Chapter 1 Outline

Chapter 1 Outline – Introduction

By 5:30 p.m.,  please submit the first section of the outline to sharon.uche@bison.howard.edu for the in-class exercise. To receive 5 points of extra credit, please fill out the remainder of the outline and submit anytime before November 13 at 11:59 p.m.

Introduction

Questions to consider: Did I include a compelling hook? Am I including relevant examples from the news, social media, or other examples? Is my topic clearly stated? Am I being specific and clear? Is the purpose of my study specific?

• Introduce topic
• Background
• Historical context
• Purpose of the study

Statement of the Problem

Questions to consider: What is the problem? Why is it important? What are the gaps in the research?

• Transition sentence
• Key points

Hypothesis/ Research Questions

Questions to consider: Do my questions address the problem? Why am I asking these questions? Do these questions relate back to my study? Are these questions measurable and specific?

• Transition sentence
• Brief introduction to questions
• List of H/RQ

Definition of Variables

Questions to consider: Are my variables clear to unfamiliar readers? Is it clear which variable is dependent or independent? Why did I choose to look at these variables?

• Brief Introduction of all variables
• Variable 1
• Variable 2
• Variable 3
• Brief conclusion of the section

Method

Questions to consider: What method will I use? What specific instrument will be used? What are the demographics of my participants? Where are my participants located? Why am I choosing this location?

• Transition sentence
• Key points

Scope

Questions to consider: Where will my study take place? What’s the parameters of my study? What medium am I looking at? What mediums am I not including in my study? What are the limitations of my focus? What are the benefits of my specific focus?

• Transition sentence
• Key points
• Brief conclusion of the section

Significance of Study

Questions to consider: What contributions will this research bring to the problem area? How will you extend the literature? What do you hope others will gain from this study? What audiences benefit from the findings?

• Transition sentence
• Key points