic analysis ) you will use. Theoretical research You can also do theoretical research that doesn’t involve original data collection. In this case, your methodology section will focus more on the theory you plan to work with in your dissertation: relevant conceptual models and the approach you intend to take. For example, a literary analysis dissertation rarely involves collecting new data, but it’s still necessary to explain the theoretical approach that will be taken to the text(s) under discussion, as well as which parts of the text(s) you will focus on: This dissertation will utilise Foucault’s theory of panopticism to explore the theme of surveillance in Orwell’s 1984 and Kafka’s The Trial… Here, you may refer to the same theorists you have already discussed in the literature review. In this case, the emphasis is placed on how you plan to use their contributions in your own research. You’ll usually conclude your dissertation proposal with a section discussing what you expect your research to achieve. You obviously can’t be too sure: you don’t know yet what your results and conclusions will be. Instead, you should describe the projected implications and contribution to knowledge of your dissertation. First, consider the potential implications of your research. Will you: Develop or test a theory? Provide new information to governments or businesses? Challenge a commonly held belief? Suggest an improvement to a specific process? Describe the intended result of your research and the theoretical or practical impact it will have: Finally, it’s sensible to conclude by briefly restating the contribution to knowledge you hope to make: the specific question(s) you hope to answer and the gap the answer(s) will fill in existing knowledge: Like any academic text, it’s important that your dissertation proposal effectively references all the sources you have used. You need to include a properly formatted reference list or bibliography at the end of your proposal. Different institutions recommend different styles of referencing – commonly used styles include Harvard , Vancouver , APA , or MHRA . If your department does not have specific requirements, choose a style and apply it consistently. A reference list includes only the sources that you cited in your proposal. A bibliography is slightly different: it can include every source you consulted in preparing the proposal, even if you didn’t mention it in the text. In the case of a dissertation proposal, a bibliography may also list relevant sources that you haven’t yet read, but that you intend to use during the research itself. Check with your supervisor what type of bibliography or reference list you should include. Cite this Scribbr article If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator. Caulfield, J. (2022, November 11). How to Write a Dissertation Proposal | A Step-by-Step Guide. Scribbr. Retrieved 24 June 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/proposal/ Is this article helpful? Jack Caulfield Other students also liked, what is a dissertation | 5 essential questions to get started, what is a literature review | guide, template, & examples, what is a research methodology | steps & tips. Writing for LL.M. Students At HLS, students have excellent opportunities for writing in many different areas of the law, in a variety of different formats, and under the supervision of, or in collaboration with, many HLS faculty members. Faculty encourage and actively support student writing, working closely with students on papers written for academic credit, journal articles, and books. The  Written Work Requirement  is a degree requirement for the LL.M. degree. Students interested in doing  additional writing  beyond the requirement may choose to write optional papers for writing credit. In addition to writing for academic credit, HLS students may collaborate with faculty members, often serving as co-authors for books and law journal articles. Students also work closely with faculty to publish articles of their own. Students may also publish papers through the online student paper series sponsored by the HLS Library. Many of our students are involved in reviewing, selecting, and editing faculty work for publication in Harvard’s  sixteen student-run law journals . Journal participation is a central part of the intellectual life of many HLS students; over 800 students work on journals each year. For questions on LL.M. Writing Opportunities at HLS, please contact the  Graduate Program . More Information about Written Work for LL.M. Students LL.M. Written Work Requirement Additional Written Work Opportunities Written Work Registration/Submission Deadlines Written Work Registration Forms Written Work Supervisors Winter Writing Program FAQ Upper-level J.D. and LL.M. Writing Groups Modal Gallery Gallery block modal gallery. How it works Sample PHD Law Dissertation Proposal Here is a sample that showcases why we are one of the world’s leading academic writing firms. This assignment was created by one of our expert academic writers