Thesis Proposal

1. A working title.
2. A working thesis Statement of Purpose (Thesis Question; Problem Statement depending on the nature of the thesis) or a concise explanation of the questions you intend to address.
3. An explanation of the significance of your topic.This should show that you have some general knowledge of the field and should explain why you think your topic is important within the field.
4. Rational of how this work will contribute to the field and to your portfolio, professional goals.
5. An explanation of your proposed methodology. What approach will you take to your research? How will you attempt to answer the questions you have posed for yourself? Will you read plays, letters, analyze social conditions, conduct interviews, etc? Your methods should correspond to the information you want to discover.
6. Standards employed, why?
7. Review of the literature and profession (or professions, if the scope is cross-disciplinary) to assess if this subject has been address before; if so, how; how your work will be distinguished with respect to existing material; and how useful, applicable your work will be to the field.
8. Anticipated findings: what do you expect to demonstrate, what are your anticipated conclusions, or at least what questions do you hope to resolve?

Resources

Thesis Outline, Morris Chang, Associate Professor, Deptartment of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Iowa State University

Writing and Presenting Your Thesis or Dissertation by S. Joseph Levine, Ph.D., Michigan State University

How to Write a Thesis Statement by Writing Tutorial Service, Indiana University

Short, Deirdra. Developing a Community Vision Conducting a Visioning Process [As PDF file], Sustainable Coastal Communities, Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program/University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center. Useful for community-oriented theses.

Examples of Thesis

Historic Preservation

Thesis Abstracts, Goucher College Master of Arts in Historic Preservation

Index of Master's Thesis 1985-2003 (Titles, no abstract), Historic Preservation, School of Design, Pennsylvania University

Master of Historic Preservation Thesis Titles, School of Environmental Design, University of Georgia

López-Trujillo, Miguel Ángel, B.A.A Century of Historic Preservation in Texas, Thesis pesented to the Graduate Council of Southwest Texas State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree M.A., San Marcos, Texas, December, 1998

Alumni & Theses, Historic Preservation Program, University of Oregon. Includes author, title, abstract.

Pinyerd, David. The Preservation of Pre-World War II Coast Guard Architecture in Oregon. Master of Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 2000.

Senior Theses (scroll down), Cultural & Historic Preservation Program, Salve Regina University.

Others

Turner, Christina. Preliminary Thesis, Outline & Annotated Bibliographic Sources. Includes Statement of Thesis, Outline and Annotated Bibliography