Identify "a research problem." Complete the review of literature. After reviewing the literature, design the project. Before beginning the writing process, keep in mind that the proposal "is written in the future tense."
Create the different parts of the proposal. Put together a title page. Compose an abstract; keep in mind that "the abstract speaks for the proposal when it is separated from it, provides the reader with a first impression of the request." Format the table of contents so that each item is listed "and each should be numbered with lower-case Roman numerals. The table of contents should be simply labeled "Contents" in the header of the page."
Compose the main body of the research proposal. This requires writing an introduction, project goals and objectives, the "ability of the project staff to undertake this project," and a "description of relevant institutional resources," as well as a review of literature.
Discuss the proposed research. Dartmouth University defined a research proposal as "an allocation of resources toward a specified goal." Accordingly, "the project description is the heart of the proposal and is the primary concern of the technical reviewers." You must then provide the "plan of action, methodology, and design of the project."
Conclude the formal proposal by convincing the review board that you have thought through every aspect of the project. The results section should provide "a summary of the experimental findings." This section may contain graphs and charts explaining the expected results.
Provide a references section that is a "list of all the sources of information that are used and cited in the text of your paper." APA style demands that articles follow a set format: Mather, M., & Knight, M. (2005). Goal-directed memory: The role of cognitive control in older adults' emotional memory. Psychology and Aging, 20, 554-570. doi:10.1037/0882-7974.20.4.554.