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Unit 1
THE RESEARCH TOPIC AND WRITING
THE CONCEPT PAPER
Lesson 1
Selecting a Research Topic
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify a good research topic
2. Justify its choice by using the concepts specific to language teaching and learning

The Importance of Selecting a Good Research Topic

Choosing a topic is the first and maybe the most important step of the research and writing process! This
step will determine the rest of your steps -- what your thesis statement is, what sources you use, and how to write
your paper. So it's important to make sure you choose a strong and engaging topic.

The Process in Selecting a Research Topic

1. Brainstorm general topics that genuinely interest you. 
Whether you’re responding to a given assignment prompt or choosing your own direction for original research
within a field, your experience will be more meaningful if you pick a subject that you care about. Write down all
the possibilities that occur to you so that you have a generous list of options to start from.
● One way to ensure you have a topic that’s of interest to you is to pick a subject to which you have a
personal connection. For instance, if your sister has Crohn's Disease, you may be interested in
investigating it. Or, if you went on an exchange program to Croatia, you might be keen to know more
about its history or culture.
● Another way to trim down your possibilities is to see if there any patterns that emerge from the longer
list. For example, if you wrote down “Gertrude Stein” and “Djuna Barnes,” you could focus on lesbian
expat authors.
2. Do preliminary research to pick a topic. 
Select your top choices from the list you created to pursue further. Take time to do some background reading
on each in general reference texts like encyclopedias and to do keyword searches in a library database to see
what textual and online sources are available in relation to each potential topic. Then, select one to focus on
that you find the most interesting and that has sufficient resources to investigate.
● You want to choose a topic that has some, but not too much information available on it. If there are
some substantive related resources out there, you know you’re on the right track; if there are pages and
pages of relevant search results, you can tell that plenty of people have already gone down that road or
that the topic is likely too big to cover and you will need to narrow it further.
3. Start broad and narrow your focus. 
Once you have a general topic that interests you, begin by reading widely about it. Write down the ideas,
information, and sources that interest you the most. Then, review your notes to start refining your topic into a
precise, narrow research focus.
● For instance, if you are interested in the mapping of the human genome, read about the general history
of the scientific advances that have allowed us to map DNA and see if there’s a particular subtopic that
catches your eye. Instead of trying to cover the entire subject, limit your scope to focus on the discovery
of a gene related to a specific trait or disease or on a particular application, like the regulation of gene
therapy for unborn fetuses.
4. Consult with a relevant scholar. 
It’s good to vet your ideas with an established academic or other professional related to the field in which
you’ll be conducting your research. If you’re having trouble deciding among topics or narrowing your scope,
seek advice and suggestions from your professor, advisor, or another knowledgeable professional.
● When you meet with or email them, explain the research that you’ve already conducted to show them
that you’ve done your homework. Then, ask something like, “I’m most interested in looking into coming
of age rituals in contemporary indigenous cultures, and I was wondering if you think that’s a good topic
to pursue and if you had any suggestions for specific case studies or other resources related to it.”
● Remember: they may be able to point you in a more specific direction based on your general interests,
but don’t expect them to do the whole selection process for you.

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 ● If you’re doing independent research to earn a degree (rather than to fulfill the requirements of a
particular class), you should also ask them about the potential marketability of your subject since your
topic will be setting the direction for your future career.

Tips in Selecting a Research Topic

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is my topic of personal significance? Am I interested in the topic?

2. Does my topic relate to some relevant issues in my field? Does my topic address a current problem/issue?
3. Is there sufficient literature to review and cite?
4. Am I aware of the ethical implications of my research topic?
5. Is my topic feasible? Can I manage the whole investigation until the end? Can I access without difficulty all
the data that I need considering the present pandemic? Do I have the necessary resources to conduct the
study?

