how to write a research proposal for phd in linguistics

Guidelines for the Dissertation Proposal Document

Format of the exam paper.

The written proposal takes the form of a full research proposal using an established formatting style (APA, LSA; 12-point, Times New Roman).  The proposal is to be submitted in electronic format to committee members unless they explicitly request a hard copy.  The proposal, along with page limits, is as follows.

Abstract (1 page, double spaced)

The summary is a succinct presentation of the entire project.  Without headings, it should address the following areas:

• Background.
• Specific Aim(s), including research questions and/or hypotheses.
• Methods, including data sources and data collection procedures.
• Analysis, including coding and/or statistical procedures
• Significance, describing intellectual merit and broader implications

Research Proposal (no more than 25 pages, double-spaced, excluding references)

The research proposal is a detailed presentation of the problem, a review of the literature, the presentation of preliminary data analyses, and the description of the proposed project.  It should include the following sections, with headings.  Page limits are suggestive.

• Introduction (one paragraph). A brief articulation of the research topic (“This study will investigate…”) and the research questions to be addressed.
• Literature Review/Background (8-9 pages).  This is a review of the relevant literature.  As applicable, it should include a discussion and evaluation of competing or alternate theories, gaps in the literature, the strengths and limitations of particular analytic techniques, and promising directions for scholarship and practice.  The discussion should lead logically to demonstrate the importance of the overall research question(s) posed by the student.
• Preliminary Data/Data Analysis (4-5 pages).  If you have preliminary data,  then you can present the analysis of these data here.  Only data that speaks directly to your question, methods, or analytic techniques is appropriate.  Include details about the source of the data, information about data collection and preparation of the data for analysis (e.g. transcription and coding), description of interpretative or analytic methods, examples of the data, and summary of the results of the analysis. These analyses should show that you are familiar with the kind of data collection and analysis that you propose.
• Research Design (12-15 pages). This section should begin with a re-articulation of the research question(s) and/or hypotheses and a brief introduction to the design of the research (1/2 page).  However, it should not include information already presented in the literature review.  Rather, this section should present detailed information about the following:
• data sources and availability of these sources (e.g. corpora, media, human participants),
• data collection techniques (e.g. audio or audiovisual recording, interviews, structured tasks, use of archived data, etc),
• data preparation (e.g. transcription practices, spreadsheet management, etc),
• data analysis (e.g. coding schemes, interpretive methods, statistical tests, etc)
• a description of the range of expected results and implications.
• Timeline (1 page).  You should include a timeline that takes the form of a Gantt chart showing your estimated periods of data collection, data analysis, and dissertation write-up.
• Reference List.  No more than 35 references should be included.

Dissertation Proposal Information

Dissertation proposal guidelines, written proposal.

Each Ph.D. candidate must submit a written dissertation proposal (approximately 10-15 pages long), which must be approved by the candidate’s Reading Committee. The proposal should be written and submitted before the student undertakes the bulk of the dissertation research. It establishes the background, feasibility and interest of the proposed research, and it details the procedures for accomplishing it in a timely manner.

A dissertation proposal will clearly specify the leading research questions and hypotheses, the data relevant to answering those research questions, the theoretical framework and the methods of analysis. It will provide a brief literature review, elucidating the relationship of the proposed research to other current research, and a clear work plan. The proposal should also present and interpret progress to date if the research is already underway. Finally, it should briefly discuss any research costs involved and the anticipated sources of funding.

The written proposal is modeled on the project description for an NSF Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (DDRIG) in Linguistics. The project description is a major part of the full grant application, so the dissertation proposal can serve as a stepping stone towards a complete DDRIG application, if desired. For those who choose not to seek NSF funding, the proposal format will still be helpful for other types of fellowship and funding applications.

An example of a dissertation proposal that was also submitted for an NSF DDRIG:

• Scott Grimm NSF proposal   ( references )

Abstracts of successful NSF DDRIG proposals:

• NSF-awarded dissertation proposals

Proposal Meeting

After the approval of the written dissertation proposal, each student is required to meet with their reading committee plus one or more faculty members who are not members of the reading committee, who can provide a fresh perspective on the research. The purpose of the meeting is to provide the student with further guidance on how best to undertake the dissertation research and complete the dissertation in a timely matter. Topics to be discussed might include priorities among possible research avenues, the best formulation of the research questions and hypotheses, the design of experimental, corpus, or field studies, sources of research funding, and the preparation of grant applications.

For More Information

Further details about the dissertation proposal and the proposal meeting, including timeline for completion and the selection of additional faculty for the proposal meeting, can be found in the PhD Handbook available via the Resources for Graduate Students web page.

Writing a Research Proposal

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• Sue Starfield 5  

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One of the earliest documents that doctoral scholars have to write is a research proposal in which they provide a rationale and motivation for the research study they plan to undertake. This chapter discusses the form and function of a typical research proposal and provides a range of tools and techniques that can assist doctoral or graduate students in conceptualising and writing this high-stakes document.

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Research Questions and Research Design

The Roadmap to Research: Fundamentals of a Multifaceted Research Process

Research: Meaning and Purpose

In the North American context, PhD submissions are known as dissertations , while in countries with British higher education traditions, they are referred to as theses. In this chapter, I use them interchangeably to refer to the written submission of a doctoral candidate for examination.

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Paltridge, B., & Phakiti, A. (2015). Developing a research project. In B. Paltridge & A. Phakiti (Eds.), Research methods in applied linguistics: A practical resource (pp. 260–278). London: Bloomsbury.

Phakiti, A., & Paltridge, B. (2015). Approaches and methods in applied linguistics research. In B. Paltridge & A. Phakiti (Eds.), Research methods in applied linguistics: A practical resource (pp. 5–25). London: Bloomsbury.

Punch, K. (2012). Developing effective research proposals (2nd ed.). London: SAGE.

