FINAL YEAR PROJECT

WORKSHOP: PROPOSAL WRITING

Dr. Nadia Razali
Section of Environmental Engineering Technology
nadiarazali@unikl.edu.my
What is a Research Proposal?
Structured written plan for a study
and investigation Propose Significance
Communicates the intention of the
researcher
Ability to communicate complex Problem
Methodology
ideas clearly, concisely and critically Identification
Tells how the researcher plans to
achieve the investigation objectives Research
Question
Research Proposal Layout

Discussion /
Literature Financial
Introduction Methodology Expected Conclusion
Review Implication
Results
Abstract
The proposal should include a
concise statement of your intended
research of no more than 200 words
(1 page).
This may be a couple of sentences
setting out the problem that you
want to examine or the central
question that you wish to address.
Last part to write…
Research Context
You should explain the broad background against which you will conduct
your research.
You should include a brief overview of the general area of study within which
your proposed research falls, summarizing the current state of knowledge
and recent debates on the topic.
This will allow you to demonstrate a familiarity with the relevant field as well
as the ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
Research Question
The proposal should set out the central aims and questions that will guide
your research.
Before writing your proposal, you should take time to reflect on the key
questions that you are seeking to answer.
Many research proposals are too broad, so reflecting on your key research
questions is a good way to make sure that your project is sufficiently narrow
and feasible
Introduction
Introduction / Overview
Background Study
Problem Statement
Research Motivation
Propose of the Study
Research Questions
Significance of the Study
Background Study
 Should create in the readers desire to
know more about the study
 Prepare the reader better understanding of
the topic and context
 Should start with general statement and
then focus to the specific area
 Example: history and latest development
 Secondary data(reports, statistics, news
etc.)
Significance of Research
The proposal should demonstrate
the originality of your intended
research.
You should therefore explain why
your research is important
explaining how your research builds
on and adds to the current state of
knowledge in the field
by setting out reasons why it is timely
to research your proposed topic.
Research Framework
Problem Statements Objectives
1 1
2 2
3 3
Methodology Results
1 1
2 2
3 3

Example: Development of Aloe Vera as Alternative Coagulant

Problem Statements Objectives Methodology Results

Expensive Cheap Comparison of

BOD, COD, pH
treatment cost treatment cost the parameters
Objectives
The objectives must be clearly and
related specific to the variables
identified in the study
Use the Bloom Taxonomy
Example:
 To evaluate the right temperature and
time for aggregates calcination process
 To design a new mix formulation of
green concrete
 To analyze the chemical and physical
performances of the green concrete
Literature Review
 A literature review is a text of a scholarly paper, which
includes the current knowledge including substantive
findings, as well as theoretical and methodological
contributions to a particular topic
Reference
 Extensive reference to related research and theory in the
field
 To show how related work in the field has shaped and
influenced your research
Precedence
 You should aim to use the literature selectively and
creatively to provide a stimulus for your own work

Report/Writing Framework

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Purpose of a Literature Review
 To provide a historical context for your research
 To give an overview of the current context in which your research is
situated
 To show relevant theories and concepts for your research
 To provide definitions and relevant terminology for your research
 To describe related research in the field and how your work extends
this or addresses a gap in previous work in the field
 To provide supporting evidence for a practical problem which your
research is addressing
Literature Review Must Have…
ELEMENTS OF WRITING LR IS NOT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...

Argument
Cause and
Cohesion
A straightforward summary
Effect of everything you have read
on a topic
Comparison Definitions Discussion
A chronological account of
Examples
how research has developed
in your field
Literature Review Structures
What is the main What are the key Establishing the key
focus? concepts? debates in the field?

Providing an ongoing
Setting up a
Identifying gaps in ‘dialogue’ with, or
theoretical
the research perspectives on your
framework
analysis
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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LR Approach - An Inverted Triangle
Structure Of The LR
 What you will need to do is to group together and compare and contrast the varying opinions of different
writers on certain topics.
 What you must not do is just describe what one writer says, and then go on to give a general overview of
another writer, and then another, and so on. Linking words are important.
 If you are grouping together writers with similar opinions, you would use words or phrases such as:
 similarly, in addition, also, again

 More importantly, if there is disagreement, you need to indicate clearly that you are aware of this by the
use of linkers such as:
 however, on the other hand, conversely, nevertheless

 At the end of the review you should include a summary of what the literature implies, which again links to
your hypothesis or main question.
Elements Of Writing – Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing involves changing a text so that it is quite different from the source, while retaining the
meaning.
 This skill is important in several areas of
academic work, but this unit focuses on using
paraphrasing in note-making and summary
writing.
 Effective paraphrasing is vital in academic writing
to avoid the risk of plagiarism.
 For example:
Evidence of a lost civilization has been found off
the coast of China
could be paraphrased:
Remains of an ancient society have been
discovered in the sea near China
The relationship between two situations can be
shown in a variety of ways:

Elements of Writing – Cause And Effect

VERBS USED IN THE LR (1)
VERBS USED IN THE LR (2)
Literature
Survey
 Search
Techniques
 How to Find
Scholarly
Articles Online
 Using UniKL
Online Services
Search Technique (1)
Primary • Letters/correspondence, diaries, memoirs,
autobiographies, official or research reports, patents
Sources and designs and empirical research articles.

