By: Darci Walton
So what’s it gonna be? As a freshman (and even sophomore) the most terrifying word for me to hear was “thesis.” The idea of a thesis sounded like something fancy academics wrote by candlelight while sipping tea in an office overrun by beautifully bound books. I was merely an undergraduate student who dined on Ramen noodles more than I’d like to admit. As a history major with an anthropology minor, I felt like I had an entire world of potential topics at my fingertips. Overwhelmed was an understatement.
My main historical interests include World War II, popular culture and media, the medieval period and religious history, which are all great areas, but I could only pick one – and then would have to narrow the field down even further to a specific topic. I heavily considered investigating World War II propaganda and its effects on the general populace, but something in me was always tugging my academic ventures back to medieval and religious history. I also wanted to use my Spanish minor in my research to further justify planning a semester abroad in Spain. I loved everything and loved all of my professors, which was the best problem to have. When I finally committed myself to researching 12th century Spanish female monasticism it was one of the most serendipitous and relieving feelings. Here are some tips that I followed that may help you navigate your way to your dream topic.
- Talk to professors.
If anyone knows how to tackle a thesis, it’s someone who has written a dissertation. Whenever you head into a meeting, enter with the mindset that no meeting is a bad meeting. There is always something you can learn or take away from a conversation. The more you talk to faculty, the more ideas will flow – moving you closer to identifying your topic. Also, some professors have been immersed in their field longer than you have been alive, so they might have an idea for a topic that you have never been exposed to before. If the topic you’re interested in falls outside of a professor’s area of expertise, they will recommend one of their colleagues for you to talk to. Professors want to help you, so take advantage of that!
- Look at the courses you’ve taken.
Is there a class you loved but wished it went more in depth on a certain aspect? Boom. Potential thesis topic. Noticed a source you used seemed a little outdated? Boom. Potential for new or updated research. Just really loved a class? Boom. Potential research area. For me, my thesis topic came out of a study abroad trip. For the Honors Passport: Pilgrimage intersession course, Dean Coon and Dr. Kim Sexton assigned me a monastery in northern Spain to research and present on site. Las Huelgas is special because of the women that have been running it for over 800 years. The abbesses and nuns expanded the power of female monasticism by hearing confession, granting absolution and standing up the Pope whenever they felt a papal bull was unjust. The monastery also has an intriguing relationship to the crown, as many of its abbesses from the 13th to 17th centuries were daughters of the monarchs. I quickly fell in love with the abbey and knew an on-site presentation would not suffice nor satisfy my curiosity. Upon returning to the States I met with Dean Coon and asked how I could turn my 15-minute presentation into my honors thesis. View my presentation at the monastery!
- Read Read Read!
You have to do research on your research. Before committing to a topic, take a look at the sources available, what has recently been published and what you feel is missing. Ask yourself if there are enough sources to make your research feasible. Of course, you don’t have to read entire works at this point. Reading abstracts, book reviews on JSTOR and introduction chapters usually give you a pretty good sense of what the source is about and if it would be useful for your potential project. If you can’t find any sources, there is a chance you need to refocus your thesis. Better to find out sooner than later! The real reading will come after your topic is chosen.
- Step back and take a break.
You can’t force a project like this into existence. Stressing about stressing is never productive, so take a step back and let your fundamental interests guide you. Go outside and take a walk, watch an episode of your favorite TV show (for me it’s the Great British Bake Off), get some ice cream. While on Pilgrimage, I promised myself I would not think about the impending Form A deadline, when Fulbright students finalize their thesis director and project proposal. Rather, I enjoyed my two weeks in Europe and without realizing it, I had made a decision to pursue a topic related to medieval European history. I was so enamored with all the medieval stories, art and architecture around me I never wanted to leave it, so I didn’t. My thesis now centers on 12th-century Spanish nuns. Remember, you’re an undergrad. You don’t have to save the world overnight with a weighty or mind-blowing thesis topic!
- It never hurts to ask!
One of the best pieces of advice Dean Coon has given me is to “make them say no.” I honestly think about that quote every day; it is her “yolo,” if you will. “Make them say no” was the mentality I used when I nervously asked Dr. John Treat and Dr. Lora Walsh to be members of my thesis committee. Dr. Treat spent three years in a Cistercian monastery, and his expertise on the order serves as an asset to my project. Dr. Walsh’s knowledge of religious studies, especially feminist theology, and her mastery of Latin have been a great help to my thesis as well. After one meeting with Dr. Walsh she was kind enough to translate a fifth-century Latin prayer for me. My committee helps to fill in the gaps of my undergraduate scholarship. As cliché as it is, it never hurts to ask – the worst they can do is say no.
Even after I had my topic and my advisor, I was still totally lost on how to actually tackle a thesis. During my first meeting with Dean Coon, I asked, “so what do I do?” We first compared semester schedules and set biweekly meetings. She then provided me a Ph.D. dissertation on my subject so I could have a general overview and comb through the bibliography. From that first meeting, Dean Coon has graciously guided me every step of the way. Over the last two years we have built such a trusting relationship that I have never felt embarrassed or dumb asking her a question. Remember, you’re an undergrad working on your first thesis project – you’re not supposed to have all the answers.
Good luck, you’ve got this!