Hi!

I am applying for a PhD studentship, and have been asked to sum up in 500 words my proposed research for the lay reader. This may seem easy, but does anyone have an idea of quite how un-academic I should be? I feel as if I am offering a very wordy, inarticulate explanation if I cut out all academic terminology, but at the same time, don't want to use it and then be penalized. I am summarizing proposed research in a humanities subject, so I don't feel like I am using vast amounts of unreachable terminology anyway, but things like research fields and methodology need to be in there I feel. If I replace them with an explanation of what they are/do etc, I feel like I am patronizing the reader and wasting words! I am on my third draft and just feel really at odds with it!

Any suggestions would be very welcome!
Thanks,
Lizzie

Hi Lizzie
My personal approach to this kind of thing would be to 'set the scene' at the start - give some context to your research topic and why it matters, before going on to explain what you're proposing to do. I would try and avoid jargon that's specific to your field, but would also be reluctant to leave out all 'research' terms, as it still needs to come across as a professional research proposal. It might be worth asking someone from outside your subject to read over it and let you know how it comes across. Just a few thoughts!

Hi Lizzie,

I agree with Chickpea. I think you should assume your reader is someone who knows about research but is not necessarily familiar with your field, so 'set the scene' and avoid or explain jargon.

Great, thanks so much Chickpea and AislingB - really helpful and I am now on what I hope is my penultimate draft! Sending it to a law scholar friend - so hopefully some objective advice will take it thorough to the final draft!

Thanks again,
Lizzie :)