Rogers, P. M., Zawacki, T. M., & Baker, S. E. (2016). Uncovering challenges and pedagogical complications in dissertation writing and supervisory practices: A multimethod study of doctoral students and advisors. In S. Simpson, N. A. Caplan, & M. Cox (Eds.), Supporting graduate student writers (pp. 52–77). Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.

Rudestam, K., & Newton, R. (2007). Surviving your dissertation . Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Starfield, S., & Paltridge, B. (2014). Generic support for developing a research proposal. In S. Carter & D. Laurs (Eds.), Developing generic support for doctoral students (pp. 112–115). London: Routledge.

Swales, J. M. (2004). Research genres: Explorations and applications . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Tracy, S. J. (2013). Qualitative research methods: Collecting evidence, crafting analysis, & communicating impact . Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

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Aek Phakiti

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Luke Plonsky

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Starfield, S. (2018). Writing a Research Proposal. In: Phakiti, A., De Costa, P., Plonsky, L., Starfield, S. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Applied Linguistics Research Methodology. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59900-1_9

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A. Mehdi Riazi [ + – ]

Macquarie university, pauline burton [ + – ], independent scholar.

Writing quality and professional research proposals is an indispensable part of the research process. A well-written proposal guarantees successful award winning or admission into a higher degree research program. In some Research Methods Courses students are presented with some basic and preliminary knowledge and skills to write a research proposal. However, writing quality and professional research proposals require higher levels of expertise and therefore specific guidelines. This book takes proposal writers through certain steps that can guarantee quality proposals.

Each of the chapters in the book focuses on a significant aspect of proposal writing. The first two chapters discuss the research process and how a research proposal may be structured. Building on the current literature and identifying gaps is a critical step in defining new research projects. Chapter 3 covers major issues related to situating research questions within the context of relevant literature and how to approach and structure a literature review in research proposals. Chapter 4 elaborates on how to formulate research questions and/or research hypotheses. The distinction between research questions and research hypotheses is delineated in Chapter 4, and writing appropriate research questions or hypotheses are linked to theories and research paradigms.

Chapter 5 attends to the crafting of research proposals and addresses other significant issues such as audience, tone, and style of writing, citing other works, revising and editing, and observing rules of submission. Chapter 6 covers issues of making coherent arguments, building on authority but adding one’s perspective as an interplay of voices. Chapter 7 reviews choosing an appropriate methodology while Chapter 8 discusses choosing appropriate supervisors and developing effective relationships with them. The role of ethics in research and thinking of ethical issues from the early stages of writing proposals are elaborated on in Chapter 9. Filling out forms for ethics committees and responding to queries from ethics committee members are also discussed in this chapter. The final chapter of the book, Chapter 10, discusses writing research proposals within the larger context of research grants. Three major issues of preparation, writing, and submitting of research grants are discussed in this chapter.

Each chapter of the book ends with a set of reflective learning tasks which enable readers to reflect on the content of each chapter as relates to their own research project. The book also includes three appendices which present three sample proposals with three research orientations, namely, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods; a sample of an ethics form with commentaries on each section of the form; and a sample of a grant application form with added commentary on each section.

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iPhD Research Proposal in Applied Linguistics/ELT

Module overview.

At the end of the taught phase of the IPhD in Applied Linguistics/ELT, you will work under supervision towards the preparation of a doctoral research proposal.

This is non-credit-bearing Masters-level module, however progression from year 1 of the IPhD (from the taught phase to the doctoral phase) is dependent upon successful completion of this proposal, which must be passed at 65% or higher.

Aims and Objectives

Learning outcomes, transferable and generic skills.

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• demonstrate interpersonal skills whilst working with others in the investigation of problems, and in the presentation of arguments and evidence;
• compose under deadline conditions an extended piece of writing which is logically structured, coherently argued, and clearly written, supported by a detailed bibliography;
• understand ethical and legal issues involved in applied linguistics research;
• design an empirical research project in applied linguistics/English Language Teaching;
• demonstrate originality of thought and approach which moves beyond a simple synthesis of secondary materials.
• demonstrate understanding of specific, as well as general research skills appropriate to a research project at doctoral level. This includes advanced information search/retrieval techniques and a relevant range of empirical fieldwork techniques;
• critically assess some previous work on your chosen subject;
• use information technology appropriately to support and present your research;

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the topic you have selected in your chosen field of study;
• relevant theoretical approaches applicable to your topic;
• scholarly and (where relevant) policy debates relating to your topic.
• research design and techniques appropriate for your topic;

The IPhD proposal is an extended piece of work of 4,500 words, outlining the research questions and methodology for an independent doctoral research project.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods.

You learn primarily through research and independent study, accompanied by group meetings with the module coordinator, the PGR discussion group coordinator and individual tutorials with your PhD proposal supervisor. Group meetings provide a forum for discussion of possible topics and for addressing issues of common concern regarding project design. Individual supervisions address the scope of the project and design and methodology for investigation of the topic, and the structure of the proposal. Later meetings require you to have prepared a written section which will be discussed.

Keith Richards (2003). Qualitative Inquiry in TESOL . Palgrave Macmillan.

Nicholas Walliman (2001). Your Research Project: A step by step guide for the first-time researcher . SAGE Publications.

Judith Bell (2018). Doing Your Research Project: A guide for first-time researchers in education and social science. . Amacom.

James Dean Brown and Theodore S. Rodgers (2002). Doing Second Language Research . Oxford University Press.

Keith Richards, Steven Ross and Paul Seedhouse (2011). Research Methods for Applied Language Studies . Routledge.

Assessment strategy

The IPhD proposal must be passed at 65% or higher.

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External

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211 Research Topics in Linguistics To Get Top Grades

Many people find it hard to decide on their linguistics research topics because of the assumed complexities involved. They struggle to choose easy research paper topics for English language too because they think it could be too simple for a university or college level certificate.

All that you need to learn about Linguistics and English is sprawled across syntax, phonetics, morphology, phonology, semantics, grammar, vocabulary, and a few others. To easily create a top-notch essay or conduct a research study, you can consider this list of research topics in English language below for your university or college use. Note that you can fine-tune these to suit your interests.

