How to Write an How to Write an Honors ThesisHonors Thesis

By: Kristin Taylor, Chelsea By: Kristin Taylor, Chelsea Bullock, Bullock,

Kindall Scarborough & Kindall Scarborough &

Lawrence MooreLawrence Moore

Group ActivityGroup Activity

Take 3 minutes to create a Take 3 minutes to create a plan of action for how to write plan of action for how to write your thesis using the provided your thesis using the provided topic.topic.

Group ActivityGroup Activity

Select a member from your Select a member from your group to explain your plan in group to explain your plan in 30 to 60 seconds. 30 to 60 seconds.

How do I Begin?How do I Begin?

The 3 C’s to Starting an The 3 C’s to Starting an Honors Thesis:Honors Thesis:

1.) 1.) Create a Topic. Create a Topic.

2.) Choose an Advisor.2.) Choose an Advisor.

3.) 3.) Complete a Thesis Proposal Form & Complete a Thesis Proposal Form & Formal Formal Proposal.Proposal.

Creating a TopicCreating a TopicBrainstormingBrainstorming

Make a list of possible topics that you Make a list of possible topics that you might want to explore.might want to explore.

You can narrow down these ideas You can narrow down these ideas later.later.

Talk with your faculty advisor.Talk with your faculty advisor.

Creating a TopicCreating a TopicExplore topics within your Explore topics within your

major.major.Example: Example: If you are a Literature major, If you are a Literature major,

don’t create a hypothesis on why you think don’t create a hypothesis on why you think the native African elephant is going extinct. the native African elephant is going extinct.

Take courses that will broaden your Take courses that will broaden your knowledge base concerning possible thesis knowledge base concerning possible thesis topics.topics.

Creating a TopicCreating a TopicPick a topic that interests Pick a topic that interests

you.you.If you aren’t engaged in your topic, If you aren’t engaged in your topic,

others won’t be either.others won’t be either.

Creating a TopicCreating a Topic

Make sure your thesis is Make sure your thesis is do-able.do-able.Don’t choose a topic that will take Don’t choose a topic that will take

more time to finish the thesis than is more time to finish the thesis than is given.given.

“A successful thesis poses an interesting question you can actually answer within the time available for the project” (Lipson 72).

Creating a TopicCreating a Topic

When should I begin thinking about a When should I begin thinking about a topic?topic? Get started early!Get started early!““It is recommended that the Honor student It is recommended that the Honor student

enroll in HONS 4001 OR HONS 4002 the enroll in HONS 4001 OR HONS 4002 the first semester of his/her senior year in order first semester of his/her senior year in order to have plenty of time to research, write, to have plenty of time to research, write, and defend the thesis” (Honors Handbook).and defend the thesis” (Honors Handbook).

Students should also use Honors Contracts Students should also use Honors Contracts as an opportunity to explore possible thesis as an opportunity to explore possible thesis topics.topics.

Choosing an AdvisorChoosing an AdvisorMake sure you know your Make sure you know your

advisor.advisor.You’ll want to choose an advisor who You’ll want to choose an advisor who

you are comfortable working with you are comfortable working with (Lipson 17).(Lipson 17).

It’s a good tip to have taken a class It’s a good tip to have taken a class with the professor of whom you want with the professor of whom you want to be your advisor.to be your advisor.

As Dr. Hunt noted in her interview, As Dr. Hunt noted in her interview, faculty advisors are helping you as a faculty advisors are helping you as a favor!favor!

Choosing an AdvisorChoosing an Advisor

Make sure your advisor is Make sure your advisor is knowledgeable. knowledgeable. Although your adviser might not be an Although your adviser might not be an

authority concerning the specific topic you authority concerning the specific topic you choose for your thesis, he/she should still choose for your thesis, he/she should still be “an expert in your area of interest” be “an expert in your area of interest” (Lipson 17).(Lipson 17).

““A faculty member in the student’s major A faculty member in the student’s major will serve as advisor of the thesis” (Honors will serve as advisor of the thesis” (Honors Handbook). Handbook).

Completing a Thesis Proposal Completing a Thesis Proposal FormForm

What is a thesis proposal form?What is a thesis proposal form?A Thesis Proposal Form is a form that A Thesis Proposal Form is a form that

you must fill out before beginning you must fill out before beginning your thesis stating what your topic is, your thesis stating what your topic is, and it “must be signed by the and it “must be signed by the student, the thesis advisor, and the student, the thesis advisor, and the Honors Program Coordinator” (Honors Honors Program Coordinator” (Honors Handbook).Handbook).

Completing a Formal Completing a Formal ProposalProposal

What is a Formal Proposal?What is a Formal Proposal?A Formal Proposal is a 5 to 20 page A Formal Proposal is a 5 to 20 page

proposal about your thesis.proposal about your thesis.