Sample Research Topics on the English language

1. How computers affect English language negatively

2. How text messaging has created a new linguistic subculture
3. How effective is non-verbal communication when it comes to displaying emotions
4. How effective is verbal communication when it comes to displaying feelings
5. Is verbal communication more effective than non-verbal communication
6. How technology alters the communication
7. How age affects English pronunciation
8. How genders perceive politeness via language use
9. How prevalent is hate language in social media
10. How genders differ in practicing politeness via English language use in social media

Online Materials

Here is a link where you can find a variety of research topics on language
https://ewritingservice.com/blog/linguistic-research-topics/

Here are the links where you can watch videos on selecting a research topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2VYYRa-
cSY&list=RDCMUCmb5uVwUO1OR7zHJ82szazg&start_radio=1&t=66

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgMlzPIu8PI

Student Activity

A. Identify a research topic

1. Meet and chat with your group to determine your research topic.
2. Surf online together to check for research articles on English language to know what are the recent
conversations of other researchers. Go to Google Scholar, ERIC database or ScienceDirect.
3. Read the recommendation sections in the articles to check for authors’ future research recommendations.
4. Review the tips and guidelines on selecting a research topic.
5. You can make a concept map to identify your initial topics.
6. Consult your Thesis Adviser to get his/her comments.

B. Accomplish the following matrix to check if your topic is feasible and manageable. If the Nos are more than
the Yeses, consider another topic.

1. Is my topic of personal significance? Am I interested in the topic? Yes _____ No _____

2. Does my topic relate to some relevant issues in my field? Does my Yes _____ No _____
topic address a current problem/issue?
Yes _____ No _____
3. Is there sufficient literature to review and cite? Yes _____ No _____

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 4. Am I aware of the ethical implications of my research topic?
5. Is my topic feasible? Can I manage the whole investigation until Yes _____ No _____
the end? Can I access without difficulty all the data that I need
considering the present pandemic? Do I have the necessary
resources to conduct the study?

Lesson 2
Writing the Concept Paper

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the basic parts of a concept paper and familiarize content

2. Develop a concept paper of the chosen topic

What is Concept Paper in Research? 

A concept paper in research or academia refers to a critical and detailed summary of a research project by
reflecting the interest and issues pertinent to a particular academic field or study. In academia, concept papers are
usually written by a university student who is on the verge of conducting a research. A concept paper outlines the
research about to be conducted with the purpose to have a structured goal and direction while conducting
research.

It serves as a prelude to a full research proposal to objectively inform the reader about the idea or concept.

Steps in Writing a Concept Paper

1. Select a research topic.
2. Gather information about your topic by looking for related research articles online.
3. Make an outline.
4. Write your arguments one at a time.
5. Let somebody review your work. Your thesis adviser can help you.
6. Revise your work.

Structure of a Concept Paper

1. Title.
The title for your paper must be able to effectively summarize what your research is all about. Use simple
words so that people who read the title of your research will know what it’s all about even without reading the
entire paper.
2. Introduction.
The introduction should give the reader a brief background of the research topic and state the main
objective that your project aims to achieve. This section should also include a short overview of the benefits of the
research project to persuade the reader to acknowledge the need for the project.
3. Purpose of the Study.
The Purpose of the Study should be written in a way that convinces the reader of the need to address the
existing problem or gap in knowledge that the research project aims to resolve. In this section, you have to go into
more detail about the benefits and value of your project for the target audience/s.
4. Preliminary Literature Review.
This section features related studies and papers that will support your research topic. Use this section to
analyze the results and methodologies of previous studies and address any gaps in knowledge or questions that
your research project aims to answer. You may also use the data to assert the importance of conducting your
research.
When choosing which papers and studies you should include in the Preliminary Literature Review, make
sure to choose relevant and reliable sources. Reliable sources include academic journals, credible news outlets,
government websites, and others. Also, take note of the authors for the papers as you will need to cite them in the
References section.
5. Objectives of the Study.
Simply state the main objectives that your research is trying to achieve. The objectives should be able to
indicate the direction of the study for both the reader and the researcher. As with other elements in the paper, the
objectives should be specific and clearly defined.
6. Research Questions and Hypotheses.

