Camarines Sur National High School

S/Y 2019 – 2020

1st Semester/ 2nd Quarter

English for Academic and Professional Purposes

Writing Concept Paper

Individual Learning Resources

Writing Concept Paper

Brief Description of the Module

Lesson 1: Concept Paper

 Focuses on the definition of the concept paper and integrate the purpose of
creating a concept paper to address the issue or shortage encountered in
society.

 Classify the different elements of a concept paper with examples.

Lesson 2:
 Focuses on the different ways in explaining a concept with concrete examples;
definition, explication, and clarification.

 How to explain a concept or idea to be able to come up with concise and

precise concept paper?

Content Standard:

The learner understands the principles and uses of a concept paper.

Performance Standard:

The learner produces a well-balanced concept paper in a specific discipline.

Quick Wins:

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

 define concept paper
 identify situations in which a concept paper may be effectively used to address
issues/ problems in society (Motivational Activity)
 determine various elements in creating a concept paper
 determine the different ways in explaining a concept

Writing Concept Paper

An important academic paper that the students must learn to read and write
critically is the concept paper. Presenting samples of brief as well as full-blown concept
papers from different areas of knowledge, this module not only clarifies what a concept
paper is and its contents, but also foregrounds the values it communicates, the
strategies that may be employed in reading and writing one, and the characteristics of
a well-written concept paper.
 Exploring Key Concepts

Lesson 1:

What is a Concept Paper?

A concept paper provides a concise summary of the key elements of a funding request
for the purpose of soliciting feedback and/or buy-in from prospective funders,
prospective partners, and other potential stakeholders.

It answers the questions:

 What is the project?

 Why is it important?
 How will it be carried out?

Concept papers are summaries of projects or issues that reflect the interests, experience,
and expertise of the writer or organization. Concept papers generally serve the purpose
of providing an in-depth discussion of a topic that the writer has a strong position on,
usually with the intent of obtaining funding for that project from donors. The terms
"concept paper" and "proposal" are often used interchangeably as they can be used for
the same function.

Five Elements of Concept Paper:

 Introduction
 Purpose or Rationale
 Project Description
- Goals
- Objectives
- Methodology
 Support or Budget
 Contact Information

To be able to understand each element, let’s use a full-blown concept paper as a

material. The concept paper is entitled, “COMMUNITY BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
SMALL GRANT SCHEME (DRR – SGS) a project concept note prepared by Tikumbukireni
CBO. It is addressed to the Secretaty to the Vice President and Commissioner for Disaster
Management Affairs.

1. Introduction

 identifies how and where the applicant’s mission and the funder’s mission intersect
or align. It addresses the reasons why the funders should support projects in the
given general area.

Example:
Malawi faces a number of disasters, both natural and human-made which include
floods, drought, stormy rains, earthquakes, outbreaks, fire, and accidents. The intensity
and frequency of disasters have been increasing, in light of climate change, population
growth and environmental degradation. One of the areas highly affected is the
ShireValley, which has seen extreme conditions including heavy rains that result in floods.
Tikumbukireni’s area of operation has not been spared in all the floods and drought-
related disasters that have occurred in Malawi. It is from this background that the
Tikumbukireni community-based organization (CBO) is asking for the grant to implement
the disaster risk reduction program which is going to involve eighteen villages in
traditional authority Ngabu in Chikwawa district. The CBO was first registered on 16th
September 2006.

The main aim of its establishment is to give power to people to decide and participate
in development activities in our area and be able to support the vulnerable members
of society. Topographically, the village under Group Village HeadmanJombo in which
Tikumbukireni CBO is operating is a floodplain with rivers Nkombedzi and Shire washing
crops and houses every year thereby affecting the livelihood of people. The January
2015 floods affected 9,239 people, displaced 104 and killed 6 people in the area. One
part of the area is still hosting the 2015 flood-affected people. The project is going to be
implemented by the communities themselves led by the project officer who has vast
experience in project management together with all office bearers and assisted
technically by forestry, DistrictDisaster Risk Management, and Agricultural officials.

