Turning the research path into a method-driven proposal.
MA2 moves the semester project from review and synthesis into a concrete research plan, clarifying the question, methods, sample, and analytic approach that will guide the final article.
Quick jump
Use these links to move between the proposal reflection, the final proposal, and each embedded supporting artifact on this page.
Reflection
In my MA2 Research Proposal, I progressed in several course outcomes, including Generating Inquiry, Information Literacy, Research Genre Production, and Revision. My Research question remained focused on political rhetoric on Instagram Reels, but it became more focused and refined as I developed my sampling and coding plans. Developing the sampling plan helped me clarify exactly what content would count as relevant data, thereby narrowing my research focus. When developing the coding categories, I originally only had a few codes for all the data before my professor suggested adding more to make the analysis easier for the results paper. As a result, I added several more categories and sub-categories related to rhetorical strategies and multimodality within the Instagram Reel. Along with emotional appeals (pathos), credibility, and authority (ethos), and local appeals (logos), my coding categories now include multimodal presentation and political framing, which helped categorize and extrapolate more data from each real. For the course outcome Information Literacy, I made choices about how to conduct my primary research to reduce bias and increase credibility. For example, I planned to create a new Instagram account to reduce algorithmic bias when searching for Reels, thereby making the sample more neutral and repeatable. I also outlined clear inclusion and exclusion criteria for Reels and comments, such as excluding spam comments or GIF comments. I also used a comment extraction software to collect comments automatically without my bias. For Research Genre Production, I structured my paper to meet the expectations of a research proposal, clearly organizing it into sections such as Sampling Plan, Coding and Analysis Plan, Limitations, and Conclusion. Lastly, I progressed in the outcome of Revision by including earlier assignments and drafts to show how my research proposal evolved over time after receiving feedback from my professor and peers.
Research proposal
The final proposal is embedded below as the main MA2 artifact.
Related Artifacts
Supporting materials that document how the proposal moved from draft language into method planning.
Research Proposal Draft
This draft demonstrates my progress in the course outcome Revision. In the early draft, some sections were incomplete or less detailed. For example, the draft originally included a placeholder for the conclusion section rather than a full conclusion. In the final version, I added a full conclusion that explains the importance of studying rhetorical patterns on Instagram Reels and how my research plan will address the research question. Comparing the draft to the final proposal shows how peer feedback and revision helped me improve my paper.
Sampling Plans
The sampling plan demonstrates progress in Generating Inquiry and Information Literacy. While writing this assignment, I developed a clear strategy for gathering primary research data by selecting 30 Instagram Reels and 300 comments using specific search terms such as “ICE raids,” “ICE deportation,” and “ICE controversy.” Creating this plan helped me refine my research question and consider how I can systematically collect data. I also had to consider issues such as algorithmic bias and comment visibility when designing my research method.
Coding and Analysis Plans
The coding and analysis plan artifact demonstrates progress in Multiple Ways of Writing and Research Genre Production. In this assignment, I organized my coding categories using a structured outline format to clearly show how different rhetorical strategies will be analyzed. For example, I created separate categories for emotional appeals, credibility strategies, logical arguments, multimodal presentation, and political framing to analyze both creator content and audience response (comments). Using a structured layout and coded lists helped present the research method clearly and establish a framework for categorizing Reels and comments.