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 Gather the research questions and equivalent research hypotheses you formulated in the earlier step and
list them down in this section.
7. Proposed Methodology.
In this section, you should be able to guide the reader through the process of how you will conduct the
research project. Make sure to state the purpose for each step of the process, as well as the type of data to be
collected and the target population.
8. Proposed Research Timeline.
Depending on the nature of your research project, the length of the entire process can vary significantly.
What’s important is that you are able to provide a reasonable and achievable timeline for your project.
Make sure the time you will allot for each component of your research won’t be too excessive or too insufficient so
that the quality of your research won’t suffer.
9. References.
Ensure that you will give credit to all the authors of the sources you used in your paper. Depending on your
area of study or the instructions of your professor, you may need to use a certain style of citation.
There are three main citation styles: the American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association
(MLA), and the Chicago style.
The APA style is mostly used for papers related to education, psychology, and the sciences.

Online Material

Here is a link where you can watch a video on writing a concept paper:
https://www.authorassists.com/blog/how-to-write-an-effective-concept-paper/

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Sample Concept Paper

MORPHO-SYNTACTIC AND PRAGMATIC PROCESSES OF CEBUANO DISCOURSE PARTICLES

A Concept Paper
Presented to
Dr. Frederick P. Grengia
Professor

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Course ELS 304
Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies

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 MR. JUAN DELA CRUZ
BAELS 3 (Tukuran)
September 8, 2021

A. Proposed Title of Research Interest

Morph-syntactic and Pragmatic Processes of Cebuano Language Discourse Particles

B. Introduction/Background of the Study (What have you read or observed that has had an impact on your thinking about the
topic?)

Recently, studies on spoken language in real-life increased dramatically. Some language features previously considered
as “empty expressions” are now considered as crucial aspects of interpersonal communication. These expressions called
discourse markers or particles have been of, according to Bolden (2008), “substantial interest to researchers studying situated
language use because of their role in demarcating discourse connections as well as their potential for indexing social
relationships.“ Deborah Schiffrin (1987) defines discourse markers as a linguistic device that speakers use to signal how the
upcoming unit of speech or text relates to the current discourse state. They are also a class of short, recurrent linguistic items
that generally have little lexical import but serve significant pragmatic functions in conversation.
The Cebuano language is abundant with discourse particles, which up to this day, very few studies have been made to
fully examine and investigate them. Discourse markers or particles are pervasive in everyday speech and writing of the
Cebuanos. The identification of these markers is an essential step to fully understand the meaning of Cebuano utterances and
written discourses. Understanding of the language of the Cebuano will hopefully lead to a general understanding and valuing
of the Cebuano culture as a whole.

C.Purpose of the Study (What does the study hopes to achieve? Give at least two)

The goal of this study is the identification and analysis of the different positions, functions and pragmatic meanings of
Cebuano particles that serve as markers in discourse. The researcher will also try to analyze the cognitive processes underlying
successful linguistic communication and the expressions labelled as discourse markers or particles in terms of their input to
those processes. By doing this study, the researcher hopes to demonstrate the critical importance of discourse markers for
linguistic discourse analysis, for translation, for interpretation and for effective communication. The study may also contribute
to the development of a framework or model for analyzing Cebuano discourse markers in particular and to the
intellectualization of the Cebuano language in general.

D.Preliminary Literature Review: (What literatures do you intend to review and why? Present at least five research articles)

To facilitate the discussion of the previous studies done in this field, the important variables cited and the method in the study,
the following literature will be reviewed:

Alami,M.(2015). Pragmatic Functions of Discourse Markers: A Review of Related Literature.

Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
283498166_Pragmatic_Functions_of_Discourse_Markers_A_Review_of_Related_Literature

Belis & Zuerey,(2006). Automatic Identification of Discourse Markers in Multiparty Dialogues.