Linguistics Research Paper Topics

If you want to study how language is applied and its importance in the world, you can consider these Linguistics topics for your research paper. They are:

• An analysis of romantic ideas and their expression amongst French people
• An overview of the hate language in the course against religion
• Identify the determinants of hate language and the means of propagation
• Evaluate a literature and examine how Linguistics is applied to the understanding of minor languages
• Consider the impact of social media in the development of slangs
• An overview of political slang and its use amongst New York teenagers
• Examine the relevance of Linguistics in a digitalized world
• Analyze foul language and how it’s used to oppress minors
• Identify the role of language in the national identity of a socially dynamic society
• Attempt an explanation to how the language barrier could affect the social life of an individual in a new society
• Discuss the means through which language can enrich cultural identities
• Examine the concept of bilingualism and how it applies in the real world
• Analyze the possible strategies for teaching a foreign language
• Discuss the priority of teachers in the teaching of grammar to non-native speakers
• Choose a school of your choice and observe the slang used by its students: analyze how it affects their social lives
• Attempt a critical overview of racist languages
• What does endangered language means and how does it apply in the real world?
• A critical overview of your second language and why it is a second language
• What are the motivators of speech and why are they relevant?
• Analyze the difference between the different types of communications and their significance to specially-abled persons
• Give a critical overview of five literature on sign language
• Evaluate the distinction between the means of language comprehension between an adult and a teenager
• Consider a native American group and evaluate how cultural diversity has influenced their language
• Analyze the complexities involved in code-switching and code-mixing
• Give a critical overview of the importance of language to a teenager
• Attempt a forensic overview of language accessibility and what it means
• What do you believe are the means of communications and what are their uniqueness?
• Attempt a study of Islamic poetry and its role in language development
• Attempt a study on the role of Literature in language development
• Evaluate the Influence of metaphors and other literary devices in the depth of each sentence
• Identify the role of literary devices in the development of proverbs in any African country
• Cognitive Linguistics: analyze two pieces of Literature that offers a critical view of perception
• Identify and analyze the complexities in unspoken words
• Expression is another kind of language: discuss
• Identify the significance of symbols in the evolution of language
• Discuss how learning more than a single language promote cross-cultural developments
• Analyze how the loss of a mother tongue affect the language Efficiency of a community
• Critically examine how sign language works
• Using literature from the medieval era, attempt a study of the evolution of language
• Identify how wars have led to the reduction in the popularity of a language of your choice across any country of the world
• Critically examine five Literature on why accent changes based on environment
• What are the forces that compel the comprehension of language in a child
• Identify and explain the difference between the listening and speaking skills and their significance in the understanding of language
• Give a critical overview of how natural language is processed
• Examine the influence of language on culture and vice versa
• It is possible to understand a language even without living in that society: discuss
• Identify the arguments regarding speech defects
• Discuss how the familiarity of language informs the creation of slangs
• Explain the significance of religious phrases and sacred languages
• Explore the roots and evolution of incantations in Africa

Sociolinguistic Research Topics

You may as well need interesting Linguistics topics based on sociolinguistic purposes for your research. Sociolinguistics is the study and recording of natural speech. It’s primarily the casual status of most informal conversations. You can consider the following Sociolinguistic research topics for your research:

• What makes language exceptional to a particular person?
• How does language form a unique means of expression to writers?
• Examine the kind of speech used in health and emergencies
• Analyze the language theory explored by family members during dinner
• Evaluate the possible variation of language based on class
• Evaluate the language of racism, social tension, and sexism
• Discuss how Language promotes social and cultural familiarities
• Give an overview of identity and language
• Examine why some language speakers enjoy listening to foreigners who speak their native language
• Give a forensic analysis of his the language of entertainment is different to the language in professional settings
• Give an understanding of how Language changes
• Examine the Sociolinguistics of the Caribbeans
• Consider an overview of metaphor in France
• Explain why the direct translation of written words is incomprehensible in Linguistics
• Discuss the use of language in marginalizing a community
• Analyze the history of Arabic and the culture that enhanced it
• Discuss the growth of French and the influences of other languages
• Examine how the English language developed and its interdependence on other languages
• Give an overview of cultural diversity and Linguistics in teaching
• Challenge the attachment of speech defect with disability of language listening and speaking abilities
• Explore the uniqueness of language between siblings
• Explore the means of making requests between a teenager and his parents
• Observe and comment on how students relate with their teachers through language
• Observe and comment on the communication of strategy of parents and teachers
• Examine the connection of understanding first language with academic excellence

Language Research Topics

Numerous languages exist in different societies. This is why you may seek to understand the motivations behind language through these Linguistics project ideas. You can consider the following interesting Linguistics topics and their application to language:

• What does language shift mean?
• Discuss the stages of English language development?
• Examine the position of ambiguity in a romantic Language of your choice
• Why are some languages called romantic languages?
• Observe the strategies of persuasion through Language
• Discuss the connection between symbols and words
• Identify the language of political speeches
• Discuss the effectiveness of language in an indigenous cultural revolution
• Trace the motivators for spoken language
• What does language acquisition mean to you?
• Examine three pieces of literature on language translation and its role in multilingual accessibility
• Identify the science involved in language reception
• Interrogate with the context of language disorders
• Examine how psychotherapy applies to victims of language disorders
• Study the growth of Hindi despite colonialism
• Critically appraise the term, language erasure
• Examine how colonialism and war is responsible for the loss of language
• Give an overview of the difference between sounds and letters and how they apply to the German language
• Explain why the placement of verb and preposition is different in German and English languages
• Choose two languages of your choice and examine their historical relationship
• Discuss the strategies employed by people while learning new languages
• Discuss the role of all the figures of speech in the advancement of language
• Analyze the complexities of autism and its victims
• Offer a linguist approach to language uniqueness between a Down Syndrome child and an autist
• Express dance as a language
• Express music as a language
• Express language as a form of language
• Evaluate the role of cultural diversity in the decline of languages in South Africa
• Discuss the development of the Greek language
• Critically review two literary texts, one from the medieval era and another published a decade ago, and examine the language shifts

