WHAT IS A PROSPECTUS?

M. A. Syverson

Here is my admittedly idiosyncratic understanding of that strange genre of text, the dissertation prospectus. I'm providing it for the graduate students who work with me so that they will understand what motivates the cryptic comments I scrawl in the margins. A prospectus has a simple purpose: it must convince a small group of college professors that you have a plan for a significant study which you are capable of carrying out. In my opinion, it needs to do the following things, and do them well. It does not necessarily have to do them in this order.

1. Define a question, set of questions, problem, or thesis that establishes the purpose of your study. (Statement of the Problem)

2. Acknowledge significant previous research or scholarly efforts and existing knowledge or theories in this area. (Prior Work) How does your study relate to these efforts? (E.g., by extending, filling gaps, disputing, reconceiving, applying, reinventing, or newly creating, etc.)

3. Describe the approach(es) you will take. (Methodological and/or Theoretical Approach) Why is this approach appropriate for your question(s)?

4. Describe the site or object or focus of your study. (Sources of Data) Explain why it is particularly appropriate for your purposes.

5. What outcome do you presently expect or imagine? What conclusions or theories might emerge from the study? (Potential Results)

6. What significant contribution will this study make to our present understanding? (Relevance to the Field) You may speculate here.

You do not need to follow these guidelines as a formula. You should expect to provide answers in the exam for any of these areas which are not covered directly in the prospectus.

I must have your final version of the prospectus a minimum of three weeks before the exam.

You can do this in 25 pages or fewer. Be clear. Be direct. Do not use theoretical or technical jargon unnecessarily. Do not use strained or convoluted rhetoric. Watch for buzzwords and faddishnessÑthey are likely to date your dissertation before it is even completed.

Find an interesting puzzle or question and engage it passionately. Or find some puzzling or thorny data and wrestle with it until its questions come tumbling out. Or find a compelling theory and test its application. Until you've done this much at least, you are not equipped to wrestle with or criticize previous theorists or researchers.

Ask yourself this question: Would I pursue this study even if I were not planning a dissertation? This is the acid test of the significance and importance of this inquiry to you. If you are not passionate about it, keep asking questions until you find one that does trigger that response. Then the study will drive itself with its own internal engine. Of course, you will still have plenty of work to do! Good luck with the journey.