Please delete or replace words in red

TITLE (in caps): Subtitle (in Title Case)

example below:
---
GRADE RETENTION STRATEGIES: A Comparative Education Approach to
Effective Practices in Latin America

NAME (in caps)

NAME (in caps)
NAME (in caps)

MANAGEMENT of EDUCATION CHANGE

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Dr. Fred Mednick, Professor

Lens: Higher Education, Donor, etc.

[Date]
TITLE OF PAPER (ALL CAPS). No need for subtitle

Table of Contents

NOTE: The Table of Contents must be based upon MS Word’s Heading 2 style; make certain
you familiarize yourselves with headings and how they work. It makes navigation for the reader
a lot easier. NOTE: If you change the title in the Table of Contents, it won’t work. If you
change the title of a heading in the document itself, it will work if you (a) right-click or Ctl click
on Table of Contents (b) choose Update Field, then (c) Update Entire Table to refresh the Table
of Contents. Points will be taken off for sloppy attention to detail.

Purpose of the Study and Research Focus ...................................................................................... 4

Literature Review, Research Strategy, Additional Research Questions ......................................... 4
Objectivity and Bias Prevention ..................................................................................................... 4
Interpretations and Conclusions of Research .................................................................................. 4
Recommendations ........................................................................................................................... 4
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................... 5

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TITLE OF PAPER (ALL CAPS). No need for subtitle

ABSTRACT
(250 words maximum)

An Abstract is the entire paper in a condensed form, written for those seeking to learn more. An
abstract summarizes, usually in one paragraph of 250 words or less, the major aspects of the entire
paper in a prescribed sequence that includes: 1) the overall purpose of the study and the research
problem(s) you investigated; 2) the basic design of the study; 3) major findings or trends found as a
result of your analysis; and, 4) a brief summary of your interpretations and conclusions.
The abstract allows you to elaborate upon each major aspect of the paper and helps readers decide
whether they want to read the rest of the paper. Therefore, enough key information [e.g., summary
results, observations, trends, etc.] must be included to make the abstract useful to someone who may
want to examine your work.
How do you know when you have enough information in your abstract? A simple rule-of-thumb is to
imagine that you are another researcher doing a similar study. Then ask yourself: if your abstract was
the only part of the paper you could access, would you be happy with the amount of information
presented there? Does it tell the whole story about your study? If the answer is "no" then the abstract
likely needs to be revised.

Key Words/Tags: (list them here)

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TITLE OF PAPER (ALL CAPS). No need for subtitle

Purpose of the Study and Research Focus

(3-4 pages)
A general state of the field. Perhaps X, Y, or Z is understudied, or at least understudied in the
particular context you wish to explore or region you have been tasked to support. This may
include background on the country or challenge. Go into detail about the history of the problem
or the forces at work in favor of—or as obstacles to—success.

Literature Review, Research Strategy, Additional Research Questions

(5 pages)
Depending upon your lens, this is a description of how you approached your research into the
lens you were assigned. I am looking for a sense of organization for this paper that reflects a
systematic and objective approach toward your evaluation of the research; I will consider the
variety and depth of the sources you have consulted as well. Your general impressions are not
enough.

Objectivity and Bias Prevention

(1-2 pages)
In the field of comparative education or evaluation of modern education systems, predetermined
points of view often cloud judgment. Please describe the potential biases in addressing the
challenge. Examples: political bias, the bias that accompanies power, hindsight bias (like
wagging a finger: “You should have known!”), foresight bias (like false guarantees: “This will
be the transformation you are looking for!”). In other words, conduct a kind of SWOT analysis
of your own argument (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)

Interpretations and Conclusions of Research

(3-4 pages)
Your interpretation of the research you uncovered and the conclusions you have drawn, the patterns
have you recognized, new challenges, new opportunities, what’s missing.

Recommendations
(3 pages)
Consider yourself an expert, though remain humble. What would you do with all this information? If
you have identified what is missing from the Interpretations and Conclusions of the Research (see
above), what might you recommend to leaders in your lens? Other lenses?

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TITLE OF PAPER (ALL CAPS). No need for subtitle

Bibliography
(APA Format)