Completing a Formal Completing a Formal ProposalProposal

Your formal proposal should Your formal proposal should answer questions such as:answer questions such as:What is my topic? What is my topic? What do I plan to discuss in my thesis?What do I plan to discuss in my thesis?How is it interesting? How is it interesting? How does it relate to my field of interest? How does it relate to my field of interest? Do I need to give a brief history of my Do I need to give a brief history of my

topic? topic? Have I included a works consulted? Have I included a works consulted? How does my thesis fit in to the How does my thesis fit in to the

discussion of scholars?discussion of scholars?

ResearchResearch

Managing Time, Sources, and Managing Time, Sources, and ScopeScope START EARLY!START EARLY!While researching your chosen topic of While researching your chosen topic of

interest, you may always expand and interest, you may always expand and contract your focus as needed.contract your focus as needed.

How Do I Begin?How Do I Begin? Your thesis advisor will be able to Your thesis advisor will be able to

help you find initial sources and help you find initial sources and provide guidelines of authors to read provide guidelines of authors to read and avoid.and avoid.

ScopeScope Follow the bibliography trail.Follow the bibliography trail. Keep notes about each source.Keep notes about each source. Create citations as you go along.Create citations as you go along. Saturation PointSaturation Point

SourcesSources Maximize your thesis advisor as a Maximize your thesis advisor as a

resource. Trust his/her judgment on resource. Trust his/her judgment on source credibility.source credibility.

Google versus GalileoGoogle versus Galileo ILL and GILILL and GIL

Time CommitmentTime Commitment Research is the most time-Research is the most time-

consuming element of the thesis-consuming element of the thesis-writing process.writing process.

Make sure you pick a topic that will Make sure you pick a topic that will keep you interested.keep you interested.

Writing the ThesisWriting the Thesis

Key to Success: Do not procrastinate!Key to Success: Do not procrastinate!

Organizing Your IdeasOrganizing Your Ideas The Dr. Hunt MethodThe Dr. Hunt Method

Group information according to major Group information according to major and minor topics.and minor topics.

Use this grouping to form an outline.Use this grouping to form an outline.Write the easiest section, the next Write the easiest section, the next

easiest, etc.easiest, etc.More research may be necessary to fill More research may be necessary to fill

in gaps.in gaps.

Remembering Your Remembering Your AudienceAudience

Who is my audience?Who is my audience?People in your disciplinePeople in your disciplineHelpful Hint: Write to your thesis Helpful Hint: Write to your thesis

advisor.advisor.

Beginning to WriteBeginning to Write

Remember that Remember that the CSU Writing the CSU Writing Center can help Center can help you in all stages you in all stages of your thesis-of your thesis-writing writing experience.experience.

Literature ReviewLiterature ReviewNot all thesis advisors will require Not all thesis advisors will require

you to write a literature review.you to write a literature review.Specifics Vary by discipline.Specifics Vary by discipline.

Literature ReviewLiterature Review What is a literature review?What is a literature review?

Informs your reader of what other Informs your reader of what other people have written regarding your people have written regarding your topictopic

Lets your reader know where your Lets your reader know where your idea fits into the existing scholarly idea fits into the existing scholarly conversationconversation

First section you will writeFirst section you will write

Organizing Your TextOrganizing Your Text May vary from discipline to disciplineMay vary from discipline to discipline Example methodsExample methods

Continuous, running textContinuous, running textHeading and sub-headingsHeading and sub-headings

Consult your thesis advisor.Consult your thesis advisor.

Keeping a Manageable Keeping a Manageable WorkloadWorkload

Be honest with yourself about your Be honest with yourself about your work habits. work habits.

You may want to set artificial You may want to set artificial deadlines with your thesis advisor.deadlines with your thesis advisor.

Divide the bulk of the writing into Divide the bulk of the writing into “small doable projects” (Lipson 26).“small doable projects” (Lipson 26).

Avoiding PlagiarismAvoiding Plagiarism When in doubt, cite!When in doubt, cite! How do I cite?How do I cite?

MLA, APA, Turabian (Chicago), et ceteraMLA, APA, Turabian (Chicago), et ceteraSpeak with your advisor about which Speak with your advisor about which

style is appropriate for your discipline.style is appropriate for your discipline. Why do I cite?Why do I cite?

To protect yourself and your ideasTo protect yourself and your ideasTo protect others and their ideasTo protect others and their ideas

Avoiding PlagiarismAvoiding Plagiarism General GuidelinesGeneral Guidelines

““If you use an author’s exact words, enclose If you use an author’s exact words, enclose them in quotation marks and include a citation them in quotation marks and include a citation [. . .]” (Lipson 47).[. . .]” (Lipson 47).

