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SUGGESTIONS ON WRITING A SENIOR HONORS THESIS

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To avoid mind-muddle of this sort at the drafting phase, you should frame your questions on paper before you begin your research. If you find your questions hard to frame, keep trying until you come up with something you like. If you don't do this your research will meander. A thesis may propose theories; test theories; describe and explain historical events; evaluate (criticize or endorse) past, present, or proposed public policies; assess or prescribe strategies for social groups, movements, or leaders; and other things as well. State clearly what general mission your thesis fulfills. If a previous literature exists on the topic, you should describe that literature: summarize its evolution and main conclusions. Are there different schools of thought? If so, who are the major disputants, and what points of difference lie between them? What mysteries has this literature already unravelled, and which has it left unsolved? If there are important questions which you did not answer, identi

SUGGESTIONS ON WRITING A SENIOR HONORS THESIS Version 2.4 Stephen Van Evera // MIT Political Science Department SUGGESTIONS ON WRITING A SENIOR HONORS THESIS I often make the following suggestions to seniors writing honors theses. I. TOPIC SELECTION Look for a topic that's both feasible and significant. Avoid the impossible, but also remember that this is the only senior thesis you will ever write; don't blow it exploring a minor sidebar to the big story. II. ORGANIZATION A good thesis has a thesis--a main line of argument, or a set of related arguments. If your thesis lacks a thesis, think it

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