LESSON 9:WRITING A

CONCEPT PAPER
 What is a Concept Paper?

It is a summary document that provides an

overview of the project, and helps funding
agencies eliminate proposals that are likely
to be disapproved.
A concept paper has several uses:

• First, it serves as a foundation of the full

proposal.
• Second, it helps determine whether a
certain project is feasible or not.
• Third, it is used to pique the interest of the
potential funding agencies.
• Finally, it is used to obtain informal
feedback on the ideas prior to preparing
the full proposal.
 Three Ways in Explaining a Concept

1. Definition – is the method of identifying a

given term and making its meaning clearer. Its
main purpose is to clarify and explain concepts,
ideas, and issues by answering the question,
“What does it mean?” This mode of explanation
contains the term to be defined and the detailed
exposition of the term through the use of
illustrations, examples, and description.
A definition can be presented in three
ways:

i. Informal definition – parenthetical or

brief explanation.

Example: Tocopherol (Vitamin E) is naturally found

in vegetable oil, fish, and nuts.
ii. Formal definition – explains a term by
incorporating the term to be defined
(species), the general category of the term
(genus), and the quality that makes the term
different from other terms in the same
category (differentiate).
Example: Vitamin E is a light yellow fat-soluble
vitamin that acts as an anti-oxidant.
iii. Extended definition – is a detailed way of
defining a term and is usually composed of at
least one paragraph. This type of definition
incorporates various patterns of development
(e.g., formal and informal definition, comparison
and contrast, narration, description,
classification, functional analysis, process,
analogy, and cause and effect) to explain a given
concept.
To better present ideas, you should identify
the important elements contained in a
definition. These include the term being
defined, the detailed explanation, and the
specific examples. The following signal
words will also help you in writing this kind
of text.
 Signal Words for Definition
as defined for instance means to define
for example is defined as such as to illustrate
2. Explication – is a method of explanation
in which sentences, verses, quotes, or
passages are taken from a literary or
academic work and then interpreted and
explained in a detailed way.
3. Clarification – is a method of explanation in
which the points are organized from a general
abstract idea to specific and concrete examples.
It entails the analysis of the concept by looking
at the examples and specifying some of its
characteristics to arrive at one working
definition which can be used throughout the
paper.
 Signal Words for Clarification
after all for instance namely that is
as an example in other words put another way to be specific
consider the in particular specifically to clarify
following in short stated differently to illustrate
for example
 Parts of a Concept Paper

A concept paper usually ranges from 500 to

2000 words and is usually divided into several
parts.

There are two outlines of a concept paper.

 Concept Paper for a Project

Use the following structure when you want to

propose a certain tangible project in your
discipline.
1. Cover Page

■ State the name of the proponents and their

affiliations.
■ State the addresses, contact numbers, and email
addresses of the proponents.
■ State the head of the agency and his/her contact
information.
■ State the date of submission.
2. Introduction

■ State the information about the funding agency to

show that you understand its mission.
■ State the mission of the agency that the proponents
represent and align it to the funding agency’s
mission. Also, state the year the proponent’s agency
was established, its major accomplishments, and
other details that demonstrate its capability to
undertake the proposed project.
■ Present and describe other partner agencies
and why they are qualified as such.
■ Provide reasons why the funding agency should
support the project.
3. Rationale or Background

■ State the gap in knowledge to be addressed by

the project.
■ State the problems to be solved.
■ State the project’s significance.
4. Project Description

■ State the goals and objectives of the project.

■ Present the methodology (sometimes termed as
Action Plan, Project Activities, or Approach).
■ Present the timeline expressed in months and year.
■ State the benefits or anticipated outcomes.
■ State how success of outcomes will be evaluated.
5. Project Needs and Cost

■ Outline the main budget; include the item

description and amount.
■ Explain or justify how the budget will be
used.
■ List the personnel or equipment needed
for the project.
 Concept Paper for Academic
Research

Use the following structure when you intend to

present an idea or concept for a research you
would like to pursue.
1. Title Page

■ State your research title.

■ State your name and school.
■ State the date of submission.
2. Background of the Study

■ Provide the current state of the field you

are researching on.
■ State the gap in knowledge and problems
to be addressed by the research. Provide
statistics and previous studies to prove
your claims.
■ State the reasons why you want to investigate on
the chosen topic.
■ State the theoretical and practical implications
of your proposed research.
3. Preliminary Literature Review

■ Provide a theoretical framework. The

theoretical framework includes the theory
that will guide you in the conduct of your
research.
■ Provide related literature that supports
your topic.
■ Provide related studies that will help you in
conducting the research or analyzing and
discussing the data.
■ Provide a brief synthesis of the reviewed
literature and studies.
4. Statement of the Problem/Objectives

■ State your general problem in one

sentence.
■ State your specific research questions or
objectives.
5. Abridged Methodology

■ Provide the context and participants of the

study.
■ Provide the instruments to be used.
■ Provide the data collection procedure.
■ Provide the data analysis scheme to be
used.
6. Timeline

■ Provide a timeline (e.g., Gantt chart) set in

months and year
7. References

■ Provide a list of all books, journals, and

other resources cited in your paper.
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 (single-
spaced) excluding the cover page. Do not
overwhelm the readers with details.
5. Never request funding for planning the
proposal.
6. Adjust your language to the intended
readers. You may use technical terms if
readers are scholars and scientists. However,
refrain from using jargon when your target
readers are lay persons.
7. Include the overview of the budget if it is
required. If not, then skip the budget section.
In place of this, you may simply include the
type of support you may need such as
personnel, travel and communication, and
equipment.
8. Be sure that basic format details, such as
page numbers, are incorporated.

9. Cite your references.