and demonstrated the highest academic quality. Place your order today to achieve academic greatness. View a different grade Thesis Proposal Are we participating collectively in the violation of human rights, constructing legal discourse at the un security council related to refugee crisis and countries’ refusal to enter migrants., introduction. It is difficult to pinpoint the precise origin of the recent migration crisis that is currently engulfing Europe. Still, the migrant that fell from the sky on 9th September 20101 to enter Europe and then later on the images of Aylan Kurdi, a three-year-old boy washed up on a Turkish beach in 20152 foreshadowed a phenomenal crisis of a much larger scale which has presumably shaken European integration at its very centre. According to the recent reports United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there is currently a mass movement of millions of refugees and migrants attempting to flee from conflict areas such as Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq into European countries since 20153. The migrant crisis has generated an excessive disruption and disunity in the European Union and its member states to handle ongoing arrivals. However, the crisis is primarily and principally a humanitarian cataclysm of a kind that Europe has not witnessed since the 1930s and 1940s4. Images from Greece and Turkey portray the magnitude and enormity of the human costs related to the growing crisis at a drastic rate even at this writing5. This paper proposes to argue that this particular humanitarian crisis and the methods with which European Union (EU) member states are dealing with the situation points to collectively violating human rights. The collective violation of such human rights for migrants and refugees stems from deeply embedded and unresolved EU’s governance issues. As the EU and its member states are struggling with the pressure of mass migration of displaced persons, the treatment of these refugees and migrants exposes what can only be seen as the calamity of core European values. The 1 “Heathrow Stowaway Who Fell to Death Identified as Mozambican Migrant | World News | The Guardian”  <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/10/heathrow-stowaway-who-fell-to-death-identified-as-mozambican-migrant>  accessed November 22, 2016. 2 “Image of Drowned Syrian Boy Echoes Around World – WSJ”  <http://www.wsj.com/articles/image-of-syrian-boy-washed-up-on-beach-hits-hard-1441282847>  accessed November 22, 2016. 3 Eurostat, “Asylum Quarterly Report – Statistics Explained”  https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Asylum_quarterly_report  accessed November 22, 2016. 4 Justin Borg-Barthet and Carole Lyons, “The European Union Migration Crisis” (2016) 20 Edinburgh Law Review 230. 5 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”), Refugees/Migrants Emergency Response- Mediterranean (20 November 2016) http://data.unhcr.org/mediterranean/country.php?id=83; accessed November 21, 2016. Treatment of such people exposes the shortcomings in implementing fundamental European rights and humanitarian law, international human rights, and EU’s neighbourhood policy. Central Research Questions The migrant crisis in Europe is ongoing and will continue to grow until and unless policy measures are taken by the EU and the United Nations General Council. The UN Security Council plays a more active role in the crisis and its root cause. Therefore, the major research questions that arise include the following; Is the International community, specifically the EU and UK, collectively violate human rights against refugees?. Subsequent questions that build upon the main research question are; 1. Are the measures implemented by EU member states and UK governments that limit refugees’ movement legal? 2. What is the distinction between refugees and migrants? What term is best to describe the individuals involved in the EU and the UK’s mass movement? 3. Do “migrant caps” violate international law? 4. What is the impact of interpretations of Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention6 regarding refugee rights and protection against refoulement7? 5. How can the UN Security Council play an active role in enforcing international law protecting refugees while also resolving the root cause of the issue leading to the migrant crisis? 6. How can legal discourse be developed with the UN Security Council to tackle refugees’ refusal to EU countries? Proposed Methodologies The proposed research aims to follow the characteristics of descriptive study methodology while utilising the positivist approach as a research paradigm. This research method accurately describes a given phenomenon and determines associations between different dimensions of the phenomena8. A descriptive study is concerned with describing the characteristics of a specific 6 Duncan Sim, “Experiences of ‘Post-Status’ Refugees: Evidence from Glasgow” (2012) 79 (First Serie Scottish Affairs 82. 