The project aims to address problems of lack of coordinated preparedness of people to

effectively respond to natural disasters, siltation of rivers which necessitate
flooding,flood-related deaths, lack of flood-proof houses and lack of alternative
livelihood. These problems were identified by the community through a participatory
vulnerability assessment which singled out unpredictable rainfall patterns which result in
the alternation of floods and drought as the main cause of our suffering. While everyone
in the targeted villages will benefit, vulnerable members of the community such as
women, children, the physically challenged, people living with HIV/AIDS and elderly will
be the principle beneficiaries. It is expected that 8, 367 people are going to benefit
comprising of 3,912 males and 4, 455 females.

2. Purpose or Rationale

 allows the applicant to state the purpose and need in such a way that the
applicant’s project is the best possible solution to the problem. Also, it often
provides statements addressing the significance of the project (showing why the
project should be supported).

Example:

The project is very important as it will build the capacity of local people to prepare,
mitigate and recover from disasters especially floods and drought. It bears the obligation
to share the knowledge that can help with identifying hazards and risks, taking action to
build safety and resilience, and reducing future hazard impacts. Tikumbukireni
communities and individuals usually can – and want to – become partners in this. If the
project is not implemented people will continue to suffer in time of disaster. For example;
deaths through drowning, food insecurity due to crops being washed away, water and
firewood scarcity due to cutting down of trees carelessly, yearly house damages due to
living in flood-prone areas having houses that are not flood proof and, increased school
dropouts due to hunger at household level, violence against women due to men’s failure
to provide for the households with basic necessities such as foods.

3. Project Description

 functioning as the solution to the problem and the answer to the need.

It includes the project’s Goals and Objectives. A goal is an abstract state of being, a
condition, an end, or an aspiration while objectives are statements of measurable
outcomes that, collectively, will help the applicant measure progress toward
accomplishing the project goal(s). For example, a goal might be to improve student
academic performance via a structured professional development program for
teachers, while an objective might be to offer a specific kind of workshop or seminar on
a particular topic for a defined set of teachers in a K-12 school district.

The project description also includes an overview of the project’s Methodology

(sometimes called Project Activities or Action Plan or Approach). The goals, objectives,
and methods (or activities) will need to align closely with each other and will need to be
accomplished within the proposed Timeline, expressed in either months or years.

Example:

PROJECT GOAL

The main goal of the project will be to improve the preparedness of people to respond
to natural disasters in Group Village Headman Jombo in order to reduce the natural
disaster losses.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. To achieve a reduced river flooding.

2. To prepare community members to respond to future disasters and has provided
a model for consideration in future early recovery activities.
3. To assist communities to find alternative source of income to farming during
disasters

METHODOLOGY
 (Expected Project Results)

At the end of the project period, the following results are expected to be achieved after
the intervention:

1. Stream/river corridor is restored.

2. Sedimentation and erosion controlled.
 3. The community is resilient and well prepared to respond to future disasters.
4. Households have adopted houses whose basements are raised.
5. VS & L groups are established and more than 50% of the targeted communities are
doing businesses.
6. The community has evacuation center which can be turned into a nursery school
during dry periods.
7. Communities have hygienic and safe water collection sources

 (Expected Project Activities)

The project will adopt the following components while implementing the methodology
to achieve the expected results:

1. Construction of river walls, water detention and retention structures.

2. Planting of trees/vertices grass along the rivers, streams and around houses.
3. Training communities in (1) information sharing, (2) evacuation planning, (3) applying
sandbags or water pumps for flood protection, and (4) volunteering to help
communities in flood mitigation or response.
4. Training people especially women to establish Village Savings and Loans (VSL)
groups so that they can venture into small businesses to ably reduce the sufferings in
times of floods and drought.
5. Construction of demonstration flood proof house which communities will be asked
to adopt.
6. Construction of evacuation center.
7. Covering all open wells with concrete.

4. Support or Budget

 an outline of the main budget categories for the requested project support.
 amount of the request and a brief discussion of how that amount will be used.
 some concept papers may not even include an amount requested.

Example:

The project requires a total sum of US$44, 052 for full implementation.

The major items on which funds will be spent include: Workshops and Trainings; Logistics,
Transport and Storage; Tree Seedlings/vettiver grass; Bags of cement; Iron sheets; Bricks;
Quarry and sand; Poles and thatching grass; and Re-enforcement wire.

5. Contact Information

 contains the basic and significant details or information of the applicant.