““If you paraphrase another author, use your If you paraphrase another author, use your own language. Don’t imitate the original. Be own language. Don’t imitate the original. Be sure to include the citation” (47).sure to include the citation” (47).

““If you rely on or report someone else’s ideas, If you rely on or report someone else’s ideas, credit their source, whether you agree with credit their source, whether you agree with them or not” (47). them or not” (47).

Avoiding PlagiarismAvoiding Plagiarism

If you still have If you still have questions about questions about plagiarism or plagiarism or source citation, source citation, check out the check out the “Resources for “Resources for Writers” section of Writers” section of the CSU Writing the CSU Writing Center website.Center website.

Length RequirementsLength Requirements According to the Honors Handbook, According to the Honors Handbook,

“[t]he length of the thesis will vary “[t]he length of the thesis will vary according to the nature of the according to the nature of the discipline [. . .]” (11).discipline [. . .]” (11).Sciences: 25 to 35 pagesSciences: 25 to 35 pagesHumanities, Business, and Social Humanities, Business, and Social

Sciences: Sciences:

40 to 60 pages40 to 60 pages

The Revision ProcessThe Revision Process Editing vs. Revision Editing vs. Revision

Editing focuses on lower-order concerns.Editing focuses on lower-order concerns.Revision focuses on higher-order Revision focuses on higher-order

concerns.concerns. Revision is a cyclical process.Revision is a cyclical process.

The DefenseThe Defense The Purpose of the DefenseThe Purpose of the Defense

Allows you to present and defend your Allows you to present and defend your paper to several faculty memberspaper to several faculty members

Preparation for the graduate school Preparation for the graduate school thesis processthesis process

The DefenseThe Defense Preparing for the DefensePreparing for the Defense

Have your advisor’s approval before the Have your advisor’s approval before the defense.defense.

Anticipate questions that faculty may Anticipate questions that faculty may ask.ask.

Expect to be asked, Expect to be asked, What is your main What is your main argument or main idea?argument or main idea?

Prepare responses to possible criticism.Prepare responses to possible criticism.

One-Semester ThesisOne-Semester Thesis

It is possible!It is possible! Necessitates a tighter scheduleNecessitates a tighter schedule

Condensing a one-year process into one Condensing a one-year process into one semestersemester

Organize your class load accordingly.Organize your class load accordingly. Speak with professors (potential thesis Speak with professors (potential thesis

advisors) in the weeks before the advisors) in the weeks before the semester begins about using work semester begins about using work completed in previous classes to completed in previous classes to jumpstart your thesis. jumpstart your thesis.

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Your support networkYour support networkYour thesis advisor wants to see you Your thesis advisor wants to see you

succeed.succeed.Connect with other students who are Connect with other students who are

writing their theses. writing their theses. Maximize your resources.Maximize your resources.

CSU Writing CenterCSU Writing CenterLibrariesLibraries

Works CitedWorks Cited Works CitedWorks Cited Gibson, Danna. Personal interview. 20 March 2007.Gibson, Danna. Personal interview. 20 March 2007. Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Learner. Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Learner. The Allyn & Bacon The Allyn & Bacon

Guide to Peer TutoringGuide to Peer Tutoring. 2nd ed. . 2nd ed. New York: Longman, 2003.New York: Longman, 2003. Honors HandbookHonors Handbook. CSU Honors Program, June 2004.. CSU Honors Program, June 2004. Hunt, Barbara. Personal interview. 2 March 2007.Hunt, Barbara. Personal interview. 2 March 2007. Lipson, Charles. Lipson, Charles. How to Write a BA Thesis: A How to Write a BA Thesis: A

Practical Guide from Your First Ideas to Practical Guide from Your First Ideas to Your Finished PaperYour Finished Paper. Chicago: The University of . Chicago: The University of

Chicago Press, 2005.Chicago Press, 2005. Young, Shana. Personal interview. 29 January 2007.Young, Shana. Personal interview. 29 January 2007.

This PowerPoint presentation was This PowerPoint presentation was created by Kristin Taylor, Chelsea created by Kristin Taylor, Chelsea Bullock, Kindall Scarborough & Bullock, Kindall Scarborough & Lawrence Moore in partial fulfillment of Lawrence Moore in partial fulfillment of the requirements of ENGL 3256, the requirements of ENGL 3256, Columbus State University’s tutor-Columbus State University’s tutor-training course. It is our goal that this training course. It is our goal that this presentation arms students with the presentation arms students with the information and resources they need to information and resources they need to fulfill the requirements of the Honors fulfill the requirements of the Honors Thesis, while also raising awareness Thesis, while also raising awareness about the valuable services offered to about the valuable services offered to students by the CSU Writing Center.students by the CSU Writing Center.