Why the Proposal draft matters
The app already creates a structured draft in this step. Do not only check spelling, but especially the content: does the topic match your actual assignment, is the problem clear enough, does the research question fit the intended paper, and are important terms, theories, or boundaries missing?
Required information
These three details should be checked especially carefully because they define the thematic search space and first research direction.
Additional information
These fields are not always equally important, but they can make the later research much more precise.
The required fields are especially important. They determine which literature later counts as relevant. The additional information helps StudyTexter guide the research more narrowly and prepare later steps such as Source evaluation, Final proposal, Chapter structure, and Full text & Export.
Required information
The required fields are not just formalities. They form the core of the working plan and should be understandable, concrete, and not too broad.
Topic
The Topic answers what the paper is about. Good wording names the object of investigation, the context and the academic field without already anticipating the whole paper.
Recommendation for use
Describe what it is about in one to three sentences. Include the target group, method, industry, technology or setting when that helps narrow the topic.
Impact on the next steps
The Topic helps StudyTexter narrow databases, terminology and search directions, so the literature search does not become too broad.
Problem statement
The Problem statement explains which problem or phenomenon should be clarified academically and why the paper is necessary.
Recommendation for use
Write this more precisely than the topic. Name unclear, disputed or insufficiently researched aspects.
Impact on the next steps
The Problem statement becomes an important relevance filter for Source evaluation and later planning.
Preliminary research question
The Preliminary research question is the guiding question the paper should answer for now.
Recommendation for use
It does not have to be final yet, but it should be clear, limited and answerable. Phrases such as 'to what extent', 'under which conditions' or 'what influence' often help.
Impact on the next steps
The final version is created later after the literature search in the Final proposal step.
Additional information
Additional information is especially useful when you already have requirements, your own ideas, or an academic direction. You do not need to write artificially long text here; good bullet points are often enough.
Preliminary outline
The Preliminary outline gives the first structure for the paper and helps StudyTexter cluster sources by section.
Only enable this option if you already have a precise structure in mind or if the structure must remain exactly as it is.
Recommendation for use
Sketch an outline that fits the scope of your paper. Short papers do not need an overly detailed subsection structure, but longer papers should not be planned too roughly. Enable the final-outline option only if the structure is required or already agreed.
Impact on the next steps
The AI normally refines and expands the outline later so it fits the literature found.
Theories/authors
Use this field when specific theories, models or authors are important for the paper.
Recommendation for use
Two to five key theories or authors are usually enough. Add why they matter, so StudyTexter understands the academic direction.
Impact on the next steps
These details prioritize certain strands of literature without automatically excluding other relevant sources.
Working thesis / expected findings
If you already have an idea of what the paper might find, enter it here as a working assumption.
Recommendation for use
Keep the wording tentative. A working thesis is a search hypothesis, not a fixed result.
Impact on the next steps
StudyTexter can search more deliberately for explanations, counterpositions and expected relationships.
Delimitation / scope
This field clarifies what is included, and what is deliberately excluded.
Recommendation for use
Name the setting, target group, period, region or deliberate exclusions.
Impact on the next steps
Clear delimitation prevents research drift and reduces irrelevant sources in Source evaluation.
Key terms for the literature search
Key terms are starting points for the search. They help the AI recognize related terms and research directions.
Recommendation for use
Five to fifteen terms are usually enough. Add synonyms and English terms when the academic field is international.
Impact on the next steps
StudyTexter later expands these starting points automatically during the literature search.
If you do not use additional literature search
If the No literature search option is active in Settings, key terms are less important for free research. StudyTexter then works mainly with your uploaded sources and files.
Treat this step as a quality check before the search. You do not have to decide everything finally yet, but the direction should be right. The more precise this draft is, the better the next steps can build on each other.
How StudyTexter uses these details
Direction of the paper
Topic, problem statement and research question define what the search and later planning focus on.
Literature search
Key terms, delimitation and theories help find suitable sources and avoid unsuitable hits.
Later structure
The outline and working thesis provide a first frame that is reviewed and refined after Source evaluation.
Do not forget to save!
After making changes, confirm them with the Save button before moving to the next step.