Retrieved from:
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f2c0/e60704ff2cf2ee703b98e38c4dd60b887e03.pdf?
_ga=2.249812678.1517381531.1539919639-1647548813.1539919639
Blakemore,D.(2002).Relevance and Linguistic Meaning: The Semantics and Pragmatics of
Discourse Markers Retrieved from http://assets.cambridge.org/052164/0075/sample/0521640075WS.pdf
Fischer,K.(2006).Approaches to Discourse Particles. Retrieved from :
www.academia.edu/2537040/Kerstin_Fischer_ed._Approaches_to_Discourse_Particles
Fraser,B.(1999). What are Discourse Markers? Journal of Pragmatics. Retrieved from :
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/df4b/4b4f9a41fced680c30e06dd9db3aff603b2b.pdf

E.Objectives of the Study (What do you hope to arrive at, what data are to be collected)

1. To identify and analyze the different positions, functions and pragmatic meanings of Cebuano particles that serve as
markers in discourse; and

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 2. To analyze the cognitive processes underlying successful linguistic communication and the expressions labelled as
discourse markers or particles in terms of their input to those processes.
Most data or corpus which will come from stories or printed discourses shall be taken from the Bisaya Magazine.
Data can also be from recorded conversation exchanges of any Cebuano speaking discourses. One source can be
from recorded radio or TV Cebuano programs or from day to day encounters of the researcher and Cebuano speakers
in their natural environment.

F. Research Questions and Hypothesis (if applicable)

1. What are the different positions, functions and pragmatic meanings of Cebuano particles that serve as markers in
discourse; and
2. What are the cognitive processes underlying successful linguistic communication and the expressions labelled as
discourse markers or particles in terms of their input to those processes?

G. Proposed Methods/Procedures (This answers the question: How will you conduct the study?)

The researcher shall utilize the qualitative approach of research. The bulk of the work will be gathering the corpus data
from the different sources. The data will then be transcribed and will be translated to English, following proper conversational
analysis notations. The researcher will then identify the Discourse Markers (DMs) from the gathered corpus and analyze each
as to their position, function and pragmatic meanings based on the theories cited.
The target data corpus can be taken from recorded conversation exchanges of any Cebuano speaking discourses. One
source can be from recorded radio or TV Cebuano programs or from day to day encounters of the researcher and Cebuano
speakers in their natural environment. For written discourses, the researcher has thought of scanning the pages of the leading
Cebuano magazine “Bisaya” where Cebuano stories abound.

H. Proposed Timeline (Present the activities and the target duration)

The project is expected to be completed in 17 weeks with the following indicated as the activity’s durations for every section
of the research project

Research Section Duration

1. Title 1 week

2. Introduction 1 week

3. Other Sections of Chapter 1 4 weeks

4. Review of Literature Chapter 2 4 weeks

5. Methodology Chapter 3 5 weeks

6. Reviewing work final submission 2 weeks

I.References ( Use APA 6th Edition Citation Guide)

Alami,M.(2015). Pragmatic Functions of Discourse Markers: A Review of Related Literature. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
283498166_Pragmatic_Functions_of_Discourse_Markers_A_Review_of_RelatedLiterature
Belis & Zuerey,(2006). Automatic Identification of Discourse Markers in Multiparty Dialogues. Retrieved from:
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f2c0/e60704ff2cf2ee703b98e38c4dd60b887e03.pdf?
_ga=2.249812678.1517381531.1539919639-1647548813.1539919639
Blakemore,D.(2002).Relevance and Linguistic Meaning: The Semantics and Pragmatics of Discourse Markers
Retrieved from: http://assets.cambridge.org/052164/0075/sample/0521640075WS.pdf
Fischer,K.(2006).Approaches to Discourse Particles. Retrieved from :
www.academia.edu/2537040/Kerstin_Fischer_ed._Approaches_to_Discourse_Particles
Fraser,B. (1999). What are Discourse Markers? Journal of Pragmatics. Retrieved from :
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/df4b/4b4f9a41fced680c30e06dd9db3aff603b2b.pdf
Heemant, P, et al. (1998). Identifying Discourse Markers in Spoken Dialog. Retrieved from :
www.aaai.org/Papers/Symposia/Spring/1998/SS-98-01/SS98-01-008.pdf

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