Linguistics Essay Topics

You may also need Linguistics research topics for your Linguistics essays. As a linguist in the making, these can help you consider controversies in Linguistics as a discipline and address them through your study. You can consider:

• The connection of sociolinguistics in comprehending interests in multilingualism
• Write on your belief of how language encourages sexism
• What do you understand about the differences between British and American English?
• Discuss how slangs grew and how they started
• Consider how age leads to loss of language
• Review how language is used in formal and informal conversation
• Discuss what you understand by polite language
• Discuss what you know by hate language
• Evaluate how language has remained flexible throughout history
• Mimicking a teacher is a form of exercising hate Language: discuss
• Body Language and verbal speech are different things: discuss
• Language can be exploitative: discuss
• Do you think language is responsible for inciting aggression against the state?
• Can you justify the structural representation of any symbol of your choice?
• Religious symbols are not ordinary Language: what are your perspective on day-to-day languages and sacred ones?
• Consider the usage of language by an English man and someone of another culture
• Discuss the essence of code-mixing and code-switching
• Attempt a psychological assessment on the role of language in academic development
• How does language pose a challenge to studying?
• Choose a multicultural society of your choice and explain the problem they face
• What forms does Language use in expression?
• Identify the reasons behind unspoken words and actions
• Why do universal languages exist as a means of easy communication?
• Examine the role of the English language in the world
• Examine the role of Arabic in the world
• Examine the role of romantic languages in the world
• Evaluate the significance of each teaching Resources in a language classroom
• Consider an assessment of language analysis
• Why do people comprehend beyond what is written or expressed?
• What is the impact of hate speech on a woman?
• Do you believe that grammatical errors are how everyone’s comprehension of language is determined?
• Observe the Influence of technology in language learning and development
• Which parts of the body are responsible for understanding new languages
• How has language informed development?
• Would you say language has improved human relations or worsened it considering it as a tool for violence?
• Would you say language in a black populous state is different from its social culture in white populous states?
• Give an overview of the English language in Nigeria
• Give an overview of the English language in Uganda
• Give an overview of the English language in India
• Give an overview of Russian in Europe
• Give a conceptual analysis on stress and how it works
• Consider the means of vocabulary development and its role in cultural relationships
• Examine the effects of Linguistics in language
• Present your understanding of sign language
• What do you understand about descriptive language and prescriptive Language?

List of Research Topics in English Language

You may need English research topics for your next research. These are topics that are socially crafted for you as a student of language in any institution. You can consider the following for in-depth analysis:

• Examine the travail of women in any feminist text of your choice
• Examine the movement of feminist literature in the Industrial period
• Give an overview of five Gothic literature and what you understand from them
• Examine rock music and how it emerged as a genre
• Evaluate the cultural association with Nina Simone’s music
• What is the relevance of Shakespeare in English literature?
• How has literature promoted the English language?
• Identify the effect of spelling errors in the academic performance of students in an institution of your choice
• Critically survey a university and give rationalize the literary texts offered as Significant
• Examine the use of feminist literature in advancing the course against patriarchy
• Give an overview of the themes in William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”
• Express the significance of Ernest Hemingway’s diction in contemporary literature
• Examine the predominant devices in the works of William Shakespeare
• Explain the predominant devices in the works of Christopher Marlowe
• Charles Dickens and his works: express the dominating themes in his Literature
• Why is Literature described as the mirror of society?
• Examine the issues of feminism in Sefi Atta’s “Everything Good Will Come” and Bernadine Evaristos’s “Girl, Woman, Other”
• Give an overview of the stylistics employed in the writing of “Girl, Woman, Other” by Bernadine Evaristo
• Describe the language of advertisement in social media and newspapers
• Describe what poetic Language means
• Examine the use of code-switching and code-mixing on Mexican Americans
• Examine the use of code-switching and code-mixing in Indian Americans
• Discuss the influence of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” on satirical literature
• Examine the Linguistics features of “Native Son” by Richard Wright
• What is the role of indigenous literature in promoting cultural identities
• How has literature informed cultural consciousness?
• Analyze five literature on semantics and their Influence on the study
• Assess the role of grammar in day to day communications
• Observe the role of multidisciplinary approaches in understanding the English language
• What does stylistics mean while analyzing medieval literary texts?
• Analyze the views of philosophers on language, society, and culture

English Research Paper Topics for College Students

For your college work, you may need to undergo a study of any phenomenon in the world. Note that they could be Linguistics essay topics or mainly a research study of an idea of your choice. Thus, you can choose your research ideas from any of the following:

• The concept of fairness in a democratic Government
• The capacity of a leader isn’t in his or her academic degrees
• The concept of discrimination in education
• The theory of discrimination in Islamic states
• The idea of school policing
• A study on grade inflation and its consequences
• A study of taxation and Its importance to the economy from a citizen’s perspectives
• A study on how eloquence lead to discrimination amongst high school students
• A study of the influence of the music industry in teens
• An Evaluation of pornography and its impacts on College students
• A descriptive study of how the FBI works according to Hollywood
• A critical consideration of the cons and pros of vaccination
• The health effect of sleep disorders
• An overview of three literary texts across three genres of Literature and how they connect to you
• A critical overview of “King Oedipus”: the role of the supernatural in day to day life
• Examine the novel “12 Years a Slave” as a reflection of servitude and brutality exerted by white slave owners
• Rationalize the emergence of racist Literature with concrete examples
• A study of the limits of literature in accessing rural readers
• Analyze the perspectives of modern authors on the Influence of medieval Literature on their craft
• What do you understand by the mortality of a literary text?
• A study of controversial Literature and its role in shaping the discussion
• A critical overview of three literary texts that dealt with domestic abuse and their role in changing the narratives about domestic violence
• Choose three contemporary poets and analyze the themes of their works
• Do you believe that contemporary American literature is the repetition of unnecessary themes already treated in the past?
• A study of the evolution of Literature and its styles
• The use of sexual innuendos in literature
• The use of sexist languages in literature and its effect on the public
• The disaster associated with media reports of fake news
• Conduct a study on how language is used as a tool for manipulation
• Attempt a criticism of a controversial Literary text and why it shouldn’t be studied or sold in the first place

Finding Linguistics Hard To Write About?