Example:

Name of organisation: Tikumbukireni CBO

Mailing address: P. O. Box 206, Nchalo
 Primary contact person: Lickson MchepaTitle:
Projects OfficerEmail: mchepa7@gmail.com
Telephone number: 0995 770 103
Other contact person: Hassan Window
Telephone number: 0999 815 465

Challenger

Challenge 1

Instructions: Read each item carefully and circle the correct answer. (10 points)

1. It is a document written to convince potential funders to sponsor a product, program or

services.
a. Reaction Paper b. Review Paper c. Critique Paper d. Concept Paper

2. Which part of the concept paper states the objectives of the project, methodology,
timeline, and benefits or anticipated outcome?
a. Purpose or Rationale b. Cover Page c. Project description d. Introduction

3. Which is NOT true about a concept paper?

a. It is done after submitting the project proposal.
b. It serves as the foundation of the proposal.
c. It helps to determine whether the project is feasible or not.
d. It is use to get the interest of the funding agency.

4. How can a concept paper bring a societal change?

a. It establishes the credibility of a public official.
b. It shows the plans of a candidate for public office
c. It shows tangible solutions to problems which affect the society.
d. It boosts the economy of the country.

5. Which part of the concept paper refers to the amount of the request and a brief
discussion of how that amount will be used?
a. Project Description b. Introduction c. Cover Page d. Support or Budget

6. Which is a good practice in writing a concept paper?

a. Robert requested a budget from the funding agency on the preparation of the
concept paper.
b. Terry fails to indicate the page number in her concept paper.
c. Mark cites all the references he used in the concept paper.
d. Tony made his timeline independent from details in the methodology.

7. Which part of the concept paper explains why the sponsor should accept and fund the
project in the given general area?
 a. Support or Budget b. Introduction c. Purpose or Rationale d. Project Description
8. Which part of the concept paper allows the applicant to state the purpose or need in such a
way that the applicant’s project is the best possible solution to the problem?
a. Introduction b. Purpose or Rationale c. Project Description d. Support or Budget

9. Concept paper has how many elements?

a. 5 b. 6 c. 7 d. 8

10. The following are uses of concept paper EXCEPT:

a. To develop potential solutions or investigations into project ideas
b. To serve as the foundation of a full proposal
c. To determine whether ta project is fundable
d. To get the sympathy of the government and other non-government organizations

Challenge 2
Instruction: Write E if the statement shows an effective way of writing a concept paper and N if not.
(5 points)
_______ 1. Rachelle clarified the working definition of the concept she is preparing to ensure that the
reader understood it properly.
_______ 2. Sharee states her objectives in the methodology section.
_______ 3. Mae Cris provides whatever reasons so that the agency should support her project.
_______ 4. The SSG President includes the significance of the project so that, the addressee will be
able to know the purpose of the project.
_______ 5. Mr. Dimaculangan fails to include the over-all budget of his project.

Challenge 3
Directions: Identify terms inside the box and classify them according to its element.

m s i g n i f i c a n c e t e r c w
i n t r o d u c t i o n n g p f o s
s b e a l i g n o d q a a b r v n x
s u s t g l u e e i r e m y o t t e
i d b i o b j e c t i v e h j g a d
o g h o a a o d p e s i x n e b c c
n e r n l c s n u m b e r u c y t r
r t a a d d r e s s t n z j t h i f
a i i l e f a m o u n t m m a n n v
v n m e t h o d o l o g y i c u f t
p r o j e c t d e s c r i p t i o n
x e c y w x g k r i z a y k i j r g
s y b i r b s u p p o r t l v m m b
g b n p t m l m y s q z f q i i a e
b i l p u r p o s e f x g a t k t a
i o k o u s y q r u e c h z i l i o
p r o j e c t r e s u l t s e q o u
a p f s b v q c e z o k l w s a n x
 Lesson 2: Three Ways in Explaining a Concept

Jump Start

 preliminaries
 motivational activity

Exploring Key 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?”

Definition can be presented into 3 ways:

1. Informal
- is done through a parenthetical or brief explanation.
- uses known words or examples to explain terms.

Example:

Freedom (also referred to as liberty or independence), is a state in which people are free to
think and do whatever they please.

2. Formal
- 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 (differentia).

Example:
genus
species
Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

differentia
3. Extended
 - is a detailed way of defining a term and is usually composed of at least one
paragraph.

