Research project proposal (college)
The following is a sample for a research proposal for a senior research project in one's fourth year of college. This is designed for my writing course, Intermediate Writing. This sample might be for a senior-level research course and capstone project (a comprehensive research project and independent studies course for the final year of a student's major program), or for applying for a scholarship to fund a special independent research project.
This sample uses the Chicago Manual of Style. The first version uses the CM footnote style, and the second version uses CM endnote style.
1 Version A
Version A, in Chicago Manual footnote style.
| Etruscan influences on Roman military history |
|---|
I am applying for a research grant as a fourth-year college student majoring in history at Purdue University. I am interested in researching early Roman military history, and in particular, Etruscan influences on Rome’s military development and policies. I am also doing a minor in classics, with a focus on Latin, Greek, and Etruscan languages, and am able to read historical scholarship on such topics, as well as ancient Latin and Greek texts. This project will be conducted as part of an independent studies course, and Professor Mortimer Snerd in the Classics Department will be my project advisor and director. Historians have debated the earlier stages of the Roman civilization before it became an empire, and especially its early period from the founding of Rome through the Roman republic. Original historical records are sometimes limited, leading to debates over how much we can know about this period. Some questions regarding Rome’s geopolitical and cultural development remain unclear, or not well researched. One such area is the military history of early Rome, and how it was influenced by neighboring states. Of particular interest here is the nearby Etruscan civilization, which once conquered early Rome, and was later conquered and assimilated by Rome. The Etruscan civilization started in Etruria, in modern-day Tuscany, at roughly the same time as the Latin tribes in the area of Rome. Around 650 BCE, the Etruscans conquered Rome and installed a series of Etruscan kings, who were later deposed due to their corruption and harsh rule. During that time, however, the Etruscans taught the Romans basic building architecture and engineering, urban planning, and infrastructure construction. Roman gladiator games were adapted from Etruscan military games, in which the Etruscans forced captured enemies to fight each other to the death. More specific military contributions of the Etruscans are known, as they taught the Romans important skills: dividing their armies into legions, constructing military bases, metalworking techniques for making swords and spears, and concepts of military discipline1. The Roman military symbol known as the fasces was also borrowed from the Etruscans; this symbol consists of an ax and a bundle of sticks that symbolize collective strength and power2 (and is the source of the English word ‘fascism’).
1 Sekunda, Nicholas, and Simon Northwood, Early Roman armies (London: Osprey Publishing, 1995). |
Other possible aspects of military influence remain less explored, particularly some less obvious or less tangible influences. For example, the Romans fought the Etruscans while being conquered by them, while expelling them from Rome, and when they later conquered and assimilated them. One question is how Etruscan military tactics later influenced Roman military tactics, strategy, and later military policy, during their dealings with the Etruscans, and later as Rome began to conquer other nations around them. This might include battlefield tactics, weapons use, and military strategy. This might even include the psychological warfare techniques, and torturing of captured enemy soldiers, that the Etruscans were infamous for3. Other influences might be discerned in attitudes among the Roman ruling elites toward neighboring tribes and nations. This could constitute evidence of influence on Roman geopolitics. Thus, this research focuses not so much on tangible influences like weapons and army divisions, but more on potential intangible influences like tactics, strategy, and military policy. More importantly, these various influences can be brought together and made coherent when viewed within a commonly used theoretical paradigm from international studies and political science. Such paradigms can provide a framework for explaining how different nations influence each other and competitively seek their own interests. Such frameworks, such as structuralism and pragmatism4, have not been applied often in the study of ancient civilizations. Yet such a framework can be useful for understanding influences of military cultures between nations, especially an under-researched area like Etruscan military influences on early Rome. This project will begin in September 2023, and will run until May 2024. The first month will involve a survey of research by history scholars, and original historical writings in Latin by Roman writers in October. In October and November, I will travel to research libraries to access historical documents and research that are more difficult to find, at Indiana University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Chicago, and Harvard. I will also interview some well known scholars in the classics and history departments of those universities, such as Prof. Nethercut in the UT-Austin Classics Department, and Prof. Zeitler at the Oriental Institute in Chicago. December and January will involve compiling my preliminary findings into a draft of the first few chapters of a bachelor’s thesis.
