Looking Ahead: The Thesis

Choosing a Topic
The choice of a thesis topic can be the most stressful part of the thesis process. You will spend the next several years studying this subject, and it can serve as an entrance into your field of scholarship. For most students, there is no perfect topic, but a number of ideas that meet both their needs and interests and those of the faculty. Here are some practical thoughts to keep in mind when making your choice.

1. Be original. Originality is the primary characteristic of the thesis. This can mean examining material which has never been studied before or interpreting well-known material in an innovative manner. Building upon the work of others can lead to new areas, while providing a firm foundation on past scholarship.
2. Like it. Your topic must have both professional and personal merit. If you do not find your own topic or the work involved in it interesting, choose something else.
3. Avoid fads. Keep a clear-headed perspective of your field and be wary of trendy topics, because work done in such areas is often seen as dated as soon as it is finished...if not before. Discuss your interests with your advisor, members of your thesis committee, and other colleagues in your field. Temper your enthusiasm with a sound knowledge of movements in the field and its job markets.
4. Stay focused. Make sure your thesis project can be achieved within a reasonable period. If there are many related questions you would like to ask, consider picking one of them for your dissertation and pursuing the rest of them later in your career. The thesis is not the be all, end all of your life?s work; your definitive production may come later in your career.
5. Be flexible. It is not always possible to do what you set out to do initially, and dissertations rarely turn out exactly as planned. The data may not lead you in the direction you expected, but, rather, down other, more interesting or challenging avenues.

Writing the Thesis
Graduate school alumni recommend thinking of the thesis not as a whole but as individual chapters designating manageable parts that can be more easily completed. They also suggest structuring the writing time, including breaks, a regular working place, and personal time limits. If you need substantial, external deadlines, offer to present a chapter of your thesis at a departmental or national conference.

Start writing as early as possible. The earlier you get things down on paper, the easier it will be to direct your thoughts and reading. It is almost always easier to revise and extend what you have already written, than to try to work everything out from the start.

Graduates suggest taking full advantage of meetings with your dissertation advisor, preparing a list of important questions in advance and taking notes on what you discuss. If you feel stuck on something, use the meeting to discuss your ideas, and get a jump-start on writing.

Don't forget to ask fellow students to serve as informal advisors and readers. An outside reader may be able to detect gaps or problems before your advisor reads the draft. They are often good critics and pay careful attention to the details of your work. If you can, find someone who shares your interests to read drafts.

Dissertation Writers' Seminar
Harvard's Expository Writing Program offers a one-semester seminar specifically designed for Humanities and Social Science graduate students at the early and middle phases of dissertation planning and writing. This weekly two-hour seminar meets in a small group to discuss such issues as writing an effective prospectus, organizing research, generating text, avoiding writer's block, and adapting the dissertation for publication. The seminar also provides a forum for presentation of and feedback on work in progress. Beginning in late September, this non-credit class runs for thirteen weeks. This year, the seminar meets on Tuesdays, 4-6pm. Those interested should look for the application form found in their registration packets.