P&O

          This article has made me realize how important a research proposal is to your actual research paper.  The article states that no matter what topic a research paper is, there are three main questions that need focused on (Wong).  These are what you plan to accomplish, why you want to do it, and how you are going to do it (Wong).  The proposal needs to address the audience as to how important this research topic is (Wong).  It focuses more on “proposal writing” as opposed to just gathering “research ideas” (Wong).  The title, abstract, and introduction are all key in writing a well focused research proposal (Wong).

Wong, P.T. Paul. How to Write a Research Proposal. 1 February 2010. <http://www.meaning.ca/archives/archive/art_how_to_write_P_Wong.htm>

              Just being able to lay out your outline correctly, can be cofusing on its on.  This article goes through how to create an article step by step.  I think this article gives a good point, on using notecards to help lay out and organize your paper better (huffenglish).  Organizing the notecards into similar groups will also help make the process easier (huffenglish).  The last thing to do is, put the notecard topics on the outline and then transitioning the outline into an actual paper (huffenglish).

How to Make a Formal Outline in Microsoft Word. 3 February 2010 < www.huffenglish.com/handouts/formaloutline.rtf >

PROPOSAL – Old

The business world is an extremely competitive environment.  Every single day, people are trying to think of different ways to get themselves to the top.  Setting yourself a part from the rest of your competitors can be difficult.  Beginning entrepreneurs struggle with the concept of what it is to be unique in the business world, especially in today’s complex economic times.  Learning how to successfully make it, and get through these rough waters, known as the complicated business world, can be tedious. However, with the right steps along the way, it will become smooth sailing ahead.  So this brings me to my question, “What does it take to make it to the top in the business world?”  I have watched the fairly new TV show “Shark Tank.”  In this show many business men and women bring their ideas to a panel of already successful entrepreneurs.  They then get bombarded with question after question, regarding why they feel that their particular product is unique and will sell in the market.  If one of the panel members feels strongly about the idea, they will offer to invest in it and receive part of the revenue.

            I think my research paper will be beneficial to anyone who has an aspiration to make it big in the business world.  I personally know that there are many students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, who are majoring in the business field of entrepreneurship.  I hope that my paper and research will help ease minds of what they should do.  Already, there have been a number of researchers who have published work on becoming successful.  What I personally hope to accomplish with my paper, is to incorporate all of the specific things people have researched into one source.  I hope that this will be beneficial to others, so that they will not have to waste time looking through numerous books and websites.

            I plan to get my information through websites, journals, and books.  I am also currently taking an introduction to entrepreneurship class which will help me to write my research paper.  My research will basically help young aspiring entrepreneurs get a feel for what they need to do, to make it in the competitive business world.

OUTLINE – Old

I.  In order to be a successful entrepreneur, a person must already be well off to start up their business.

           a.  Is money a main factor in starting up a business?

           b.  What successful entrepreneurs have went from zero to hero?

                           i.      Are they still successful today?

II.   The use of advertisements really influences the consumers.

             a.  If a product is not advertised on a regular basis, do people know that it is out there?

             b.   What is the best form of advertisement for a business to use?

             c.  Many celebs seem to use secret products that others do not know about; does this sell the product better?

III.  The majority of new businesses fail.

              a.   Is it difficult to keep a new business open?

              b.   What makes a business fail?

IV.  The number one reason people become entrepreneurs is to become wealthy.

              a.  Is wealth the only thing on a beginning entrepreneur’s mind?

              b.   What are the reasons someone wants to start up their own product or business?

V.  Becoming an entrepreneur is something that people are born into.

              a.   What are the characteristics of an entrepreneur?

              b.   What are some common myths about entrepreneurs?

Outline – New

Title:   ”What you see is not always what you get”: How business advertisements effect you, the consumer

I. Purpose

       A. To show how effective business advertisements can be and how they effect consumers

II.  Introduction

        A.  How do business advertisements  effect consumers?

III.  Body

             A.  Type of business which has the most advertisements

                              1.   What kind of advertising does this industry use?

                               2.  Why does this type of advertising do so well for this particular industry?

              B.  Business advertisements that bash other competitors

                              1.   What are some major business competitors

                              2.    Is this method effective to make consumers want to purchase one  product  over      another?

                C.   Most effective time of advertising for consumers

                               1.   When do consumers pay the most attention to advertisements?

                                          a.     During the Superbowl?

                                          b.    On billboards?

                                          c.    Through the internet?

                                          d.     Via telephone or in person?

                  D.   Falsely advertising products

                                  1.   What are some products that businesses falsely advertise?

                                          a.   Why do they do this to their consumers?  Is it just to make a profit?

                                          b.    Is this ethical to do in the marketing industry?

                  E.    What are things that advertisements specifically do or say that misleads the typical consumer?

                              1.   Has false advertisements harmed consumers?

                                         a.    If so, have there been lawsuits filed against these companies?

                                         b.    Have companies gone out of business because of this?

                  F.  Attractiveness of business advertisements

                             1.  What sorts of things draw a consumer in to a certain advertisement?

                                         a.   Women?  Sex?  Nudity? Alcohol?

