II. Preparation for a Thesis Propos

II. Preparation for a Thesis ProposalBefore writing the thesis proposal, a student should have already taken most of coursework and done an extensive literature review. He/she should have a solid understanding on the background materials and previous research done by other researchers in the same fi eld. Most importantly, he/she should have identifi ed a research topic with his/her supervisor. In developing a research topic, it is advisable to develop two to three topics fi rst and then fi nally focus on a topic to develop further. You may like to ask the following questions in deciding on a research topic: - What is the contribution to knowledge in your fi eld of study? - Has it been done by others before? - What is the theoretical framework for the study? - What are the research hypotheses or questions? - Are data, if needed, available? - How to collect data? - What are the appropriate methods in analyzing the data? - What are the expected end results? - Can the thesis be done within the time period of study?Writing a thesis is the beginning of a scholarly work. You should write a thesis that you can manage within your present resource and time frame.