Page 29 - PPW (Paper Proposal Writing)

• The explanation of how your research will contribute to fill some gaps in our

knowledge (goals)

In writing your introduction, you should try to write it in a clear and interesting way. Now, the

discussion will highlight the aforementioned first three elements of Introduction.
A. Context
In writing your introduction, it should be provided with the contextual background of
your research. It should be able to describe the general overview of the research area,
summarize the current state of knowledge and recent debates on the research topic. It will
provide some familiarity with the key texts in the relevant areas.

B. Issues
After giving the context of your research, your paper must also contain statements
addressing the problem in your research area. In addressing the issue, you have to discuss
what scholars have already found in your research area. Ensure that you discuss only the
relevant previous studies to address the issue.

C. Gap
Right after you address the issue or problem in your research area, you have to state
the problems or questions remained to answer. The remaining problems or questions that
are going to be answered are commonly known as gaps.
Adapted from: http://www. Birmingham.ac.uk/schools/calgs/cal-research-proposals/include.aspx

Read the statements below. Write “True” if the statement matches the information in the passage
and “False” if the statement contradicts the information in the passage.

No Statement True/ False
1 Context provides background of the research area being investigated

2 Issues contain the development of current state of knowledge

3 Previous studies are used to develop issues
4 Gap can be obtained by analyzing the contextual background of the research
topic
5 Gap can be defined as an unanswered question or unresolved problem in a
certain field

Language Focus

Describing Context and Issue

Study the following explanation about the use of present tense in the introduction section
of your paper proposal.
To describe the context and issue in your proposal, simple present tense is generally used.
This is especially used to explain what is known already.

Paper Proposal Writing 21