Synopsis Writing: Do’s and Don’tsRahul Pratap Singh Kaurav, Ph.D.

+91.98265.69573rsinghkaurav@yahoo.co.in

10 days national workshop of research methodology

Jiwaji University, Gwalior

What is synopsis?▪ A proposal for starting research.

▪ First look towards worthiness of research and potentials of researcher.

▪ Deciding a path of investigation.

▪ Looking towards required resources.

▪ Seeking back in literature and synthesizing those with present status for future.

Structure of Synopsis

4) Implications of Study

Researchable Gap in

Literature

Proposed Outcomes

1) Introduction

Do’s

▪ Do introduce about title

▪ Include some background and need of study

▪ Write something about contextual aspects

▪ Include regional (geographic) aspects

▪ Point out the relevance of subject matter

▪ Introduce the research question

Don’ts

▪ Don’t write about self and Ph.D. guide

▪ Don’t expose about your expertise

▪ Don’t go without stating any examples

2) Literature Review

Do’s

▪ Write in your own words

▪ Identify some renowned scholars of your field

▪ Interpret about their background, purpose, methodologies, and findings

▪ Structure present discussion and controversies in the field

▪ Review with the purpose, and position your future contribution

Don’ts

▪ Do not copy & paste directly

▪ Don’t let the sources organise your synopsis

▪ It is not a chronological order of various researches

▪ Don’t criticise others, just interpret

3) Research Design and Methodology

Do’s

▪ Try to understand the methodology of other researchers

▪ Decide your design of experiment

▪ Clearly mention about your sample

▪ Describe the material that your analysis will be based on

▪ State how you will process the material

Don’ts

▪ Don’t copy & paste directly

▪ Don’t explain each term of methodology in details

▪ Don’t include survey questions here, put them in separate appendix

4) Implications of Study

Do’s

▪ Managerial implications of the study

▪ Business implications of the study

▪ Social implications of the study

▪ Academic implications of the study

▪ Implication for research fraternity

Don’ts

▪ Do not copy & paste directly

▪ Do not write about final audience of the study

▪ Do not propose or write about the final solution of the problem

5) Discussion

Do’s

▪ Identify research gap

▪ Understand the gap and interpret – why this gap is important to fill

▪ Present what-if analysis in both (positive and negative) modes

▪ How do the results relate to the original question? What have we learnt?

▪ Present, how will your findings different or similar to those of other researchers?

Don’ts

▪ Don’t copy & paste directly. Use interpretation of them

▪ Don’t use negative pitch only, write in both dimensions

6) Conclusions

Do’s

▪ Proposed outcomes of the study should necessarily be there

▪ What will be new or different in your findings?

▪ Remember the link of conclusions is with introduction

▪ Whatever you stated in introduction, must be closed here

Don’ts

▪ Do not directly copy & paste others conclusions

▪ Don’t put any question here

▪ Do not ask for any submission (which has not been started in introduction)

Generalised Recommendations ▪ Do… plan ahead

▪ Do… revise

▪ Do… be specific

▪ Do… keep your focus

▪ Do… avoid jargons

▪ Do… put extra thought into choosing a title

▪ Do… document your sources

▪ Do… write

+91.98265.69573

rsinghkaurav@yahoo.co.in