Yogyakarta,The meeting room at the Faculty of Medicine, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, on Tuesday (29/7) was abuzz with an unusual intensity. Dozens of lecturers from the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication (FDK) intently absorbed every word. Not about healthy recipes or human anatomy, but about the art of stringing together words and ideas into an effective Litapdimas research proposal. These 50 lecturers were attending the Academic Writing for Litapdimas Proposal Workshop, an event led by Prof. Dr. Euis Nurlelawati, M.A., a distinguished professor at UIN Sunan Kalijaga and an experienced Litapdimas reviewer.
When a Proposal Reveals "Intent"
The atmosphere warmed as FDK Dean, Arif Maftukhin, shared his bittersweet experiences as a Litapdimas reviewer. With emphasis in his tone, he highlighted the classic "sins" of proposal submitters. "The majority of people submitting proposals don't actually prepare them," he remarked, shaking his head. As if reading the participants' minds, Arif explained that failure often becomes apparent early on, even before reviewers delve deep into the substance.
"They fail in their intent," Arif asserted. "Because it can already be read in the proposal itself, from the title, problem statement, to the table of contents. From there, it's clear there's no serious intent to create the proposal if several of those elements aren't systematic." This was a gentle rebuke for those who often underestimate details. For Arif, a proposal is a reflection of the researcher's seriousness and "intent."
He then dissected each section of the proposal that often becomes a "nightmare" for reviewers. The problem statement, for instance, is often vague, lacks sharpness, and drifts into everyday language. "A scientific problem statement should ideally envision what epistemological implications will arise," Arif explained, illustrating how the problem statement should serve as a gateway to deep scientific thought.
The same applies to the research objectives. Often, Arif noted, objectives are merely a copy of the problem statement with minor punctuation changes. However, objectives should reflect the concrete actions to be undertaken in the research, using epistemologically weighty verbs. Not to be overlooked, the theoretical framework, which frequently consists of mere definitions rather than an intricate web of relationships between variables that can answer conceptual questions.
Sowing Ideas, Reaping Hope
Arif concluded his address with a poignant appeal: a good research proposal is not one hastily put together. He encouraged the lecturers to craft proposals well in advance of grant announcements, armed with keen observations of pressing real-world problems. "I hope the resource person can impart their immensely important knowledge as a professor and reviewer, to better prepare participants for Litapdimas proposals. This way, the acceptance rate for proposals can be significantly increased," he concluded, placing great hope on the speaker's shoulders.
From Phenomena to Pen: Prof. Euis's Astute Strategy
It was then Prof. Euis Nurlelawati's turn to take the stage. With clear and systematic delivery, she guided participants through the intricacies of proposal writing and research strategy. From observing developing phenomena, setting captivating topics and titles, to selecting relevant methods and outlining clear problem points – everything was thoroughly dissected.
Not stopping there, Prof. Euis also emphasized the importance of the editing stage once a paper is complete. With three main focuses – paper content, sentence structure, grammar, tone, sentence strength, and technical writing – she encouraged participants to edit meticulously and honestly. "Common problems in scientific writing in Indonesia include the substance of scientific work, unclear research focus, literature review, construction and content of exposition, weak analysis, a culture of imitation versus adhering to guidelines, language issues, and moral and spirit," Prof. Euis explained, opening the participants' eyes to common challenges.
The discussion was warm and interactive, with many participants eagerly asking questions, showing high enthusiasm for composing better proposals. Amidst the laughter and serious deliberation, there was immense hope that from this room, quality proposals would emerge, bringing fresh impetus to the development of knowledge and society. A workshop that was not merely a transfer of knowledge, but an investment in the future of research and concrete contributions from UIN Sunan Kalijaga. (Kh)