Tips for Writing a Successful Project Proposal

This document provides tips and guidance for writing a successful project proposal. It covers topics such as setting clear objectives, considering ethical and anti-oppressive practices, conducting a literature review, planning the final project, drafting and redrafting, analysis and conclusions, and presentation. It also includes information on word count requirements and referencing using the Harvard style.

An aim contains active verbs, which state what you propose to do. For example you may aim:
- to examine a recent government initiative to reform the provision of adult mental health
care and discuss its impact on professional practice
- to analyse the role of interest groups and the voluntary sector in determining social care
practice at a national and local level for disabled children
- to evaluate the impact of recent residential childcare reforms for service professionals and
users
You need to consider whether the aim and objectives actually describe what you intend to do,
whether the aim is realistic and whether it reflects the requirements for analytical rigour that are
expected at this level (for further guidance see project proposal template).
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Ethical and Anti-oppressive Practice Considerations
You must demonstrate that you have a systematic understanding and application of ethical issues
related to diversity and human rights/social justice in the context of the subject area.
The literature review
You need to be aware of and demonstrate knowledge of the available literature on the subject area
of your Project. Information on how to conduct a literature review will be undertaken during the
module: SW6P00 Research and Evaluation Skills for Professional Practice. Your Project literature
review should demonstrate that you have a good idea of the major areas of the literature in your
topic area, including the following:
• Context – e.g. legal issues, policies, demographics, historical background
• Theory and practice- related to the topic and / or the study of the topic
• Key studies / research that have been undertaken, which relate to your study or that are
important to how people study or think about your topic
• Nature of Research Studies- You must engage with the nature of the research studies you
are reviewing, i.e. are the studies based on qualitative or quantitative research? Are you able or
unable to generalize as you analyse and draw your conclusions?

You are expected to formulate thematic headings and subheadings based on your objectives and
literature findings in this section.
Remember: The Project requires students to draw upon current literature, including (electronic)
journals, research reports and web-based materials, as well as books to study a practice related
topic in depth. A literature review ensures that you are not merely repeating work already
completed by other researchers. Discussion about the assessment task completed during the
module SW6P00 Research and Evaluation Skills for Professional Contexts forms the basis for the first
meeting with your supervisor.
Planning the final Project
From early on, you should have a conception of what the final document should look like. This will
initially take the form of chapter headings as tentatively outlined in your project proposal. As you
proceed this should become more precise as you develop section headings based on thematic areas
identified and begin to write the early parts such as the literature review. Your supervisor will be
interested to see an up-to-date version of your plan as you proceed through the semester.
Writing up: drafting and redrafting
Writing up is a process rather than an event. There is nothing worse than a blank sheet of paper or
an empty word processing page! Hence the importance of your plan and the need to refine it as you
proceed through your studies. It is always helpful to commit ideas to paper or computer and then
refine them after some time for reflection. You should also plan in advance so that your supervisor
has time to read a draft of a section.
Analysis and conclusions
At degree level, you must be analytical. Extended work such as a project allows you to explore ideas,
theories, frameworks and concepts in detail. The relationship between theoretical debate and
empirical research findings is also a key element. Markers will pay particular attention to the quality
of your analysis and the conclusions that you derive from them. If you are unclear about how to
produce a sound analysis you can discuss this with your supervisor and/or get support from the
CELT.

Presentation
You need to ensure that your use of English is appropriate and that you reference correctly.
Appendices can be used to include supplementary information and data. They should not be used to
present continuations of the main text of the project. Some form of soft binding should hold the
document together. Hard binding is not required.
Please note: If the Project fails, the student must use the same Project topic area for re-submission.
Word Count (4000)
A word count must be given at the end of every assignment. Any assignment that exceeds or goes
below the word limit by more than 10% will result in a reduction of the overall mark.
Guidance on referencing
To pass this module you must make reference to written material that you use in your assignment in
an acceptable manner. You must reference in a correct and consistent way using the Harvard
referencing system. This means that you will refer to reading in text of your dissertation using the
examples on the site given below.
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/library/subjectsandsupport/referencemanagement/harvard
General indicative bibliography
The following texts regarding the process and management of writing essays, forms of writing, and
correct referencing style are useful:
Chambliss, D. and Schutt, R. (2006) (2nd Edition) Making Sense of the Social World: Methods of
Investigation. London: Sage/Pine Forge Press
Davies, M.B. (2007) Doing a Successful Research Project, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Hek, G. and Moule, P. (2011) Making sense of Research: An Introduction for Health and Social Care
Practitioners 3rd ed. London: Sage. (Ch4 pp 30-38 is on literature search & review).
Pears, R and Shields, G. (2004) Cite Them Right : Referencing Made Easy. Newcastle upon Tyne:
Northumbria University.
Walker, H (2011) Studying for Your Social Work Degree 2nd ed. Exeter: Learning Matters/Sage (Ch12
pp 165-176)
Project Format
You should pay attention to the following as already highlighted in the project proposal template.
1. Title page Frame the project title as a question/ statement that identifies the
focus of your project

