The topic is that The relevance/operation of cultural institutions during Covid-19: Who is affected? The COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to virtual/online programming for museums; issues of labor and unemployment during COVID (museum workers have, by and large, been on furlough or fired).
“Research question. What question[s] will you be exploring?
Why does this question need to be
asked? What do you hope to learn from the project?”
First, introduce the reader to your focused topic
and cases or examples.
Provide your research question(s) and explain the scholarly significance of
what you propose. Remember to indicate any sources (primary or otherwise) anchoring your project.
• “Research conversation.
What have you learned so far about the debate or the specific research
conversation you will enter?
What entry point have you found to offer your own insights and ideas?”
What is the scholarly context of the issue or research problem you have identified?
—(in other words,
offer a detailed explanation of the existing arguments about your topic). Introduce and defend your
source selections. Indicate plans for key sources.
What is your method or strategy for synthesizing
different kinds of source material?
What is your working claim (or best response thus far to your
research question)?
What will your argument add to the discourse on your topic?
• “Search strategy. What kinds of sources will you use to explore your question?
What sources have
you found most useful, and why?
How will you locate a variety of sources (print and visual, primary and
secondary, for example)?” How would you characterize the scholarship you plan to use? Where and
how have you found your sources?
Moving forward, what are your plans to locate needed source
material? BE SPECIFIC because “I’m using JStor and Google Scholar” is not a sufficient indication.
• “Project challenges. What challenges, if any, do you anticipate (locating sufficient sources, managing
the project, finding a position to take)?
What resources are available to help you meet these
challenges?”
Remember that this section is not intended for you to air your grievances about
researching; rather, focus on further demonstrating your knowledge of the topic by breaking down both
practical and conceptual challenges specific to your proposed project
. What are some of the problems
and tensions you have encountered with the cases/examples, discourses, sources, and/or methods you
plan to use?
If there are none, you need to revise your topic, question(s), and/or claim.
