After receiving departmental approval to write a senior history thesis, it’s time to conduct intensive research, write the thesis, and ultimately defend it.
Identifying a topic, conducting preliminary research, and drafting a thesis proposal are the first steps toward completing a senior college thesis in history. After the history department approves a proposal of a college essay writer, it’s time for the more intensive researching and thesis-writing to begin. Where to start?
Conducting Research for and Writing the Thesis
Delving into the sources mentioned in the thesis proposal is one way to get research going. Bibliographies in these sources are useful for finding both primary and secondary sources. Taking notes (source and page number included) is essential and will make citing sources later on much easier. Students should establish some sort of filing system (an accordion file or something similar would do) to separate types of sources, notes, drafts of the thesis, et cetera.
There is no set formula for how to go about writing the thesis. Chronological order is one way, division by theme or question is another. Some students choose to write the introduction first, but it may be better to write it last after the project has a clearer definition and the student has reached certain conclusions.
Staying Organized throughout the Thesis-Writing Process
Because a senior thesis is an independent project, it lacks the structure of a regular lecture class or seminar. Here is some additional advice for staying focused while working on a senior thesis:
- Set goals, even if it’s just writing an additional couple of pages and editing existing pages over the weekend.
- Stay in contact with the thesis advisor. A professor will have advice on relevant primary sources and can recommend historians whose work is worth reading/skimming.
- For students who need a bit of structure to the thesis-writing process, a professor can also help establish a timeline with deadlines.
- Keep a calendar. Be sure to include all other commitments, so that time can be set aside to conduct research, write, and prepare a presentation.
Defending the Thesis
Some history programs require a student to defend the senior thesis in front of a faculty committee, or as a presentation to an open audience. If defending is a departmental requirement, students should remember that there is limited time available, probably a half-hour slot that includes time for questions.
Because of the time crunch, students should zero in on the project’s central theme: What major questions were addressed? Findings/conclusions? There won’t be room for too many minute details. Students can ask the last minute essay writing service for help with preparation. Address the main points of the thesis, and build off of that until the presentation is an appropriate length. Students should also prepare for possible questions professors and audience members may ask.
A senior thesis in history is a major undertaking that requires a commitment to a particular topic, organization, time management, and confidence in the ability to complete the project and defend the thesis. Though challenging, completing a senior thesis can be a rewarding experience that enables students to develop expertise in a specific field and add valuable independent research experience to a resume or curriculum vitae.