2. Contents page Section headings and appendices with page numbers
3. Chapter 1 Introduction
Background and Rationale of the project Relevance – why is this
topic important to Health? What is the aim of the project? What are the objectives? Which policies/
legislations/ strategies and agency link to your topic will you be discussing? What literature search
strategy was used? i.e. The search engines, databases and key words, exclusion and inclusion
criteria. Have you discussed Ethical and Anti-oppressive practice issues related to your topic?
Signpost the reader about the contents of ensuing chapters with project outline.
4. Chapter 2 Literature Review- This should form the main body of your Project
and provide the general context for the subject area and cover the main discussion areas. It must be
properly written in essay format and correctly referenced. Break down identified objectives to
formulate thematic headings and subheadings for each section based on literature findings
5. Chapter 3 Application of theory to practice
1. An analysis of relevant theoretical model/s- case studies relating to study topic (Youth and Social
Work Students ONLY)
OR
2. (1) Identify relevant policies/ strategies/ legislation tackling the health issue and critically assess
outcomes based on literature. 2) Identify a case study of service delivery (organisation or agency),
and address the following: a) Justify selection and present a background of the organisation
(services provided and source/s of funding) (b) Identify one specific programme or intervention
within your chosen agency / organisation that is relevant to your research question; present its aims;
and critically analyse the programme’s strengths and limitations in relation to the identified
policies/strategies/ legislation ( Health Students ONLY)
5. Chapter 4 Conclusions – Recommendations. Refer back to the original title, aim
and objectives and summarise your main findings from the secondary research. Remember to make
it clear that the recommendations are based on the literature you have engaged with.
Reflection- A critical analysis and evaluation: What have you learnt conducting this project? Ask
yourself what happened, why, how and what if. What would you do differently next time etc. This
must be written in the first person’s voice, and solely relate to what you learnt while conducting the
project.
6. Bibliography This should consist of all written and other material that has been used in
your Project. It should not contain sources, that have not been referenced.

A REMINDER REGARDING PLAGAIRISM
It is an Examination Offence carrying penalties to pass off someone else's words or ideas as your own
either intentionally or unintentionally (i.e. carelessly) so all quotations must be identified. Even
when you paraphrase, you must indicate the source of your ideas. Changing a word or a phrase here
and there does not make it your own. Please reference correctly. It is against academic regulations
to submit work in this module which has been submitted in another module
Project Assessment Criteria
The final project will be marked based on the following assessment criteria
Achievement of Assessment Criteria Comments & Mark awarded
Research Question, Background and Rationale 15%: Presents an appropriate introduction, plausible
research question, aim & objectives; Historical context of research issue & justification - statistical
evidence of issue which includes ethnic, gender, & geographical variations for wider contextual
understanding while citing relevant literature sources & project outline
Literature Search Strategy 10%:Presents relevant and appropriate data bases, search engines,
organisations & key words; presents search and selection criteria – specific time frames,
geographical boundaries etc. including use of relevant literature to support the discussion
Consideration of ethics and Anti-oppression practices 10%: Evidences understanding and application
of ethical issues- 4 principles; utilitarianism & deontology; diversity & human rights/social justice
legislation in context of research issue & practice - highlights potential benefits/challenges/conflicts
in practice- supports discussion with relevant literature sources
Literature Review: Knowledge, Analysis & Argument 20%: Literature review demonstrates
understanding of research issue & coherence; evidences wider reading with use of peer reviewed
journal articles; demonstrates criticalness of evidence presented- questions literature assertions,
critiques aspects of methodology, e.g. the implications of using qualitative / quantitative research
based articles for the project (ability to gain insight, generalise, etc.); highlights consistencies /
inconsistencies & highlights gaps in the literature evidence reviewed
Theory & Practice (20%)
An analysis of relevant theoretical model/s- case study/ ies relating to project topic (Youth and
Social Work students)
Agency link & Policy Evaluation (health students)
a. Identifies relevant policies/ strategies/ legislation tackling the health issue and critically assess
outcomes based on literature- evaluation reports, journal articles etc.; addresses areas of potential
bias in the findings of evaluation literature used. (b) Identifies a case study of service delivery -
organisation and justifies selection and presents background ( services provided and source/s of
funding) (c) Identify one specific programme or intervention within the organisation that is relevant

to research question – presents aims; and critically analyse the programme’s strengths and
limitations in relation to the above identified policies/strategies/ legislation
Critical Reflection 10%: Reflection written in first person narrative, engages with relevant academic
literature, presents a description of what happened during the research process, evidences self-
evaluation - what was good and bad about the experience, what helped or hindered the process &
what needs to be done to improve next time
Conclusion, recommendation, presentation & academic conventions 15%: Presents a sound
conclusion and recommendations based on the literature reviewed; work is well structured, written,
& presented with appropriate subheadings - signposting; chapter introductions and summaries;
grammar & spelling; follows the Harvard referencing format & all other academic conventions