7 Nikola Stojanovic, “Crisis in the Mediterranean Neighbourhood: A Test for the European Union Migration Policy” (2015) 67 Medjunarodni problem 328 8 CG Wren and JR Wren, “Teaching of Legal Research, The” [1988] Law Libr. J. Individual or phenomenon with the aim of the detailed description of different aspects of it9. It is often defined as a fact-finding study coupled with adequate interpretation using presupposed prior knowledge of the issues being investigated. The method of conducting legal research is also implemented to conduct the proposed study, which includes the following steps; 1. Preliminary Analysis 2. Investigation of Secondary Sources 3. Locating and Analysing Primary Authorities 4. Interpretations of Sources Hire an Expert Dissertation Proposal Writer Orders completed by our expert writers are Formally drafted in the academic style 100% Plagiarism-free & 100% Confidential Never resold Include unlimited free revisions Completed to match exact client requirements Principle Issues: Ethical, Moral, and Legal Issues Principle Issues: Ethical, Moral, and Legal Issues One of the main ethical issues that arise from the refugee crisis is the moral obligation of developed countries in accepting refugees. The current study analyses this moral obligation using deontological ethics and the United Nations Convention Relations to the Status of Refugees (1951)12. The Refugee convention sets up two normative obligations for states: 1. Obligations related to actions required by the states when asylum seekers arrive on their territory13. 2. Obligations towards refugees who have fled home countries and currently reside in refugee camps or informal settlements14. Based on the preliminary review of available literature, there is an asymmetrical view of the two sets of obligations. The former is stronger and widely recognized than the latter. This is because signatories of the Refugee Convention have no obligation to fund refugees’ protection, and any contribution to the issue is considered strictly voluntary15. This voluntary stance needs to be analyzed based on international law and ethical theories such as deontology to comprehend how this stance leads to the collective violation of human rights, defined and legally agreed upon. There is also the absence of moral and legal obligations to refugees that reach EU states, specifically regarding discrepancies arising from burden-sharing. 9 L Sossin, “Discourse Politics: Legal Research and Writing’s Search for a Pedagogy of Its Own” [1994] New Eng. L. Rev. 10 C Alexander and AJ Burke, “How to Locate Educational Information and Data.” 11 CG Wren and JR Wren,” Teaching of Legal Research, Th” [1988] Law Libr. J. 12 Resolution 2198 (XXI), United Nations General Assembly 13 Catherine Dauvergne, Making People Illegal: What Globalization Means for Migration and Law (reprint, Cambridge University Press 2008) p. 125 14 Ibid. p. 126 15 Anna Sergeevna Matveevskaya,””Modern Trends of EuropeanUnion’ss Migration Polic”” (2016) 0 Krasnoyarsk Science 29. 16 Sergio Carrera, Leonhard D Hertog, and Joanna Parkin,” EU Migration Policy in the Wake of the Arab Spring: What Prospects for EU-Southern Mediterranean Relations” ” Burden sharing refers to the Global South17 playing a larger role in hosting refugees than Western democracies responsible for essentially funding this scheme in which 87 percent of refugees are hosted in the Global South. In contrast, less than one percent of refugees are resettled in Western countries18. Lastly, there is no morally or legally accepted obligation to resettle refugees, with a majority remaining in protracted refugee situations in the Global South, primarily in the long-term encampment, which has turned into a de facto solution to the global refugee crisis. The proposed study can be defined as interdisciplinary in terms of combining international law with political science, international relations, and human rights to explore and discuss the current issues faced under the refugee crisis. Political science and international relations theories give rise to four primary schools of thought: realism, liberalism, institutionalism, and constructivism19. These four mains schools examine through an interdisciplinary approach to examine the content of legal rules and institutions to explain legal institutions” origins and their effectiveness. The methods have resulted in legal scholars reconceptualizing international law from a more general perspective. The proposed study uses the international legal process theories to conduct research and answer the developed research questions. The classical global legal technique is studying how international law is practically applied, functions with international policy, and studies how international law can be improved. According to O’Connell (1999)20, the classical International Legal Proces” “concentrates not so much on the exposition of rules and their content regarding how makers of foreign policy national legal rule”.” This particular theory is also used to measure the extent to which individuals are held accountable for abuses in international conflicts. The proposed study will base its premises most heavily on liberalism, the school of thought which revolves around three interrelated principles; 1. Rejection of power politics as the only possible result of internal relations while also questioning realism principles, especially security and warfare21. 