Thesis season is swiftly approaching for Honors juniors; students will begin presenting their theses in just six months, and the pressure seems to increase by the day. Have no fear, however, because Lindsey Lee and our team of Honors advisors are here to provide support—both academic and emotional. Lindsey’s week of Honors Thesis Info Sessions has just concluded and, though they are mandatory only for juniors, her insight may prove useful for freshmen and sophomores who are also waiting in anxious anticipation to start their own theses.
If you are an underclassman, like me, or if you haven’t had the pleasure of taking Lindsey’s Honors Section ENG 201, you may be wondering what the thesis even entails. The Thesis Guidebook very neatly and comprehensively details the entire thesis process, answers any question a student might have, and provides an appendix with resources on writing, research, and maintaining mental health. An Honors student has the choice of conducting primary research, accompanied by a twenty-five-page academic paper, or of producing a creative project, supplemented by a ten- to fifteen-page academic paper on, for example, the historical background of that project (that is, unless they are an English or Film and Screen Studies student, for whom the academic component is not required). A student’s secret third option is taking a class like WGS 499, the curriculum of which incorporates a final capstone research project that, with revision, may double as an honors thesis. A student must find a content advisor within whatever field they choose to explore for their thesis. This person may help in finding sources and in critiquing the accuracy, writing, and grammar of a student’s work. They will also evaluate their advisee’s final product and decide if their thesis passes. On completing their thesis, a student will present their finished product at the fall or spring Pforzheimer Honors College Conference, as a ten-minute presentation, a poster, a showing or reading of a creative work, or as an on-stage production. That’s it! Easy, right?
Just the word count of the Thesis Guidebook—and the previous paragraph—may seem intimidating. Lindsey’s first piece of advice to remember: “You are perfectly capable.” The thesis is a daunting project for many, but it’s important to remember that every Honors alum has made it through. Lindsey is also very well equipped, having nearly seven years of experience as our Honors thesis advisor and having helped over 1,000 students through the thesis process. “If there’s a problem you see,” Lindsey remarks, “odds are I’ve seen it before.” Ask her questions and set up a meeting to talk through any issues. She also strongly encourages juniors or sophomores taking their required ENG 201 course to take its Honors Section. Lindsey’s ENG 201 course is directly dedicated to ideating and writing in preparation for the thesis. You may even submit the final draft of a piece you write in the course! Non-honors ENG 201 courses are only loosely applicable to the thesis—however, the course as a whole is skill-based, not content-based. The skills for research, critical and creative thinking, and writing you will learn in any ENG 201 course will be vital for the formulation of your thesis, regardless of its exact content.
Lindsey also made it clear that your thesis is what you make of it. It can be something revolutionary, starting new research or creating new knowledge. With the amount of time and effort you will likely put into your thesis, Lindsey “[wants] the thesis to be something that is useful and helpful for you and your future—write your thesis about the industry that you hope to go into.” Your thesis, depending on your direction and level of effort, could easily be something you add to your portfolio or resume, something that lands you a job. But it doesn’t have to be. Everyone goes through sometimes unavoidable struggles that, though they may not stem from your educational or professional career, can affect them immensely. As Lindsey says, “You don’t have to try to save the world” if you don’t have the capacity. A simple, straightforward project that still shows your level of writing skill, critical or creative thinking, and advanced education will do just as well in evaluation as one that pioneers new thought. For a wide variety of previous examples of Honors theses, you may flip through some physical copies on the bookshelves of the Honors Lounge, or you may visit Pace’s Digital Commons.
As a final piece of advice, Lindsey hopes that, as part of the honors community, the students preparing for their theses now and in the future will share their pain with each other and support each other, but to make sure not to “poison each other with toxic stress.” When your stress level gets to a six out of ten, go see Lindsey and she’ll tell you, “Don’t work yourself to the bone.” I’d like to thank Lindsey and our Honors advisors for the comprehensive information and unconditional support they provide to their students in times of stress, and to our Honors juniors going through the thesis process: good luck!
Important Links!
Thesis Guidebook:
Thesis Info Session Recordings:
Sands College of Performing Arts (Flora’s Advisees) https://pace.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=c2f4ba47-f14f-49db-b507-b129012bbdcb
Seidenberg (Jackie’s Advisees)
https://pace.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=6e859a7c-7ac1-4c0f-8950-b12a015d69e6
Dyson Science/Dyson History/CHP (Mohini and Bill’s Advisees)
https://pace.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=84dc38f4-848a-41d5-b3c6-b12b012b7036
Dyson Creative/Social Sciences/School of Education (Emma and Justin’s Advisees)
https://pace.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=c82469b7-fb4a-4801-b566-b12c01625a18
Lubin/Dyson Economics (Eli’s Advisees)
https://pace.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=ed2ea08c-af0d-423e-89fa-b12d012e5aa7
Digital Commons: