[2] Research proposals generally address several key points:[3] Research proposals may be solicited, meaning that they are submitted in response to a request with specified requirements, such as a request for proposal, or they may be unsolicited, meaning they are submitted without prior request.
Other types of proposals include "preproposals", where a letter of intent or brief abstract is submitted for review prior to submission of a full proposal; continuation proposals, which re-iterate an original proposal and its funding requirements in order to ensure continued funding; and renewal proposals, which seek continued sponsorship of a project which would otherwise be terminated.
[4] Academic research proposals are generally written as part of the initial requirements of writing a thesis, research paper, or dissertation.
[5] They generally follow the same format as a research paper, with an introduction, a literature review, a discussion of research methodology and goals, and a conclusion.
This basic structure may vary between projects and between fields, each of which may have its own requirements.