PLATEAU STATE UNIVERSITY

BOKKOS

DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARTS

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING ACADEMIC

RESEARCH PROPOSALS

Project – A practically/creative oriented study through exhibitions/ performances/

documentation/ oral presentation and an accompanying written repot examined at Masters
level.

After Defence

A Research project submitted in fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree
of (specify, e.g. Bachelor of Arts) in the department of Theatre Arts,Plateau State
University,Bokkos,Plateau State.”

Month and year of submission comes immediately after (centred) and in uppercase.

a) Student Declaration Page

To have the following writings in Font 12 (Times New Roman):

“This Proposal is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other
University.” Then the Student signs below his/her name with registration number in brackets
followed by the date.
Example: Name: A. N. Other (M66/201023/10)
Signature:_______________________
Date:___________________________

Supervisors: This Proposal has been submitted for review with our approval as University
Supervisors. Then the Supervisors signs after his name and department then
followed by the date.

Example: Prof. A. N. Other

Department of Art and Design
Signature_________________
Date:_____________________

b) Table of Contents

The table of contents should capture main tittles and subtitles (up to three levels) in the text
(proposal/thesis).

The table of contents, list of tables/list of plates/music scores and list of figures need to be
computer generated and listed sequentially.

c) Abbreviations and Acronyms

Abbreviations and acronyms may be included in the proposal if necessary.

d) Operational Definition of Terms

These refer to terminologies as used within the context of the document and are not generated
from regular dictionary. These should come immediately after the abbreviations and
acronyms.

e) Abstract
All proposals must have an abstract which is an overview of the entire proposal.
It should:
 not exceed 500 words,
 be single-spaced and not paragraphed
 contain no citation.
It is the last item of the prefaratory pages just before Chapter One.

1.0 FORMAT OF MAIN BODY OF PROPOSAL

Each major section e.g. Introduction should start on a new page.

Note: Headings and subheadings of the main body of the proposal to follow as
indicated below where applicable.

1.0 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

It should start with an introduction which specifies the subtitles of content
covered.
 1.1 Background to the Study (introduces subject area under study and
current situation).
1.2 Statement of the Problem (to be precise and focused).
1.3 Objectives of Study (specific, achievable and preferably not exceeding
four objectives).
1.4 Research Questions/Hypotheses/Assumptions (where applicable)
1.5 Significance/Justification (to explain the benefits and the beneficiaries
of the findings of the study).
1.6 Delimitations/ Scope of the Study (Gives the extent to which the study
will be carried out).
1.7 Limitation (Anticipated/experienced shortcomings).

2.0 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

 The Literature Review should start with an introduction which

specifies the subtitles of content covered.
 Within this section, student should demonstrate evidence of
understanding of current research on the subject under investigation
and show clear gaps in knowledge that will be discussed.
 Appropriate themes for this chapter can be developed using the
specific objectives of the study.

2.1 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

 The theoretical framework guiding the study should be discussed here.
Literature review should address the specific objectives or objective of
the study.
 The literature review should be consistent with the requirements of the
title (internal consistency) and aspects of the introduction e.g.
background to the study.
 The literature review should be properly cited, paraphrased and
critiqued.
 The Literature review should have a summary of identified gaps.
 Endeavour to use current referred sources such as books, journals,
periodicals, artworks, audio-visual materials, scores and recordings as
much as possible.

3.0 CHAPTER (THREE): METHODOLOGY

The Methodology section should start with an introduction which specifies the
subtitles of content covered. This Chapter highlights methodological details
appropriate to the study. They include:

3.1 Research Design (State and justify the chosen design).

3.2 The Physical Area of Study (State where the study will be located and
why it was chosen)
3.3 Target/Accessible population (Describe the accessible target
population).
3.4 Sampling Techniques (Explain the Sampling techniques used for the
study)
 3.5 Sample Size (explain the sample size-(unit of analysis) and explain
how it will be determined).
3.6 Research Instruments (Justify the choice of instruments that will be
used in the study and how they will be constructed and what they are
meant to achieve).
3.7 Pre Testing - Use relevant statistics techniques to conduct pretesting
(where applicable).
3.8 Validity and Reliability (determine validity and reliability
accordingly).
3.9 Data Collection Techniques (Explain how data will be collected).
3.10 Data Analysis (researcher should explain and justify procedure for
analyzing data).
3.11 Logistical and Ethical Considerations.
3.12 Conceptual framework and Measurement of variables (explain the
variables and how they will be determined/measured).

CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION
5.0 SUMMARY
5.1 RECOMMENDATION
5.2 CONCLUSION
4.0 REFERENCES

Reference should be single-spaced and listed alphabetically in the reference list. For citations
within the text, the format of author and year of publication is recommended.
Use latest American Psychology Association (APA) style of referencing/ MLA referencing
style( To be decided by the departmental board).

5.0 APPENDICES

They will include such items as Work Plan, Budget, Maps, and Questionnaires. These must
be numbered sequentially e.g. 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, etc.