2. Emphasize mutual benefits and international cooperation22. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256031941_EU_Migration_Policy_in_the_Wake_of_the_Arab_Spring_What_Prospects_for_EU-Southern_Mediterranean_Relations 17 Reference to countries of the rest of the world mostly located in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Turkey, which holds the largest refugee population as of 2016. 18 Yasin Kerem Gumus” “What Explains Differences iCountries’s’ Migration Policie”?” (2016) 4 International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478) 51. 19 J Samue Barkin, “Realist Constructivism” (2003) 5 International Studies Review 325. 20 Ibid. p. 326 21 M La Caze” “At the Intersection: Kant, Derrida, and the Relation Between Ethics and Politi”s” (2007) 35 Political theory 781. 22 Ibid. p. 781 3. Uses international organizations and non-governmental actors for shaping state preferences and policy choices23. Under this thought, international institutions such as the UN Security Council, a primary component for the current study, play a crucial role in cooperation among states. The present study will also implement the theory of institutional liberalism to formulate arguments. This modern international relations theory claims that international institutions such as United Nations and European Union can increase and aid cooperation between states24. Using this theory, states will be treated as rational actors operating in an international political system while no hierarchy is enforced. 23 Ibid. p. 782 24 Ibid. p. 782 Hope you got your required research sample that will help you in your project further you can unlock your academic potential with our Research Paper Writing Service . Expert writers , top-quality research, and on-time delivery. Excel in your studies today! If you need assistance with writing your dissertation proposal, our professional dissertation proposal writers are here to help! Bibliography. Alexander C and Burke A “How to Locate Educational Information and Data”  <http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201300333537>  [Accessed 10th November 2016] Anna Sergeevna Matveevskaya, “Modern Trends of European Union’s Migration Policy” (2016). Krasnoyarsk Science 29. Barkin JS, “Realist Constructivism” (2003) 5 International Studies Review 325 Berring R and Heuvel K, “Legal Research: Should Students Learn It or Wing It” (1989). Law Libr. J.  <http://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/llj81&section=44>  [Accessed 15th November 2016] Borg-Barthet J and Lyons C, “The European Union Migration Crisis” (2016). 20 Edinburgh Law Review 230 Catherine Dauvergne, Making People Illegal: What Globalization Means for Migration and Law (reprint, Cambridge University Press 2008) Carrera S, Hertog LD and Parkin J, “EU Migration Policy in the Wake of the Arab Spring: What Prospects for EU-Southern Mediterranean Relations?” Cohen M, Berring R and Olson K, “How to Find the Law” (1983) Duncan Sim, “Experiences of ‘Post-Status’ Refugees: Evidence from Glasgow” (2012). 79 (First Serie Scottish Affairs 82. Eurostat,“Asylum Quarterly Report – Statistics Explained”  https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Asylum_quarterly_report  accessed November 22, 2016 Gumus YK, “What Explains Differences in Countries’ Migration Policies?” (2016). Gumus YK, “What Explains Differences in Countries’ Migration Policies?” (2016). 4 International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478) 51 “Heathrow Stowaway Who Fell to Death Identified as Mozambican Migrant | World News | The Guardian” (2016)  <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/10/heathrow-stowaway-who-fell-to-death-identified-as-mozambican-migrant>  [Accessed 20th November 2016] “Image of Drowned Syrian Boy Echoes Around World – WSJ” (2016).  <http://www.wsj.com/articles/image-of-syrian-boy-washed-up-on-beach-hits-hard-1441282847>  [Accessed 14th November 2016] La Caze M, “At the Intersection: Kant, Derrida, and the Relation Between Ethics and Politics” (2007). 35 Political theory 781 Matveevskaya AS, “Modern Trends of European Union’s Migration Policy” (2016). Krasnoyarsk Science 29 Shores L. and Focke H., “Basic Reference Sources” <http://alagappauniversity.ac.in/downloads/examinations/modelQP/Dec2010DDE/CCLIS.doc> [Accessed 10th November 2016] Sossin L, “Discourse Politics: Legal Research and Writing’s Search for a Pedagogy of Its Own” (1994). New Eng. L. Rev. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (“UNHCR”), Refugees/Migrants Emergency Response- Mediterranean  https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/mediterranean?id=83  [Accessed 18th November 2016] Wren C and Wren J, “Teaching of Legal Research, The” (1988). Law Libr. J. Frequently Asked Questions How to write an undergraduate dissertation proposal. To write an undergraduate dissertation proposal: Choose a research topic. Outline objectives and research questions. Describe methodology and data sources. Provide a brief literature review. State significance and potential outcomes. Include a timeline and list of references. USEFUL LINKS LEARNING RESOURCES COMPANY DETAILS How It Works Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser . Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. We're Hiring! Help Center Land use changes in the environs of Moscow Related Papers Eurasian Geography and Economics Grigory Ioffe komal choudhary This study illustrates the spatio-temporal dynamics of urban growth and land use changes in Samara city, Russia from 1975 to 2015. Landsat satellite imageries of five different time periods from 1975 to 2015 were acquired and quantify the changes with the help of ArcGIS 10.1 Software. By applying classification methods to the satellite images four main types of land use were extracted: water, built-up, forest and grassland. Then, the area coverage for all the land use types at different points in time were measured and coupled with population data. The results demonstrate that, over the entire study period, population was increased from 1146 thousand people to 1244 thousand from 1975 to 1990 but later on first reduce and then increase again, now 1173 thousand population. Builtup area is also change according to population. The present study revealed an increase in built-up by 37.01% from 1975 to 1995, than reduce -88.83% till 2005 and an increase by 39.16% from 2005 to 2015, along w... Elena Milanova Land use/Cover Change in Russia within the context of global challenges. The paper presents the results of a research project on Land Use/Cover Change (LUCC) in Russia in relations with global problems (climate change, environment and biodiversity degradation). The research was carried out at the Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University on the basis of the combination of remote sensing and in-field data of different spatial and temporal resolution. The original methodology of present-day landscape interpretation for land cover change study has been used. In Russia the major driver of land use/land cover change is agriculture. About twenty years ago the reforms of Russian agriculture were started. Agricultural lands in many regions were dramatically impacted by changed management practices, resulted in accelerated erosion and reduced biodiversity. Between the natural factors that shape agriculture in Russia, climate is the most important one. The study of long-term and short-ter... Annals of The Association of American Geographers Land use and land cover change is a complex process, driven by both natural and anthropogenic transformations (Fig. 1). In Russia, the major driver of land use / land cover change is agriculture. It has taken centuries of farming to create the existing spatial distribution of agricultural lands. Modernization of Russian agriculture started fifteen years ago. It has brought little change in land cover, except in the regions with marginal agriculture, where many fields were abandoned. However, in some regions, agricultural lands were dramatically impacted by changed management practices, resulting in accelerating erosion and reduced biodiversity. In other regions, federal support and private investments in the agricultural sector, especially those made by major oil and financial companies, has resulted in a certain land recovery. Between the natural factors that shape the agriculture in Russia, climate is the most important one. In the North European and most of the Asian part of the ... Ekonomika poljoprivrede Vasilii Erokhin Journal of Rural Studies judith pallot In recent decades, Russia has experienced substantial transformations in agricultural land tenure. Post-Soviet reforms have shaped land distribution patterns but the impacts of these on agricultural use of land remain under-investigated. On a regional scale, there is still a knowledge gap in terms of knowing to what extent the variations in the compositions of agricultural land funds may be explained by changes in the acreage of other land categories. Using a case analysis of 82 of Russia’s territories from 2010 to 2018, the authors attempted to study the structural variations by picturing the compositions of regional land funds and mapping agricultural land distributions based on ranking “land activity”. Correlation analysis of centered log-ratio transformed compositional data revealed that in agriculture-oriented regions, the proportion of cropland was depressed by agriculture-to-urban and agriculture-to-industry land loss. In urbanized territories, the compositions of agricultura... Open Geosciences Alexey Naumov Despite harsh climate, agriculture on the northern margins of Russia still remains the backbone of food security. Historically, in both regions studied in this article – the Republic of Karelia and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) – agricultural activities as dairy farming and even cropping were well adapted to local conditions including traditional activities such as horse breeding typical for Yakutia. Using three different sources of information – official statistics, expert interviews, and field observations – allowed us to draw a conclusion that there are both similarities and differences in agricultural development and land use of these two studied regions. The differences arise from agro-climate conditions, settlement history, specialization, and spatial pattern of economy. In both regions, farming is concentrated within the areas with most suitable natural conditions. Yet, even there, agricultural land use is shrinking, especially in Karelia. Both regions are prone to being af... Loading Preview Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. RELATED TOPICS   We're Hiring!   Help Center Find new research papers in: Health Sciences Earth Sciences Cognitive Science Mathematics Computer Science Academia ©2024 373 IMAGES Dissertation Proposal Template How To Write A Dissertation Proposal For A Research Paper? Law PhD Research Proposal Sample Sample Phd Thesis Proposal Law : [RANDANCHOR] How To Write A Dissertation Proposal That Makes Your Law Professor how to thesis proposal VIDEO Defending Your Dissertation Proposal: Tips for Success Dissertation Day At Law School #dissertationhelp #lawstudents #lawschoolbound #lawyers #lawyerstv How to Write a Law Dissertation? THESIS/ DISSERTATION: LITERATURE REVIEW How to write good Legal research Proposal /synopsis How to choose a topic for research paper/dissertation/thesis?| A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO GET PUBLISHED COMMENTS Legal Dissertation: Research and Writing Guide This guide contains resources to help students researching and writing a legal dissertation or other upper-level writing project. Some of the resources in this guide are directed at researching and writing in general, not specifically on legal topics, but the strategies and tips can still be applied. The Law Library maintains a number of other ... Writing A Law Research Proposal Whether a research proposal is appropriate for your law dissertation may also depend on the particular methodology you have chosen. Having said that, a research proposal is still an important exercise in that it gives your tutor or supervisor the opportunity to cast their eye over your proposal in order to access its feasibility and whether it ... Sample Undergraduate 2:1 Law Dissertation Proposal Sample 2:1 Undergraduate Law Dissertation Proposal. Author: Barclay Littlewood , Modified: 16 July 2023. This sample law dissertation proposal was written by one of our expert writers, to give you a taste of the work we produce. You can also check out the plagiarism report delivered free with every essay! Law Dissertation Topics and Titles More Law Dissertation Topics. Topic 1: World Bank developmental projects and greater accountability. Topic 2: The right to bear arms: Rethinking the second amendment. Topic 3: Rethinking the international legal framework protecting journalists in war and conflict zones. PDF Developing a Paper Proposal and Preparing to Write Developing a Paper Proposal and Preparing to Write. Keep this list next to you as you develop your paper idea to help guide your research and writing process. LL.M. students should be sure to use this in combination with other guidance and resources on paper writing provided by the Graduate Program. Pick a topic and approach. Writing A Law Dissertation Methodology This method of dissertation research aims to reduce the study of law to an essentially descriptive analysis of a large number of technical and co-ordinated legal rules to be found in primary sources. The primary aim of this method of research is to collate, organise and describe legal rules and to offer commentary on the emergence and ... A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR WRITING A DISSERTATION PROPOSAL This will help protect you against criticism when your work gets marked. In most cases, the following components will be included in a dissertation proposal: INTRODUCTION. The main body is composed of. Methodology. Goals and Objectives. Literature Review. Limitations. The time frame for ethical consideration. Law dissertations : a step-by-step guide Preparing for submission. Publisher's summary. Law Dissertations: A Step-by-Step Guide provides you with all the guidance and information you need to complete and succeed in your LLB, LLM or law-related dissertation. Written in a simple, clear format and with plenty of tools to help you to put the theory into practice, Laura Lammasniemi will ... Structure of the Proposal The Law Proposal and Dissertation Writing Guide is a comprehensive and invaluable resource designed to assist law students and researchers in the complex and demanding process of conceiving, developing, and completing a successful law dissertation or thes. Skip