3 Hencken, Ηugh, Tarquinia and Etruscan origins (New York: Praeger Press, 1971). |
In February I will work on developing a political science analysis by applying a theoretical framework from international studies to my research findings. This may include one or more common frameworks like structuralism or political pragmatism. March will involve consultation with my project advisor, and with other professors in classics, history, and political science departments at Purdue University and Indiana University. The final thesis will be completed and submitted to my university in May 2023. Part of the research will involve buying or copying books and research articles—original Latin historical writings, and books and articles by relevant scholars. Though the quality of some original historical sources is debated, these can be used here cautiously, including earlier Roman historians like Livy (Titus Livius)5, as well as some Greek historians. But such sources can be read more closely for hints of military culture and policy influences. Other historical and cultural influences may be discerned in ancient Latin literature and social history, and part of this study will examine non-historical Latin and Greek literature for such influences. Works of classics scholars and political scholars at the aforementioned universities will be used as well. For this project, I anticipate a budget of $5000, as detailed in the attached budget document. Approximately $2000 will be for scholarly books and articles; about $1800 will be for travel expenses; and about $500 will be paid for consultation fees. This project will shed new light on an under-researched area in ancient historical studies and classics, and can better inform not only scholars, but writers of general history texts. This will also show how ancient historical scholarship can be enhanced by drawing from political science paradigms. This can lead to lessons for understanding our modern world. For example, Etruscan-Roman military influence might help us understand how superpowers like the US may be influenced militarily by smaller nations that they have engaged with, or how American military policy shapes the military policy and culture of other nations. These modern-day applications are topics that I hope to pursue during a master’s and Ph.D. program after college. Thus, this project will lay a foundation for my future research, and will prepare me for my graduate school studies. 5 Livy, Ab urbe condita (London: Bristol Classical Press. 1991). |
2 Version B
Version B, in Chicago endnote style.
| Etruscan influences on Roman military history |
|---|
I am applying for a research grant as a fourth-year college student majoring in history at Purdue University. I am interested in researching early Roman military history, and in particular, Etruscan influences on Rome’s military development and policies. I am also doing a minor in classics, with a focus on Latin, Greek, and Etruscan languages, and am able to read historical scholarship on such topics, as well as ancient Latin and Greek texts. This project will be conducted as part of an independent studies course, and Professor Mortimer Snerd in the Classics Department will be my project advisor and director. Historians have debated the earlier stages of the Roman civilization before it became an empire, and especially its early period from the founding of Rome through the Roman republic. Original historical records are sometimes limited, leading to debates over how much we can know about this period. Some questions regarding Rome’s geopolitical and cultural development remain unclear, or not well researched. One such area is the military history of early Rome, and how it was influenced by neighboring states. Of particular interest here is the nearby Etruscan civilization, which once conquered early Rome, and was later conquered and assimilated by Rome. The Etruscan civilization started in Etruria, in modern-day Tuscany, at roughly the same time as the Latin tribes in the area of Rome. Around 650 BCE, the Etruscans conquered Rome and installed a series of Etruscan kings, who were later deposed due to their corruption and harsh rule. During that time, however, the Etruscans taught the Romans basic building architecture and engineering, urban planning, and infrastructure construction. Roman gladiator games were adapted from Etruscan military games, in which the Etruscans forced captured enemies to fight each other to the death. More specific military contributions of the Etruscans are known, as they taught the Romans important skills: dividing their armies into legions, constructing military bases, metalworking techniques for making swords and spears, and concepts of military discipline.1 The Roman military symbol known as the fasces was also borrowed from the Etruscans; this symbol consists of an ax and a bundle of sticks that symbolize collective strength and power2 (and is the source of the English word ‘fascism’). |
Other possible aspects of military influence remain less explored, particularly some less obvious or less tangible influences. For example, the Romans fought the Etruscans while being conquered by them, while expelling them from Rome, and when they later conquered and assimilated them. One question is how Etruscan military tactics later influenced Roman military tactics, strategy, and later military policy, during their dealings with the Etruscans, and later as Rome began to conquer other nations around them. This might include battlefield tactics, weapons use, and military strategy. This might even include the psychological warfare techniques, and torturing of captured enemy soldiers, that the Etruscans were infamous for.3 Other influences might be discerned in attitudes among the Roman ruling elites toward neighboring tribes and nations. This could constitute evidence of influence on Roman geopolitics. Thus, this research focuses not so much on tangible influences like weapons and army divisions, but more on potential intangible