What is a concept paper?
✓Campaign Period-Student Council Elections ( to be able to decide whether a certain project or research
is worth the investment through the concept paper)
Prior to the submission of a project proposal, proponents are requested to submit a summary of what
the project is all about, the reasons for conducting the project, and how it will be carried out.
This summary document is called CONCEPT PAPER
It also provides an overview of the project, helps funding agencies eliminate proposals that are likely to
be disapproved. Helps us to save time, and effort for both the proponents and companies/ agencies.
SEVERAL USES OF A CONCEPT PAPER:
1. Serves as the foundation of the full proposal.
2. It helps determine whether a certain project is feasible or not.
3.It is used to pique the interest of the potential funding agencies.
4. It is used to obtain informal feedback on the ideas prior to preparing the full proposal.
3 Ways in Explaining a Concept
1. DEFINITION
• It is the method of identifying a given term and
making its meaning clearer.
Can be presented in 3 ways: informal, formal or
extended
>INFORMAL-parenthetical or brief explanation
►FORMAL-explains a term to be defined (species),
general category of the term (genus) and the quality
that makes the term different from other terms in the
same category (differentia)
Extended detailed way of defining a term-1 paragraph
Signal words (definition)
As defined
Means
For example
Such as
For instance
To define
Is defined as
To illustrate
2. EXPLICATION
•Method of explanation in which sentences, verses, quotes or passages are taken away from a
literary or academic work and then interpreted and explained in a detailed way.
3. CLARIFICATION
•points are organized (general abstract idea to specific and concrete examples.)
•Entails the analysis of the concept by looking at the examples.
Signal words (clarification)
After all
For instance
Namely
That is
As an example
In other words
Put another way
To be specific
To clarify
Consider the following
In particular
Specifically
To illustrate
In short
Stated differently
For example
A concept paper usually ranges from 500-2000 words and is divided into several parts.
CONCEPT PAPER for a PROJECT
1. Cover page-details about the proponents
2. Introduction- (mission/ vision)
3. Rationale/ Background-problems/ significance
4. Project description-goals and objectives / methodology
(action plan)
5. Project Needs and Cost- outline of the main budget/
justify how budget will be used
CONCEPT PAPER for ACADEMIC
RESEARCH
1. Title page-research title/name of school
etc.
2.Background of the Study-field/ problems
3. Preliminary Literature Review-
theoretical framework/related literature
CONCEPT PAPER for ACADEMIC
RESEARCH
4. Statement of the Problem/ Objectives-problem in one
sentence. Specific questions/ objectives
5. Abridged Methodology- participants of the study,
instruments to be used
6. Timeline-Gantt Chart set in months and year
7. References
GUIDELINES IN WRITING A CONCEPT PAPER
1. Cost and methodology should be
reasonable
2. The budget, methodology, and timeline
should be clearly aligned
3. Use statistics and figures when
discussing the rationale for the project
4. Use no more than five pages excluding
cover page
5. Never request funding for planning the
proposal
6. Adjust your language to the intended
readers
7. Include the overview of the budget if it is
required
8. Be sure that basic format details, such as
page numbers, are incorporated
9. Cite your references