Secondary • Academic journal articles (other than empirical research

articles or reports), conference proceedings, books
Sources (monographs or chapters’ books), documentaries.

Tertiary • Encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, atlas

Sources
Search Technique (2)
 Does it worry you that somebody might
have published a review paper that
covers your topic exactly?
Recent publication
PROCESS

 Come up with a series of questions or

topics that can be used as tentative
Define the scope headings
 Apply to your topic, and also a list of
names of relevant authors
List of keywords
 SEARCH TECHNIQUE (3)
 Verify the source (Author, Publisher)
 What were the aims and objectives?
Questions to ask?

 What were the outcomes?

 Were the methods / approaches / strategies appropriate and comprehensive?
 What might have been overlooked or biased?
 Do the results justify the interpretation and conclusion?
 What are the strengths and weaknesses?
 In what context was the research conducted?
 What was its contribution to the field?
 How does it link to my research question?
ONLINE PUBLICATION
Directory of Open Access Journals
• http://www.doaj.org/

University Website
• A number of universities are taking a very open approach to providing scholarly articles
to the general public
Legislative Websites
• Look for articles on government websites and parliamentary/legislative websites.
• PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/.
GOOGLE SCHOLAR
 Google Scholar is a freely accessible web search
engine
 indexes the full text of scholarly literature across an
array of publishing formats and disciplines
 the search will be a list of citations in order of
relevance

 A mega search engine that search across many

databases, regardless of subject area or
languages.
 Use: Try using the advanced search options to
search for phrases, titles, authors, etc.
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HOW TO FIND SOURCES?
 There are many ways to find secondary sources
through the library website; Malaysian Theses Online
 OPAC
• It is a list of a theses collection compiled from IPTA &
 Using the many Databases that the UniKL Library IPTS
subscribe;
 UniKL (EDS) Discovery Service Malaysian Union List of Serials
 Online Journals (selected)
IPTA/IPTS
• It is a portal that lists the titles of all serial publication
subscribed by all university libraries in Malaysia.

Malaysian Academic Library Union

Catalog (MALCat)
• PERPUN library catalog is a union catalog
(IPTA,IPTS, GLC, MOHE)
VALID SOURCES
WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A SOURCE FOR
VALID SOURCES
SCIENTIFIC WRITING!
 Wikipedia has no formal and strict
Refereed article in a reference method
journal or a conference  Reviewers in Wikipedia can be from a completely
different field
 The disciplines get mixed up in Wikipedia
Book published in  Wikipedia articles try to cover every discipline,
which causes loss of the focus
scientific series
 Wikipedia is modified constantly which
hinders checking the reference
Articles referred to in  Reader of the literature survey must be able to
access the exactly same text as the author
other articles
UNIKL LIBRARY SERVICE
UNIKL LIBRARY
UNIKL LIBRARY SERVICE
UNIKL LIBRARY SERVICE

Username: micet
Password: micetEZ8126
UNIKL LIBRARY SERVICE
DISCOVERY SERVICE FOR UNIKL
Academic Phrasebank
Discussion / Expected Results
Discuss the expected results and
how these contribute to the
academic field of study
approximately 150 words
Summary of your Literature Review
Report on preliminary study
FINANCIAL IMPLICATION
Financial Implication
Item Estimated Cost (RM)
ITEM ESTIMATED COST Upgrading and maintenance of sieve shaker unit 4,000.00
(RM) Upgrading concrete mixer unit;
a. Change the mixing bowl (5 quart bowl to 10 quart bowl)
2,000.00

b. New paddle beater

Research Assistant 3,000.00 Upgrading weight balance 1,000.00
Raw Material: Cement, sand, seashells 3,000.00
Transport / Logistics 2,000.00 Chemicals and consumables:
a. Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) powder 2,000.00
(Accommodation, Fieldwork b. Calcium Oxide (CaO) powder 2,000.00
etc.) c. Kaolin powder
d. Phenolphthalein solution
500.00
1,500.00
e. Potassium Bromide (KBr) powder 500.00
Communication & Utilities 500.00 e. pH strips 500.00
f. Cleaning agents 500.00
Chemical & Consumables 35,000.00 g. Lab Consumables 500.00
h. Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas 500.00
Printing & Data Processing 1,000.00 Glassware: Beaker, Pipette, Crucibles
Concrete Steel Moulds
3,000.00
3,000.00
Fee Testing Equipment: Moisture Test Meter, Digital Calliper,
500.00
HDPE Water Tanks (for curing process)
TOTAL 41,500.00 External lab analysis: Compressive Strength Test, X-ray
Powder Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron 10,000.00
Microscopy (FESEM) and Thin Sections Analysis
TOTAL 35,000.00
(C)NBR2017 45
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