influences like tactics, strategy, and military policy. More importantly, these various influences can be brought together and made coherent when viewed within a commonly used theoretical paradigm from international studies and political science. Such paradigms can provide a framework for explaining how different nations influence each other and competitively seek their own interests. Such frameworks, such as structuralism and pragmatism4, have not been applied often in the study of ancient civilizations. Yet such a framework can be useful for understanding influences of military cultures between nations, especially an under-researched area like Etruscan military influences on early Rome. This project will begin in September 2023, and will run until May 2024. The first month will involve a survey of research by history scholars, and original historical writings in Latin by Roman writers in October. In October and November, I will travel to research libraries to access historical documents and research that are more difficult to find, at Indiana University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Chicago, and Harvard. I will also interview some well known scholars in the classics and history departments of those universities, such as Prof. Nethercut in the UT-Austin Classics Department, and Prof. Zeitler at the Oriental Institute in Chicago. December and January will involve compiling my preliminary findings into a draft of the first few chapters of a bachelor’s thesis. In February I will work on developing a political science analysis by applying a theoretical framework from international studies to my research findings. This may include one or more common frameworks like structuralism or political pragmatism. March will involve consultation with my project advisor, and with other professors in classics, history, and political science departments at Purdue University and Indiana University. The final thesis will be completed and submitted to my university in May 2023. |
Part of the research will involve buying or copying books and research articles—original Latin historical writings, and books and articles by relevant scholars. Though the quality of some original historical sources is debated, these can be used here cautiously, including earlier Roman historians like Livy5 (Titus Livius), as well as some Greek historians. But such sources can be read more closely for hints of military culture and policy influences. Other historical and cultural influences may be discerned in ancient Latin literature and social history, and part of this study will examine non-historical Latin and Greek literature for such influences. Works of classics scholars and political scholars at the aforementioned universities will be used as well. For this project, I anticipate a budget of $5000, as detailed in the attached budget document. Approximately $2000 will be for scholarly books and articles; about $1800 will be for travel expenses; and about $500 will be paid for consultation fees. This project will shed new light on an under-researched area in ancient historical studies and classics, and can better inform not only scholars, but writers of general history texts. This will also show how ancient historical scholarship can be enhanced by drawing from political science paradigms. This can lead to lessons for understanding our modern world. For example, Etruscan-Roman military influence might help us understand how superpowers like the US may be influenced militarily by smaller nations that they have engaged with, or how American military policy shapes the military policy and culture of other nations. These modern-day applications are topics that I hope to pursue during a master’s and Ph.D. program after college. Thus, this project will lay a foundation for my future research, and will prepare me for my graduate school studies.
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Endnotes
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3 Chicago Manual works cited example
The following is a sample of end references in the more formal Chicago Manual (parenthetical) style, albeit for sources that are not used in the above examples. In the text, the footnotes would be replaced with author and date in parentheses. At the end of the paper, a works cited section would list the full bibliographic information.
| Works cited |
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Bay, Rachael A., Noah Rose, Rowan Barrett, Louis Bernatchez, Cameron K. Ghalambor, Jesse R. Lasky, Rachel B. Brem, Stephen R. Palumbi, and Peter Ralph. “Predicting Responses to Contemporary Environmental Change Using Evolutionary Response Architectures,” American Naturalist 189, no. 5 (May 2017): 463–73. Farina, Dave. Is This Wi-Fi Organic? Coral Gables, Florida: Mango Press, 2021. Google. “Privacy Policy.” Privacy & Terms. Last modified April 17, 2017. https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/. Grazer, Brian, and Charles Fishman. A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015. Hencken, Hugh. Tarquinia and Etruscan Origins. New York: Praeger Press, 1971. Keng, Shao-Hsun, Chun-Hung Lin, and Peter F. Orazem. “Expanding College Access in Taiwan, 1978–2014: Effects on Graduate Quality and Income Inequality.” Journal of Human Capital 11, no. 1 (2017): 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1086/690235. Manjoo, Farhad. “Snap Makes a Bet on the Cultural Supremacy of the Camera.” New York Times, March 8, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/technology/snap-makes-a-bet-on-the-cultural-supremacy-of-the-camera.html. Mead, Rebecca. “The Prophet of Dystopia.” New Yorker, April 17, 2017. Pai, Tanya. “The Squishy, Sugary History of Peeps.” Vox, April 11, 2017. http://www.vox.com/culture/2017/4/11/15209084/peeps-easter. Pegoraro, Rob. “Apple’s iPhone Is Sleek, Smart and Simple.” Washington Post, July 5, 2007. Yale University. “About Yale: Yale Facts.” Accessed May 1, 2017. https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts. |