With these topics, you can commence your research with ease. However, if you need professional writing help for any part of the research, you can scout here online for the best research paper writing service.

There are several expert writers on ENL hosted on our website that you can consider for a fast response on your research study at a cheap price.

As students, you may be unable to cover every part of your research on your own. This inability is the reason you should consider expert writers for custom research topics in Linguistics approved by your professor for high grades.

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Writing a research proposal for the PhD in English Literature

You apply for the PhD in English Literature through the University’s online Degree Finder. Here is our guidance on how to write an effective application.

The two elements of an application that are most useful to us when we consider a candidate for the PhD in English Literature are the sample of written work and the research proposal.

You will probably choose your sample of written work from an already-completed undergraduate or masters-level dissertation or term-paper.

Your research proposal will be something new. It will describe the project that you want to complete for your PhD.

Your research proposal

Take your time in composing your research proposal, carefully considering the requirements outlined below. Your proposal should not be more than 2,000 words .

PhD degrees are awarded on the basis of a thesis of up to 100,000 words. The ‘Summary of roles and responsibilities’ in the University’s Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research Students stipulates what a research thesis must do. 

Take me to the Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research Students (August 2020)

It is in the nature of research that, when you begin, you don’t know what you’ll find. This means that your project is bound to change over the time that you spend on it.

In submitting your research proposal, you are not committing yourself absolutely to completing exactly the project it describes in the event that you are accepted. Nevertheless, with the above points in mind, your research proposal should include the following elements, though not necessarily in this order:

1. An account of the body of primary texts that your thesis will examine. This may be work by one author, or several, or many, depending on the nature of the project. It is very unlikely to consist of a single text, however, unless that text is unusually compendious (The Canterbury Tales) or unusually demanding (Finnegans Wake). Unless your range of texts consists in the complete oeuvre of a single writer, you should explain why these texts are the ones that need to be examined in order to make your particular argument.

2. An identification of the existing field or fields of criticism and scholarship of which you will need to gain an ‘adequate knowledge’ in order to complete your thesis. This must include work in existing literary criticism, broadly understood. Usually this will consist of criticism or scholarship on the works or author(s) in question. In the case of very recent writing, or writing marginal to the established literary canon, on which there may be little or no existing critical work, it might include literary criticism written on other works or authors in the same period, or related work in the same mode or genre, or some other exercise of literary criticism that can serve as a reference point for your engagement with this new material.

The areas of scholarship on which you draw are also likely to include work in other disciplines, however. Most usually, these will be arguments in philosophy or critical theory that have informed, or could inform, the critical debate around your primary texts, or may have informed the texts themselves; and/or the historiography of the period in which your texts were written or received. But we are ready to consider the possible relevance of any other body of knowledge to literary criticism, as long as it is one with which you are sufficiently familiar, or could become sufficiently familiar within the period of your degree, for it to serve a meaningful role in your argument.

3. The questions or problems that the argument of your thesis will address; the methods you will adopt to answer those questions or explain those problems; and some explanation of why this particular methodology is the appropriate means of doing so. The problem could take many forms: a simple gap in the existing scholarship that you will fill; a misleading approach to the primary material that you will correct; or a difficulty in the relation of the existing scholarship to theoretical/philosophical, historiographical, or other disciplinary contexts, for example. But in any case, your thesis must engage critically with the scholarship of others by mounting an original argument in relation to the existing work in your field or fields. In this way your project must go beyond the summarising of already-existing knowledge.

4. Finally, your proposal should include a provisional timetable , describing the stages through which you hope your research will move over the course of your degree. It is crucial that, on the one hand, your chosen topic should be substantial enough to require around 80,000 words for its full exploration; and, on the other hand, that it has clear limits which would allow it to be completed in three years.

When drawing up this timetable, keep in mind that these word limits, and these time constraints, will require you to complete 25–30,000 words of your thesis in each of the years of your degree. If you intend to undertake your degree on a part-time basis, the amount of time available simply doubles.

In composing your research proposal you are already beginning the work that could lead, if you are accepted, to the award of a PhD degree. Regard it, then, as a chance to refine and focus your ideas, so that you can set immediately to work in an efficient manner on entry to university. But it bears repeating that that your project is bound to evolve beyond the project described in your proposal in ways that you cannot at this stage predict. No-one can know, when they begin any research work, where exactly it will take them. That provides much of the pleasure of research, for the most distinguished professor as much as for the first-year PhD student. If you are accepted as a candidate in this department, you will be joining a community of scholars still motivated by the thrill of finding and saying something new.

Ready to apply?

If you have read the guidance above and are ready to apply for your PhD in English Literature, you can do so online through the University of Edinburgh's Degree Finder.

Applications to start your PhD in September 2025 open in October 2024.

Take me to the Degree Finder entry for the PhD in English Literature

If you've got any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Aaron Kelly by email in the first instance.

Email Dr Aaron Kelly

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Research Proposal Template for Linguistics and Literature

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Fiaz Hussain

Wan Mohd Farid Wan Yusof

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A research proposal is a pre-written document which gives an overview of the research tactics. It gives a general idea of the objectives to be achieved and the ways and means to achieve it. Writing research proposal is however a challenging feat. Due to lack of clear guidance from any source, there are many substandard research proposals which are placed before evaluation committee. The researcher came across various people who had no clear understanding of the process and structure of research proposal or research design. This problem has led the researcher to develop a framework to guide the prospective researchers in framing their research design based on the following research questions.1) what is the procedure of writing the research proposal 2) what are the components of the research proposal.So, to give a clear picture about the problem the paper is divided into two parts I) Procedure of writing the research proposal II) Components of the research proposal. The procedure for writing the research proposal is discussed with regards to: 1) Identifying the problem 2) Deciding on the topic 3) Deciding the locale of study 4) Deciding on the data needs 5) Planning the source of data collection 6) Plotting down ways to collect data 7) Identifying methods for analyzing data collection 8) Establishing a basis for designing the Proposal. While the components of research proposal are discussed with regards to : 1) Cover page 2) Abstract 3) Keywords 4) Introduction 5) Review of literature 6) Statement of problem 7) Objectives of the study 8) Hypothesis of the study 9) Period of study 10) Methodology 11) Data analysis 12) Limitation of the study 13) Chapter framework 14) References 15) Appendices.

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This is a guidelines to dissertation thesis for UPSI student.

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Some practical steps to consider when developing a research proposal

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Preparing the master's essay

A master's essay guide for linguistics students.

What makes a good essay

• It's more than a term paper – you should say something new.
• State your goals at the beginning and summarize at the end.
• Write so any linguist can understand it.
• There is standard formatting for glossing foreign language data ( The Leipzig Glossing Rules ).
• Write as needed. There is no standard length.

Finding a topic

• Start thinking about it early.
• Select a subject that is interesting to you.
• Most topics are usually based on class material or an extension of a term paper.
• Sometimes a topic can be derived from an offhand remark by a professor or classmate or something that is bothering you about a language you know (why is X the way it is?).

Getting started

• Once you identify a topic, spend some time refining it. Initially, your topic will be too big – guaranteed!
• Read widely and talk to your friends and instructors.
• Try to write a paragraph-long thesis statement.
• Expect several false starts.

Building a bibliography

• Wikipedia is the beginning, not the end.
• Library databases are your friends, e.g.,  MLA , LLBA and specialized bibliographies.
• Follow leads in bibliographies of books and articles.
• Hope for a recent book or review article with an extensive bibliography.

Setting up the committee

• Approach someone you would like to work with and ask for their mentorship. Prior to doing so, evaluate their expertise and compatibility for you.
• Remember that not everyone always has the time.
• The rest of the committee (at least two more) are generally all from the linguistics program.
• Consider their expert knowledge (e.g., statistics, phonetics).
• Find out how they want to see the essay (by section, not until the end…).

Getting feedback

• Work with your advisor on a timeline for submission to the advisor and the rest of the committee. Learn the deadlines and work backward.
• Expect feedback and the need for multiple versions.
• Give committee members time to read the draft (two weeks is fair) but do not hesitate to check with them if you haven't received any feedback by then.

Human subjects

• Required only for living people as a source of data. This includes interviews, surveys (including online), experiments and classroom-centered research.
• Pre-existent data (i.e., corpora, databases) do not need IRB clearance.
• Take the training (required) .
• Fill out the form(s) and get signatures .
• Your advisor and others can help. It's not always clear or obvious what's needed.

Research and writing

• Check in with your advisor regularly.
• Consult with the rest of your committee and others who are not on the committee but could help.
• Contact scholars elsewhere. Don't be shy since even famous linguists often respond.
• Back up your data and text in two different places.
• Form a support group.

Bibliography

For the bibliography use one of the  Journal of the Linguistic Society of America's language style sheet . Use the bibliography of any article in language as your guide.  Exception:  Psycholinguistics and speech science use APA.

• Bring enough copies of the cover page for signatures.
• The oral is attended by the committee, moderator and your cheering squad.

Format of the oral exam

• 15-minute summary
• Questions around the table and from the sidelines

Following the completion of your presentation, you'll receive your final feedback from the committee.

Is it possible to fail?

No – the oral will not happen until your advisor thinks you are ready.

Final revisions and submission

• Final revisions happen, so allow time!
• Ensure your format is correct ( see guidelines for master's essay ).
• Allow time for printing.
• Follow the guidelines scrupulously for binding and deposit.

By Professors Geoffrey Nathan and Margaret Winters

College of Arts and Sciences

English and Linguistics

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There are many ways to write a good proposal. These two, from Spring 2009, will give you some sense of what other successful proposers have done:

To see a sample individual study proposal for a scholarly project, click here: sampleISprplscholarly  or  here: SampleISprplscholarly 2 .

To see a sample individual study proposal for a creative writing project, click here: sampleISprplcreative .

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Meet the Staff: Caroline Carter

Jun 26, 2024

In this edition of Meet the Staff , learn more about Caroline Carter and the critical role she plays in helping the Newberry secure funding for programs, collection needs, and more. 

When did you start at the Newberry? How did you first hear about the library?

I have been at the Newberry since September of 2019, so I’m coming up on my five-year anniversary. I started as Donor Relations and Communications Coordinator, which was my first job out of college. I went to the University of Chicago, which is obviously not far away, but I hadn’t heard about the Newberry until after I graduated. In college, I thought I would go into education or go on to get a PhD because I have a love for linguistics and Spanish-language literature. Working in development specifically at the Newberry ended up being a good fit for me because it combined what I love about teaching and research—it’s about taking a potentially complex subject, making it easier to understand, and ultimately getting people interested in it.

I’m now the Grant Writer at the library, a position I started in September 2021. I love writing and think it’s a fun challenge to take a complex project and boil it down to a concise, persuasive funding proposal. This role allows me to dive deep into projects and do everything I can to get them the support and funds that they need.

What does the day-to-day of your job look like?

I spend a lot of time writing at my desk, which isn’t the most exciting. I would say, however, that this job is really about translation. It’s about talking to people, listening to what they’re saying, and making sure I really understand what they’re working on and how grant money would help them. I’m good at asking questions, and I think that’s a vital part of being a grant writer. When working on a proposal, I’m trying to figure out how to present this story in a way that is engaging, accurate, and informative and that answers questions readers might have before they even know they do. I love that I get to chat with a lot of people and run around the building asking “Hey, what’s happening and what are you working on?” A lot of people think grant writing is a solo endeavor, but it’s very social.

