In this online course, which is specifically aimed at professionals, you will enhance your skills in writing a research proposal in English, both in terms of information elements and language. We will analyze the structure, vocabulary and grammatical structures of research proposals, including word order, articles, verb tenses, punctuation marks, modal verbs, hedging, referencing styles, and the use of transitional words and phrases. We will also address the concept of plagiarism and how to avoid it.
Work on writing your own research proposal
Your own (draft) research proposal will be central to this course. Besides practicing on model research proposals from your own academic domain and doing exercises in grammar and vocabulary topics, you will work on your proposal and receive feedback on this from both your peers and the moderator. At the end of the course, your research proposal will be reviewed both by a content and an English expert.
By the end of this Writing Research Proposals course, you will be able to:
- Display sufficient academic writing skills to write a successful research proposal
- Correctly structure a research proposal, and be able to assemble the correct information elements
In particular, you will be able to:
- Make good use of a range of relevant vocabulary
- Understand how to recognize and avoid plagiarism
- Grasp the use of transitional words and phrases
- Use correct grammar and syntax, e.g. word order, articles, verb tenses and punctuation
- Work with different referencing styles, and select the correct one for your own proposal
- Write using an enlarged academic vocabulary
- Recognize and use modal verbs for hedging
- Have gained experience in critical reading
- Be familiar with your own strengths and weaknesses in writing academic English
- Develop self-study strategies to further improve your own writing
Our Professors
Ingrid de Beer MA
Ingrid de Beer is lecturer of the core courses Writing Research Proposals and Presenting Your Research Confidently. Ingrid is Education Officer at Defensity College, Ministry of Defence. She advises and coaches people, schools and organisations as teacher/trainer, examiner and consultant.