This guide to writing research proposals for theses, dissertations, and grants contains practical suggestions for the would-be writer and several exemplars that show how effective proposal writing can be done. The guide is divided into two parts: Part 1, "Writing the Proposal" and Part 2, "Specimen Proposals." Part 1, the core of the guide, presents information applicable to all research proposals and discusses problems peculiar to the use of proposals in graduate education and funding agencies. Chapter 1 introduces generic elements found in nearly all proposals. Chapter 2 discusses ethical issues confronted in the research process. Chapter 3 addresses the needs of graduate students preparing their first research proposal. Chapters 4 considers the content of the proposal including the literature review and anticipating the analysis. Chapter 5 presents the qualitative paradigm for research. Chapter 6 contains information on the style and form of the proposal. Chapter 7 discusses oral presentation of proposals and research. Chapters 8 and 9 cover submission of proposals to funding agencies. In Part 2, four sample proposals are presented. The first is related to the tasks presented in Chapter 1, and the others are presented with critical evaluations to illuminate their strengths and weaknesses. (Contains 152 references.) (PRW)