What grant are you most proud of securing?

The grant we just received from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) that will allow us to digitize the Ayer Linguistics collection is something I’m so excited about! We’ve been looking to fund this project for nearly a decade. The NEH has a very rigorous application process and that meant doing lots of digging into the collection to be able to convey its history and importance. A lot of that work had already been done by my colleagues on the library services side, especially Will Hansen, the Roger and Julie Baskes Vice President for Collections and Library Services and Curator of Americana, and Analú López, the Ayer Librarian and Assistant Curator of American Indian and Indigenous Studies. They were such a great support and resource as I worked on this proposal, as was Jennifer Dalzin, the Director of Digital Initiatives and Services. I often start the grant-writing process by asking myself “why is this important?” In this case, I was able to answer that question easily. As I said earlier, I love linguistics. This collection is already such an amazing resource for linguists and communities working to revitalize Native languages. It’s so cool that now it will be digitized and available for many people to use and connect with.

Do you have a favorite item in the collection?

I don’t know if I have a favorite item in the collection, but I do have a favorite encounter with a collection item. I was in the Stacks building with Jill Gage, Custodian of the John M. Wing Foundation on the History of Printing and Bibliographer of British Literature and History, and Kim Nichols, Director of Conservation Services, looking at collection storage needs. While walking around, we happened upon an oversized test sheet of cover designs for the then-very popular Nick Carter detective novels from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century. My surname is obviously Carter. My great-grandfather was Frank James Ca r ter, but everyone called him Nick, specifically because of the Nick Carter character. He worked for a large tire company, and since Carter is a common name, several of his coworkers also had the surname, Carter. They got nicknamed “Nick,” too, so people had to distinguish the Nicks by department, i.e. “Nick Carter from Plant C,” “Nick Carter from Sales,” etc.

Today, "Nick” is a family name for us even though my great-grandfather was technically named Frank. It’s a fun example of how pop culture influences everyday life, and it was a fun anecdote to share with Jill and Kim, who weren’t very familiar with the character. I also think it’s an example of how the Newberry not only preserves historical items but creates space for us to encounter these items together and share ideas in unexpected ways.

This story is part of the Newberry’s Donor Digest , Summer 2024. In this newsletter, we share with donors exciting stories of the work made possible by their generosity. Learn more about supporting the library and its programs.

Department of Language and Linguistic Science

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Research Proposals for MA in Linguistics by Research

In the 'Research Proposal' section of the main application form, please include only 100 words outlining your topic, and upload a fuller research proposal as a separate document, in the 'supporting documents' section.

This proposal should be between 1500 and 2500 words in length , and should contain at least the following:

1. Title of proposed research project

This should allow the reader to place the research, at a glance, within an academic sub-field, as well as identifying the main issue to be addressed.  It should not be more than 20 words long.

2. Background

Outline the linguistic area in which you propose to conduct research.  Why is it important and interesting? What is the need for further research in this area? You should provide a context for your research.  Do this by referencing and briefly reviewing a number of key works in your chosen field, showing how your work is built on this prior research.

3. Research questions

You should give at least one overarching research question, plus a number of more specific sub-questions.  Make sure these questions all emerge from and are firmly grounded in the literature you have reviewed.  Ensure that these questions - particularly the specific sub-questions - are researchable; that is, they should not be too broad or too general.  You should also explain how these research questions can be considered original.

4. Data and data analysis

All projects will involve the collection of data of some kind.  In some cases, this will be based on native-speaker judgements.  Other projects will require experimental data, the use of existing or specially-created corpora, longitudinal observation, or sociolinguistic interviews - to name but a few data sources.  Will you be able to gain access to the data in the quantities required? Are there ethical concerns which need to be overcome? You should also be as specific as you can at this stage about the kinds of analysis you will perform.  What specific techniques will you use? What statistical analyses will you be performing (if any)? Mention any software you envisage using.

5. Fit with Departmental Research Interests

Before you formulate your proposal, you should look carefully through the Department of Language and Linguistic Science web pages to identify staff members who might be able to supervise your research.  You may mention the person or people by name.  You are also encouraged (though you are not obliged) to contact individual staff members to find out if they believe your ideas to be viable and if they would in principle be interested in supervising your project.

6. References

You should provide a list of the works you have referred to in your proposal. Don't list other works which may be relevant: this is to assure the reader that you have read and understood the literature you have cited.

Department of Language and Linguistic Science University of York , York , YO10 5DD , UK Tel: work +44 (0)1904 322650 | [email protected]

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Discover How Kira’s Family Motivation Led Her to Fulbright Success in Germany

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Programs offer recent college graduates from the U.S. the opportunity to assist local English teachers abroad for up to a year. Fulbrighters not only support English language instruction but also serve as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. The program caters to students of varying ages and academic levels, spanning from kindergarten to university. Prospective participants can apply to one country, and eligibility requires U.S. citizenship at the time of application.

Learn about Kira Ogburn and her linguistic journey as she recounts her Fulbright experience teaching English in Germany. Motivated by curiosity, heritage, and a deep love for language, Kira’s educational path led her abroad, laying the foundation for her subsequent graduate studies in forensic linguistics. Read her interview to learn about her adventures and her fruitful time in Germany as a Fulbrighter.

Can you tell us about your educational background? What made you interested in pursuing English language and literature in undergrad?

In undergrad, I started with a double major in secondary education and English and a minor in German. My varying interests didn’t begin to connect for me into the career path I’m on now until my junior year. I think that’s something a lot of people can relate to.

I had always enjoyed writing and wanted to be an author until I was about 12. After that, my interests started shifting towards education because I loved learning and discovering new things and sparking the joy of learning in others. At the time, an education focusing on the English language and literature seemed like the natural career path.