Signal Words:
as defined, for example, for instance, is defined as, means, such, to define, to illustrate

Example:

To our colonial forefathers, freedom defined as having a voice in their

government. The Revolutionary War was a last resort against an empire that continued
to tax its colonists without the representation of the colonists in Parliament. Since the
Philippines won the right to rule itself, our country has been referred to as "the land of the
free and the home of the brave." True freedom means the ability to think, feel, say, or act
however one chooses. It is a state where the bars of bondage do not exist. Unfortunately,
the widening gap between the haves and have nots means that some are now shackled
by their lack of education. Philippines can attain real freedom when everyone has the
same educational opportunities.

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.

- clearly presents the main idea (Thesis) in the introduction and follow with detailed
analysis of a passage or text.

Example:

The story entitled “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens demonstrates both similarity
and contrast existed between the two countries, England and France during the French
Revolution. This passage presents an image of chaos and turmoil, which ensue due to a
clash between extreme ideas between the two different countries and their people.

The tone of this story is both chaotic and melancholic, presenting a theme of duality. In
fact, Dickens has used paradoxes to establish the plot and theme of this novel. The rich
were enjoying lives of abundance, while, on the other hand, the poor were suffering from
deprivation. In England, there was a lack of security, and in France, the clergymen
practiced inhuman activities against the masses. In other words, this passage emphasizes
the issue of juxtaposition of these two countries, and sets up the basis for upcoming events
in the novel.

4. CLARIFICATION

- is a method of explanation in which points are organized from a general abstract

idea to specific and concrete examples.

Signal Words:
after all, for instance, namely, that is, as an example, in other words, put another way,
to be specific, consider the following, in particular, specifically, to clarify, for example,
for instance, in short, stated differently, to illustrate

Example:

Justice is a broad which encompasses a wide set of ideas, most of which also branch out
into smaller notions. For instance, it can refer to the sentencing of a criminal based on
due process. When an individual gets what he deserves, even outside the hands of the
law, it is also considered justice in some contexts. This may come in the form of vigilante
justice, in which a person dissatisfied with the system doles out punishment to wrong
doers. Poetic justice is also another related concept which is used in literature to show
how the good is always rewarded while bad forces always meet a grim end.

These three ways in explaining a concept are indeed important for us to be able to come
up with concise concept and well-organized ideas.

Challenger

Challenge 1

Instructions: For nos. 1 and 2, identify the type of definition used in each passage.

Water is a liquid which consists of two atoms of

1. hydrogen and one atom of oxygen.

a. Connotation
b. Formal
c. Informal
d. Extended

Gold is a metal that is rare. It is yellow in color,

2.
very heavy, and very malleable. Gold is used to
make jewelry.
a. Connotation
b. Formal
c. Informal
d. Extended

For nos. 3 and 4, identify the method used in explaining a concept.

3. The novel entitled “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorn opens with a paragraph
depicting a crowd assembled in front of a prison door, waiting for Hester Prynne to
show up and her scarlet letter “A”. The author describes the crowd as “throng”,
suggesting a mob-like and densely packed group. The mood is not pleasant, but
somber displayed y their “sad-colored” garments, hoods and gray hats. Also, an
interesting description about the hats of men as “steeple- crowned” suggests that
people of the town are associated with the churched that punished Hester, Another
description about women “intermixed” with men means people in the town lacking
individuality.
 a. Clarification
b. Conceptualization
c. Definition
d. Explication

4. Education is the process of facilitating learning, or acquiring of

knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habit. Educational methods
include story-telling, discussion, teaching, training, and directed
research. The methodology of teaching is called methodology.

a. Clarification
b. Conceptualization
c. Definition
d. Explication

5. People looking to lose weight have a few options: exercise, diet,

weight loss pills, and surgery. Exercising involves going to gym,
working out at home, or joining some sort of class or sports team.
Those who are dieting can talk to a doctor about a plan for
them. Weight loss pills can be taken, if proper precautions and
directions are followed.

a. Clarification
b. Conceptualization
c. Definition
d. Explication

Challenge 2

Instructions:

With your group, write at least one paragraph regarding the assigned social issue. Use clarification
as one of the elements in explaining concepts/ideas. After which, choose a representative that
will report the output.

Criteria:

Content – 4
Organization – 3
Mechanics – 3

Let’s Reflect

Reflect on the learning that you gained after taking up this lesson by completing the
given chart.
What were your misconceptions about What new or additional learning have you
the topic prior to taking up this lesson? had after taking up this lesson in terms of
skills, content, and attitude?

I thought… I learned that…