6.5 Preparing the Dissertation Prospectus
The student works on the dissertation proposal in BIB915 Dissertation 1A: Reading and Proposal. The dissertation proposal is a document in which the student proposes the topic and research design of the dissertation study. The dissertation proposal describes the research question, outlines a proposed approach to the dissertation, and includes an annotated bibliography based on the reading of the precedent literature. Because the proposal describes future research, future tense should be used in describing the research design.
The student works with the dissertation advisor in the process of writing the proposal, revising it as needed according to the feedback provided by the advisor. Once the proposal
6.5.1 Timeline
While the timeline of students will vary, the following is suggested for students who wish to graduate as soon as possible. Upon the successful completion of the qualifying exams, a working copy of the dissertation proposal should be sent to the dissertation advisor within two months. The dissertation advisor shares the proposal with the second reader to complete the approval process. The dissertation advisor will then return the working version to the student within one month. If no further revisions are necessary, the student then proceeds to the writing phase. For further details on the timeline, see Appendix C.
6.5.2 Prospectus Content
The student writes the proposal in BIB915 Dissertation 1A: Reading and Proposal. The proposal is comprised of the following sections: 1) a description of the topic, 2) a detailed outline of the dissertation, and 3) an annotated bibliography.
In the first section of the proposal, students describe a research question that has not yet been addressed in the worldwide body of literature. A gap in the existing literature on a given topic must be demonstrated in order to confirm the need for more study in that specific area and to justify the study as genuine original research. With a confirmed gap in the literature, the student proposes a specific research question for the topic and a strategy for conducting the research. The goal is for the student to write a dissertation that will fill an existing gap and therefore make a significant contribution to the body of literature in the field of biblical studies.
In addition to describing the literature gap, research question, and research strategy, the first section of the proposal should also include a potential dissertation title (15-17 words maximum), a research purpose or thesis statement, and a brief discussion of the delimitations of the study. Depending on the nature of the topic, a discussion of technical terminology may also be included. Students will consult with the dissertation advisor about whether any other components are needed for this section based on their specific topics.
In the second section of the proposal, the student provides a detailed outline of what will be included in each chapter of the dissertation. The general components of a typical dissertation are found in Appendix B, the “Biblical Studies Dissertation Structure Guide,” Students should refer to Appendix B as a basic guide for the structure of their dissertation, consulting with the dissertation advisor as needed for more specific guidance about how to design the outline for their particular topic.
The third section, the annotated bibliography, will include information on the precedent literature related to the topic, literature which confirms the literature gap, and any other literature pertinent to the study, such as background information or technical literature related to the topic or the research approach. Annotated entries which are written with sufficient content and detail may also be used later in the literature review section of the dissertation itself.
The length of dissertation proposals will vary. The description of the topic and problem should be a minimum of two to three pages. A typical outline will also be two to three pages. The outline should be detailed enough to demonstrate that the student has an appropriate plan for each chapter of the study. The annotated bibliography should include a minimum of thirty of the most key sources on the topic. The proposal does not need to be lengthy, but it must provide enough detail to establish the validity of the research question, confirm the need for the study, and demonstrate the feasibility of the research strategy.