to Main Content +27 21 959 2946 [email protected]. How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal Writing a proposal or prospectus can be a challenge, but we've compiled some examples for you to get your started. Example #1: "Geographic Representations of the Planet Mars, 1867-1907" by Maria Lane. Example #2: "Individuals and the State in Late Bronze Age Greece: Messenian Perspectives on Mycenaean Society" by Dimitri Nakassis. Writing a PhD research proposal The best research proposals tend to focus on discrete and well-confined subject areas. Relying upon a comparison to provide the intellectual component of the proposal, whether that is a comparison between different institutions, different bodies of law or different countries. Comparative research proposals are worthy if properly thought out. Law dissertations : a step-by-step guide Abstract. Law Dissertations: A Step-by-Step Guide provides you with all the guidance and information you need to complete and succeed in your LLB, LLM or law-related dissertation. Written in a simple, clear format and with plenty of tools to help you to put the theory into practice, Laura Lammasniemi will show you how to make writing your law ... HLS Dissertations, Theses, and JD Papers This is a guide to finding Harvard Law School ("HLS") student-authored works held by the Library and in online collections. This guide covers HLS S.J.D Dissertations, LL.M. papers, J.D. third-year papers, seminar papers, and prize papers. There have been changes in the HLS degree requirements for written work. How to Write a Dissertation Proposal Table of contents. Step 1: Coming up with an idea. Step 2: Presenting your idea in the introduction. Step 3: Exploring related research in the literature review. Step 4: Describing your methodology. Step 5: Outlining the potential implications of your research. Step 6: Creating a reference list or bibliography. Writing for LL.M. Students The Written Work Requirement is a degree requirement for the LL.M. degree. Students interested in doing additional writing beyond the requirement may choose to write optional papers for writing credit. In addition to writing for academic credit, HLS students may collaborate with faculty members, often serving as co-authors for books and law ... Writing a Law Dissertation Objectives and intended outcomes should be included in the 'dissertation proposal' document - this provides early direction and facilitates initial discussion with the supervisor. However, it is inevitable that a dissertation will be 'judged' to ascertain whether the stated objectives have been achieved. Sample PHD Law Dissertation Proposal Sample PHD Law Dissertation Proposal. Here is a sample that showcases why we are one of the world's leading academic writing firms. This assignment was created by one of our expert academic writers and demonstrated the highest academic quality. Place your order today to achieve academic greatness. View a different grade. What are the Five Steps in Writing Your Law Proposal? The law dissertation proposal should be written formally, and any first person should be avoided. If required to present information regarding an individual, the proposal must maintain objectivity ... Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal Defense in Criminology & Justice Studies 06/25/2024 By Karen Mullins. The School of Criminology and Justice Studies is proud to announce a Dissertation Proposal Defense by AnaCristina Bedoya entitled, "The Kinda Shit You Get on Your TV: Exploring the Role of Pornography Use on the Sexual Scripts and Psychological and Sexual Wellbeing of Survivors of Sexual Assault." Elektrostal Law #130/2004-OZ of October 25, 2004 On the Status and the Border of Elektrostal Urban Okrug, as amended by the Law #82/2010-OZ of July 1, 2010 On Amending the Law of Moscow Oblast "On the Status and the Border of Elektrostal Urban Okrug" and the Law of Moscow Oblast "On the Status and Borders of Noginsky Municipal District and the Newly ... Law Dissertation Topics Example dissertation topic. Last modified: 3rd Oct 2019. This law area has 12 dissertation topics and ideas on tort, intellectual property and media law. Please use this material to help you in your law studies and to help craft your very own dissertation topic.... Browse through our latest law dissertation topics. Example Law Dissertation Structure Although it will depend very much on what you are presenting, the following is an acceptable structure for a law dissertation: Title Page - showing the title of the dissertation and the author. Abstract - summarising what the reader can expect to find in the dissertation. Be concise and don't reference or use quotes in this part (150 ... Land use changes in the environs of Moscow Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Elektrostal Map Elektrostal is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located 58 kilometers east of Moscow. Elektrostal has about 158,000 residents. Mapcarta, the open map. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis