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In essence, the prospectus is designed to persuade your reader that your project is worthwhile. The prospectus should contain a preliminary list of sources that you have surveyed, and a description of the key works in the field. As such, your prospectus will begin to place your topic within its historiographical context. This explanatory essay informs your reader that you are indeed working toward the research paper. This prospectus should be about 2-3 pages(typed, double-spaced) in length and should consider what at least three scholars have already found on the topic. As such, even in the historiography you will consider a basic level of historiography.
The proposal should consist of three numbered parts:
1) The description should be written in clear prose and headed by a working title. It should begin by setting up and clearly stating the paper’s main historical question (focus your topic as narrowly as possible). Then, you should briefly explain the historical context (background) of your topic, provide a preliminary answer (or thesis) to the question, and then list the main points you will discuss to support your thesis. You should also explain the significance of your topic (why anyone should care), placing it within the context of the current scholarship, that is, discussing the historiography on the topic. Which historians' explanations do you agree with and which do you not? This part of the proposal should be at least one full page (double-spaced), but no more than two pages.
2) The preliminary bibliography including a list of sources in Chicago Manual of Style format.
3) The justification for this project may be written in a less formal tone and will inform your reader why you are choosing this topic and how the topic will add to the historical narrative. It should reveal some level of excitement with your topic, and should provide justification for choosing the topic (first person is allowed).
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