                             2.  How big of a role do celebrities play in advertising for companys?

                                          b.   Make-Up Industry  (e.g. Maybelline)

 IV.  Methodology

                A.  Journal Articles

                B.  Books

                C.  Magazine Articles

                D.  Use of Previous Surveys

V.  Analysis

                A.  Types of Advertising

                B.  Business Competitors in the Advertising Industry

                C.  Time periods consumers pay the most attention to business ads

                D.  Products that businesses tend to falsely advertise

                E.  Specific phrases that are said to mislead the consumer

                F.  Attractiveness of business advertisements

VI.  Conclusion

               A.  Review the results of advertising

Proposal

                  In order to get their product out to the public, most businesses rely on advertising.  Advertising in the marketing industry has grown tremendously over the years, especially with the ongoing development of technologies.  Advertising is very important for businesses because it is what drives consumers to want to purchase their product or service.  There are many different tactics that businesses use when advertising.  Knowing what the people want is an important aspect of advertising.  However, some business advertisements can mislead people into thinking that a certain product is one thing, when it is actually the complete opposite.  In other words, “what you see is not always what you get.”  So what leads these businesses to give off false impressions on us the consumers?  This is one of the questions that I hope to address in my research paper.  An article that I found that shows this, deals with how the makeup idustry falsely advertisors their customers.  Makeup contains many toxins that are not expressed to consumers when they are making purchases on products (Rose Marie Williams).  Also, the makeup industry spends more money on television advertising than any other business, which  is an interesting fact (Rose Marie Williams).  There are many different types of advertising a business can do.  One thing that I hope to find out is what type of advertising is most effective on consumers, and why it is so effective.  Advertising during the Super Bowl is a prime time for companies to advertise.  It seems to be more entertaining than the actual football game.  According to a recent Nielsen viewer survey done by Nielson Business Media, Inc., about 51% of people enjoy watching the Super Bowl for the ads as opposed to just watching the football game (Steve McClellan).  Also, I would like to know what kinds of tactics businesses use to make an advertisement appealing to a consumer.  For example, using attractive women in lingerie in an advertisement, may gain the attention of young men for a certain product. 

                     An interesting predicition that I have learned, is that IBM is anticipating the end of traditional advertising (Internet Wire).  The article was written on November 8, 2007, and said that this change in advertising was expected to occur within the next five years (Internet Wire).  The methodology IBM used in this research was that they, conducted a surver of more than 2,400 consumers and 80 advertising executives globally (Internet Wire).  I feel that this would be an important article to include in my research paper, because it shows a major issue that may occur.

                     I think that showing how advertisements can effect consumers in good and bad ways is important to include in my paper.  One of the article I found to show this is titled “Obama adviser blasts big business ads.”  The article discusses how ad campaigns can become controversial, especially within the governement.  White House officials feel that business opponents of President Obama’s plan to create an agency to protect financial consumers, are trying to “scare people” (Jennifer Liberto). 

                   I think that my research paper can be beneficial to anyone, being that everyone is affected by business advertisements in one way or the other.  Whether someone may be taking a walk, driving to work, or traveling by airplane, they will see a business advertisement somewhere.  These advertisements are everywhere, which is why they affect consumers so much.  I hope that my research will help unveil some reasons as to why businesses advertise the things they do.  Especially when people are affected by false advertisements and face either financial loss, or some other kind of suffering due to being mislead.  This is something that I personally have dealt with, and know many other people who have been through the same thing.  It is a pretty common occurrence to watch something being advertised on television, and after you order it, it does not do anything like it said it would.

                  I plan to conduct my research through various websites, online journals, and books.  I am currently taking an introduction to entrepreneurship class, which I think will also help with my research. There have been many different types of marketing that have been previously researched; whether it was conducting surveys or making observations.  However, I hope to bring a new twist on my advertisement research paper by incorporating specific things which I personally feel are important to the average consumer.

Works Cited

McClellan, Steve. ”Super Bowl Ads More Exciting Than the Game?. .” ADWEEK Online.  (Jan 20, 2010): NA. General OneFile. Gale. Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 17 Feb. 2010 
http://find.galegroup.com/gps/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A217628999&source=gale&userGroupName=indi68545&version=1.0.

“IBM Predicts the End of Advertising as We Know It. ” Internet Wire.  (Nov 8, 2007): NA. General OneFile. Gale. Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 17 Feb. 2010 
http://find.galegroup.com/gps/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=IPS&docId=A170919280&source=gale&userGroupName=indi68545&version=1.0.

Liberto, Jennifer. “White House fires back on ads against a consumer agency – Sep. 18, 2009.” Business, financial, personal finance news – CNNMoney.com. 18 Sept. 2009. Web. 18 Feb. 2010. http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/18/news/economy/Summers_consumer_agency.

Williams, Rose Marie. ”Makeup’s ugly secrets.(Health Risks and Environmental Issues). .” Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine.  271-272 (Feb-March 2006): 140(3). General OneFile. Gale. Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 17 Feb. 2010 http://find.galegroup.com/gps/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=IPS&docId=A143164538&source=gale&userGroupName=indi68545&version=1.0.