6.0 PROPOSAL PRESENTATION DETAILS

(a) Typing
6.1 Typing: All proposals in the department should be typed in font 12 (Times
New Roman) on A4 size paper, 1.5 spacing, on one side of the page and based
on the British English.
 6.2 Page margins: Page margins will be as follows: left 40 mm (1.5 inches) and
all other sides 25 mm (1 inch);

6.3 Page numbering: e.g. 1, 2, 3, etc should be top right or bottom centre and start
on the INTRODUCTION page. All prefaratory pages except cover page
should have Roman numbering system (i.e. i, ii, iii, etc) in a sequential manner

6.4 Page numbers: The proposal should not exceed 10 pages , excluding
references and appendices.

(b) Oral Presentation

The recommended mode of oral presentation is the use of Power point or oral presentation. A
maximum of (15 minutes).

(c) Tense
Future tense should be used in writing proposals, but this must be changed to past tense when
writing the project.

8.0 PROJECT FORMAT

The standard format shall comprise:

8.1 Title page

 This page should be paginated

 All wording should be single-spaced and in uppercase.
 The title at the cover page to be bold and font size is 14. Items will be
arranged in the following sequence:
- Title should be focused, informative and not more than 20 words.
- Full name of student followed by highest qualification in standard
abbreviation in brackets.
- Registration number of student below name.

8.2 Author

Full name of student should appear as it is in the registration form, while the registration
number should be written below the name, together with the name of the School, then follows
the writing:

Before Defence

A Research Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the
Degree of (specify, e.g. Bachelor of Arts) in the department of Theatre Arts,Plateau State
University Bokkos .”

After Defence
A Research Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree
of .” (specify, e.g. Bachelor of Arts) in the department of Theatre Arts,Plateau State
University Bokkos .”

Month and year of submission comes immediately after (centred) and in uppercase.

8.3 Declaration Page - (could differ according to what was undertaken e.g. project report,
thesis followed by the declaration words.” This is my original work ……. (As it is in
the proposal).

8.4 Dedication statement – Should not exceeding 30 words and should follow declaration,
beginning on a separate page.

9.5 Acknowledgement – Should not exceed one page, should begin on a separate page,
immediately after dedication.

9.6 Abstract - As it is in proposal except it captures major findings and pertinent

recommendations.

9.7 Abbreviations/Acronyms - As it appears in the proposal guidelines.

9.8 Table of Content

This begins on a new page. It should assist the reader to know quickly and clearly, how
the thesis is organized. There must be consistency in the use of headings and
subheadings preferably computer generated.

9.9 List of Tables

This follows the table of contents, beginning on a separate page. Numbering of tables
should be: Table 1.1,2.1,3.1…throughout the text and be listed sequentially.

9.10 List of Plates (see 10.0)

9.11 List of figures (List of Diagrams)

This immediately follows the list of tables and on a separate page. Numbering should
be figure 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 etc. The name/title of the figure and source(s) should be
Written below it.

Note: All tables, figures, diagrams and plates should fit within prescribed document
margins.

9.12 Numbering of Chapter and subtitles in proposal/thesis should be based on Chapter

numbers e.g. subtitles in chapter one should be numbered as 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, etc.

10.0 USE OF TABLES, FIGURES AND PLATES

These may be included within the text or appear on separate pages. If on separate pages,
however, they should be placed near the text, which refers to them. Each table in the text
must have a number and caption. Number them consecutively throughout, by chapter using a
decimal system e.g. the first table in chapter 2, for example, would be table 2.1, the second
would be table 2.2, and so on. Do not number tables and figures by sections in the chapter (as
2.21). In numbering appendix figures and tables, use a separate appendix system and do not
include them in the list of figures and tables.

Guidelines on tables and figures

 Place a table or figure immediately after the first mention of it in the text--on the same
page if there is room, or on the following page.
 Tables or figures of peripheral importance to the text may be placed in an appendix.
 All tables and figures must be referred to in the text by number (not by a phrase such
as "the following table").
 If thesis has some aspects of colour in it, it should not be photocopied but printed.
 List and caption photographs as figures unless you wish to have a separate list of
photographs or plates.

 Headline should be in the inner margins.

 Each figure must have a caption that begins with the word “Figure” (“F” capitalized)
and the figure number, followed by a brief description of the figure. This must be
placed below the figure, with one blank line separating the bottom of the figure and
the top of the caption as follows:-

Figure, Chapter number, figure number, description e.g. Figure 4.3. Schematic of
control system for the methanol-water column.

 Each table must have a caption that begins with the word “Table” (“T” capitalized)
and the table number, followed by a brief description of the table. This must be
placed above the table, with one blank line separating the bottom of the caption and
the top of the table.

Table 3.2. Performance measures obtained using the proposed procedure.

When a figure or table is continued to the following page, a continuation note (e.g., “Figure
5, cont.” or “Table 5, cont.”) must appear in place of the caption on the continuations. The
original caption must not be repeated in either case.

This is subject to approval by your supervisor.

All correspondence should be directed to your supervisors,level coordinators and exams

officers.

Best regards

(From the examination office)