Honors Theses Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a Senior Thesis?
A. A thesis is an original research project that will contribute to existing research in political science. It poses a clear and concise question. It theorizes as to what the answer to that question might be. It offers evidence to support a conclusion or argument.Q. What are the elements of the thesis?
A. A thesis generally has six components:- a concise and clearly stated research question
- an overview and critique of the relevant scholarly literature
- a statement that answers the "so what" question; in other words, a justification of the import of the research question and a defense of the approach used to answer the question.
- a discussion of the materials/data that will be used to answer the question and a description of the methodology employed
- coherently written chapters that address the research question
- a conclusion that uses the research to answer the research question
Q. How long is a thesis?
A. The length of theses vary, but typically they are 70-100 pages.Q. Is primary research indispensable for an honors thesis?
A. It is not compulsory to include primary sources on your research (e.g. historical archives or participant interviews). Nevertheless, depending on your subject, the use of these sources could greatly enhance your argument and help you achieve a higher level of honors. You and your advisor should determine what sources will be included in the thesis depending on the topic and the feasibility of collecting such data.Q. If I am a double-major, can I write a joint thesis?
A. Yes. Each department must approve the proposed topic.Q. How frequently must I meet with my advisor? How many hours per week must I work on my thesis?
A. There are no fixed standards. However, it is very important to the success of your thesis that you meet regularly with your advisor. Very early on in the advising process you and your advisor should reach an understanding on how often you will meet and on your individual calendar for thesis completion.Q. Can I work with a graduate student as a thesis advisor?
A. No. The department requires students to work with faculty members in their honors theses.Q. Can I write a thesis in one semester?
A. No. The department expects students to work for two semesters on their theses. Students studying abroad in the fall semester of their senior year must consult with the honors director, and agree on a plan of work, in the spring of their junior year.Q. What is Politics 99d, and do I have to take it?
A. Politics 99d as a required course for thesis writers; yes, you have to take it. (And you have to take it both semesters.)This course is intended to assist students with their first-time effort to do serious social science research. The course offers insights into how to formulate a research question, structure a research design, gather data/evidence and organize a thesis.
Politics 99d is structured in the following way: the first four fall sessions will be devoted to basic issues on how to conduct political science research and how to define a research question.
Thesis writers will then be placed into “research clusters” based on the nature of their work (i.e. the subfield within political science that they are pursuing in their thesis). These clusters will each meet once in the fall with the honors program director; these sessions will be devoted to student presentations on their work and group discussion regarding areas for improvement, research strategies, etc. The research clusters will convene independently for at least one meeting in the spring.
Q. What is Politics 100b, and do I have to take it?
A. Politics 100b is a course on research methods and modes of analysis in political science. While it is not currently required, it is strongly recommended that all students who are interested in writing a thesis take the course.This goal of this course is to provide you with an introduction to the methods that political scientists use to answer questions about politics. Students in the course will examine the general framework for pursuing scholarly questions in political science as well as explore specific applications of methods employed in political science research. Students should emerge from the course better-equipped to undertake your own research and better able to evaluate the work of others.