DEVELOPING THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL:

THE 5-SENTENCE RULE FOR SOCIAL SCIENCE GRADUATE STUDENTS ©

by

Doris Wilkinson*

© 2002

Graduate students in the social sciences and in other fields typically encounter
difficulty when designing a proposal for their M.A. thesis or doctoral dissertation. In my
teaching, I have found that it is helpful for students to limit the number of sentences in a
preliminary research plan and in drafts of essays. My 5-sentence rule results in a coherent
delineation of the theme by creating goal-oriented statements that omit excessive terms and
jargon. Since each sentence represents the foundation for a chapter, this rule easily allows
for the design of research proposals.

THE S.O.L.I.D (Compact) APPROACH TO WRITING IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

S 1. STATE clearly the theme or focus of the research project.

O 2. OUTLINE the rationale or significance of the intended research.

L 3. LIST the purposes or objectives of the study.

I 4. IDENTIFY information sources and the procedure (s) and method(s) of data
collection.

D 5. DESCRIBE the methods of data analysis and interpretation.

In addition to the 5-Sentence Rule, precise verbs are required. When constructing a
research design, a critique, essay or qualitative proposal, students should avoid empty verbs,
i.e., those that lack specificity such as survey, inform, examine, study, research, frame, and
“problematize.” The verbs in each sentence should provide concrete direction and indicate
what specific actions will be taken. Among those that offer a more convincing sense of
direction in social and behavioral science writing plans and research are interview, compare,
describe, observe, review, discuss, contrast, and record.
_____________________________________________________________________________
*Doris Wilkinson is a Professor of Sociology. With a background in English and Sociology, she has
been the recipient of numerous outstanding teacher awards including the National Alumni
Association’s “Great Teacher Award.” Some of her critical social science essays have been selected as
landmarks. At U.K., she designed a graduate course on writing in the social sciences.

© 2002. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reprinted or distributed without
citation of the author and the source.

D. Wilkinson. “Developing the Research Proposal: The 5-Sentence Rule for Social Science Graduate
Students.” University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky: Department of Sociology, November 2002.
 SUGGESTED RESOURS:

American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the APA. Washington,

D.C.: American Psychological Association, 2001. 5th edition.

Bart, P. and L. Frankel. The Student Sociologist’s Handbook. New York: Random
House, 1986. 4th edition.

Baugh, L.S. How to Write Term Papers and Reports. Lincolnwood, Illinois: VGM
Career Horizons, 1992.

Bolker, J. Writing your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day. New York: Henry Holt,
1998.

Giarrusso, R., et al. A Guide to Writing Sociology Papers. New York: St. Martin’s
Press, 1991. 2nd edition.

Hacker, D. Rules for Writers: A Brief Handbook. New York: St. Martin’s Press,
1985.

Heffernam, J. and J. Lincoln. Writing: A College Handbook. New York: W.W.

Norton & Co., Inc., 1990.

Provost, G. 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing. New York: The New American
Library, 1985.

Reinharz, S. Feminist Methods in Social Research. New York: Oxford, 1992.

Seltzer, R. Mistakes That Social Scientists Make: Error and Redemption in the
Research Process. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1996.

Wilkinson, D. “Writing the Creative Sociological Essay: Theory Construction As

Art.” Pp.120-123 in Workbook for Introductory Sociology. Minnesota: Burgess
Publishing Co.

Wolcott, H.F. Writing Up Qualitative Research. Newbury Park, California: SAGE

Publications, 1990.
There are numerous university on-line writing services and reputable web sites
on how to write the research paper.