The following is a general template for a masters project proposal under my supervision, and therefore, software based.
- Title
- Disclaimer (stating your own work etc. - usual plagiarism requirements)
- Abstract
- Acknowledgements (optional)
- Contents
- Chapter 1 - Introduction
- State the problem you are trying to solve
- Why is it worth tackling?
- What approaches are available (briefly)?
- What approach have you chosen?
- Any special knowledge you presume of the reader to understand the proposal.
- Any special typography or terminology (if too many use a glossary).
- A "road map" of the proposal document ... "In Chapter Two we describe xxxx. In Chapter Three we describe yyyy..."
- Chapter 2 - Background
- Any information the reader requires in terms of techniques/technology that isn't part of the programme you have studied.
- Chapter 3 - Analysis, Requirements, and Design
- What it says on the title
- Should include appropriate formal design diagrams/notation as necessary
- Any language selection, libraries, frameworks, etc., and why you have selected them.
- If you've written some code then discuss this briefly and how this will impact the final work.
- Chapter 4 - Experimentation & Evaluation
- Again, what it says on the tin!
- Briefly describe how you are going to show that your work meets the original aims and objectives; this doesn't mean just testing the code!
- Chapter 6 - Timescale
- Provide a GANTT chart which shows the timeline for your work. Probably a topic, rather than week-by-week, view will be most useful to the examiners.
Now, "one size does not fit all" - this structure is meant to be a starting point; you may have more, or less, chapters. Be flexible and check with me about what you are writing.
I prefer to see the proposal a section at a time (or even just a few pages at the start). A whole proposal sent to me to read at the end, with no chapters submitted prior to that, is a recipe for problems. It really doesn't give me any time to say, "No, change the style", or "No, I suggest you do it this way".