In my first years of college, I explored my interests more fully and questioned my career path. I really enjoyed researching and testing hypotheses, but I also valued practical applications. I was interested in the law and social justice. The intersectionality between fields of practice was intriguing to me. Pedagogy was still important to me, but I questioned whether a career as a high school teacher would be the right fit.

Through education and the TESOL program, I discovered my love of linguistics, which led me to my current work in forensic linguistics. This field sits at the intersection of law, psychology, and linguistics. It involves careful scientific research with practical applications to help solve crimes or change policy. And as an academic career, teaching is also involved—it was the perfect fit.

I began orienting myself toward this new path, which meant dropping the education major and finishing my degree in English while earning my TESOL certificate and a minor in German to prepare me best to further my education in grad school.

You then went on to apply for a Fulbright ETA award! What inspired you to apply, and why specifically Germany?

There were a lot of reasons that motivated me to apply for the Fulbright ETA in Germany. My grandparents emigrated from Germany, and that’s an integral part of my heritage that I wanted to explore. When I was younger, I used to speak some German at home with my family, but at the time, it was discouraged by my preschool teachers because I would code-switch in the classroom, and they couldn’t understand me.

Schools are getting better at supporting bilingual students now, which is something my TESOL education has also made me passionate about. I grew up always wishing I was fluent in German and wanting to reclaim that. The Fulbright program is an amazing opportunity to immerse yourself in another language and culture fully. I was also interested in the program from a linguistic perspective and for my future career. I could employ my skills in second language teaching in a real-world environment while also being a language learner.

How was your time in Germany as a Fulbrighter? What were some highlights of the experience?

My time as a Fulbrighter was even better than I imagined. I made many new friends, formed lifelong connections, gained valuable skills, and broadened my perspectives. I even met my soon-to-be husband during my Fulbright year. Also, I was very fortunate with the school I was placed at in Herne because they wanted to get the most value for their students out of my time there and gave me a lot of creative rein.

Some schools mostly use their ETAs as floating help in English classes, but I was given a variety of different responsibilities. I had eight different conversation classes that students could sign up for to get elective credit in their English courses. There were usually 5-10 students per class, and I designed and taught all the lessons. The goal was to help them communicate more freely and in natural language settings. Some big elections had recently happened, so we compared and contrasted the government systems and campaign process in the US and Germany, and the students debated the pros and cons.

We had a murder mystery lesson for Halloween, where each student was given a character and a small booklet of information. They had to act their part and ask each other questions to find out who the killer was. On Thanksgiving, I brought in pumpkin pie and we learned about the history of the many indigenous peoples in the US. We also practiced essential life skills like writing a resume in English and answering questions in a job interview. One of my students was actually hoping to get a music production internship in the US.

In addition to my own courses, I helped teach lessons on American culture and history in other teachers’ classes and set up a pen pal exchange between an American class of students and one of the German classes. I also had the opportunity to go on the 9th-grade ski trip as a chaperone, which was an unforgettable experience and a great way to bond with my other teacher colleagues.

In my downtime, I also wanted to get to know my local area better and make German friends. I had two German roommates who introduced me to some of their friends. I also joined online groups for people new to my city and met others for park events or bowling. These experiences pushed me to use my German skills and communicate even when I was afraid it would come out wrong.

I am happy to say I am now very fluent in German. The other Fulbright ETAs, as well as ETAs from other countries like the UK and Spain, were also an important support system, and we helped each other navigate the experience and formed close bonds.

Afterward, you not only went on to get a Master’s in Forensic Linguistics and will soon earn your Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics in the UK! Can you share why you pursued graduate school and why the UK?

After my Fulbright year, I went on to get my Master’s in forensic linguistics. Forensic linguistics is a specialized field that requires further education. My previous work with linguistics was in a TESOL-specific context, so I needed to expand my knowledge in the field and have a solid grasp of the fundamentals to apply linguistic methods in a forensic context.

There are many different avenues within forensic linguistics, such as analyzing language evidence for sociolinguistic information, helping a jury to understand language evidence and determine whether a language crime like bribery or perjury has been committed, using methods like corpus linguistics to interpret the meaning of laws, and much more. We explored These areas more deeply in my Master’s program at Hofstra. One of my goals is to do consulting work in forensic linguistics, which can mean appearing as an expert witness in court.

In order to do so, you have to have the highest degree in your field, so a Ph.D. was a necessary next step. My doctoral studies have also helped me to grow as an academic and connect with other researchers in my field.

I chose to study in the UK for a number of reasons. For one, they are a leading nation in forensic linguistic research. I also wanted to be exposed to more British English and the various dialects, which would help me be a better sociolinguist. Additionally, in the UK, you apply for a doctoral position with a proposal for your dissertation topic and spend 3-4 years working solely on your research and dissertation.

This differs from the US, where there are often 2 years of study before beginning the dissertation, even if you have already gotten a Master’s degree. With where I was in my studies, diving right into the dissertation made more sense. I’m nearing the end of my studies and will soon be submitting and defending my dissertation!

What are your future plans, and what do you hope to do next?

As I’m wrapping up my Ph.D., I am on the job hunt. My research has focused on threat assessment and how linguistic tools can improve current practices. As a next step, I’d like to do some hands-on work on threat assessment. I am also open to policy and research in this area. In the long term, I’d also like to expand my network and do consulting work for law firms on a variety of forensic linguistic cases, including authorship analysis.

Finally, can you share any tips with our readers?

Use your time in college to really explore all of your interests. Challenge yourself to try new things and broaden your horizons. You don’t have to know what you want to do with your life right away. And you may come in thinking you know exactly what you want to do and then surprise yourself.

Take this time to explore and grow! Also, find your people and work on building community. This is important throughout life and is something the Fulbright program helped me find. If you do decide to pursue higher education, especially a Ph.D., find your reason and hang on to it. It can be grueling at times, and you’ll have to remind yourself why you’re here and what your goals are to keep you going.

Ready to start on your Fulbright application? Be sure to check out additional advice and tips from recent Fulbrighters !

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Fellowships in Germany , Fulbright , Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship , Fulbright ETA

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