My advisor demands a dissertation proposal that sounds scholarly, but my draft reads like a blog—any templates to keep the academic tone?

Use a simple “problem‑gap‑aim‑method‑impact” outline and write each section in a formal, third‑person voice. Start with a brief introduction that states the research problem, then cite a few recent studies to show the gap you’ll fill; follow with a clear research aim and specific questions or hypotheses, describe the methodology (data sources, analysis techniques, justification), and finish with expected contributions. By forcing yourself to fill each slot, you replace conversational asides with concise, evidence‑based statements. For instance, a student who originally wrote “I think it’s interesting that…”, rewrote it as “The literature indicates a persistent discrepancy between X and Y (Smith 2022), suggesting a need for…”. This shift eliminates personal opinion and aligns the tone with scholarly conventions, while still keeping the proposal clear and persuasive. Following this structured template will give your draft the academic rigor your advisor expects.