NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Basic Education Department

LESSON 8: Writing the Concept Paper

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
a. Explain what a concept paper is;
b. Identify the features of an effective concept paper;
c. Identify the situations in which a concept paper may be effectively
used in the present society

WHAT IS A CONCEPT PAPER?

- Campaign Period- Student Council Elections (to be able to decide whether a certain project of
research is worth the investment through the concept paper).
- Prior to the submission of a project proposals, proponents are requested to submit a summary
of what the projects is all about, the reasons for conducting the project, and how will it be
carried out. This summary is called Concept Paper.
- It also provides an overview of the projects, helps funding agencies eliminate proposals that
are likely to be disapproved.
- Helps to save time and effort for both the proponent 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.

WHAT IS A CONCEPT?
- It's a general idea about a thing or group of things, derived from specific instances or
occurrences. It often applies to a theoretical idea in science: Einstein's contribution to the
concept of relativity. Concept was borrowed from Late Latin conceptus, from Latin concipere "to
take in, conceive, and receive." A concept is an idea conceived in the mind. The original meaning
of the verb conceive was to take sperm into the womb, and by a later extension of meaning, to
take an idea into the mind (https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/concept).

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

MODULE 8: WRITING THE CONCEPT PAPER Page 1
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department

THREE 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 and extended
 Informal- parenthetical or brief explanation
Term Class
A chair is a piece of furniture.

 Formal- explains a term (species) to be defined, general category of the term (class/genus)
and the quality that makes the term different from other terms in the same category
(distinguishing feature/differentia).
Term Class Distinguishing Features
A bicycle is a mode of transport That has two wheels and is
powered through the pedaling
effort of the rider.

 Extended- detailed way of defining a term- 1 paragraph. It is an essay length text that use
different rhetorical patterns to show the meaning of a particular term or concept.
Usually, extended definition essays or concept papers do not just define but
describe, compare and contrast, show cause-and-effect relationships to provide
the reader a holistic definition of a term.

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, verse, quotes or passages are taken away from
a literary or academic work and then interpreted and explained in a detailed way.
- An explication interprets another work by examining the concept/s presented. Through a
critical analysis of points raised in text, a richer explanation of the concept is given to
readers. This may be done through comparison and contrast, description, cause and effect
and other rhetorical modes.

3. CLARIFICATION
- Points are organized (general abstract idea to specific and concrete examples.)
- Entails the analysis of the concept by looking at the examples.

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

MODULE 8: WRITING THE CONCEPT PAPER Page 2
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department

Signal words (Clarification)

After all For Namely That is
instance
As an In other Put another To be
example words way specific
Consider In To
the particular Specifically illustrate
following
For In short Stated
example differently

A concept paper usually ranges from 500-2000 words and is

divided into several parts.

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
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.

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

MODULE 8: WRITING THE CONCEPT PAPER Page 3