Approximately 200 people-or nearly one-third of the senior class-wrote (or danced, drew, painted, etc.) a thesis this year. Most received Honors for their work; some got High Honors, and two standouts got the prestigious (but controversial) University Honors. And as most of these people will tell you, writing a thesis can be a wonderful bonding experience. When two previously unacquainted thesis-writers discover each other, there is usually an instant connection. Both tacitly understand the pain, the hardships, the frustration of pushing through a year-long project in a way that no other peers can. And especially in the last few weeks, the thesis-writing community draws even closer together to help alleviate the stress and anxiety of final proofreads and printings. In all, it is an exhilarating experience. However, anyone planning to write a senior thesis (or already committed to the project) must be aware of the immense amount of work it entails. Otherwise, senior year can become a nightmare of missed deadlines, arguments with tutors, and in general an awful last semester of college. I personally saw this happen to a few good people, and it is a fate I would not wish upon my worst enemies. I hit my own share of roadbumps in the process of my thesis, and that in spite of a good deal more preparation than many of my fellow thesis-writers. Therefore, I have decided to offer a few general pointers and suggestions on writing theses; some of these I tried myself, others I wish I had tried. I hope that they are helpful to those just embarking on this potentially massive journey.  

Tips  

1. Choose your topic earlv - This means preferably in the spring of your junior year, as soon as you have decided to write a thesis. If not then, then over the summer. You will need all seven-and-a-half months of your senior year to read, research, write, and rewrite.  

2. Choose the right topic for you - This sounds obvious, but a lott of people forget it. Ideally, you want something that will be interesting enough to keep your attention for a whole year, but not so close to you that come March you will be an emotional wreck. You do have to hand this in, after all.  

3. Be specific - Initially, the prospect of a year-long (or longer) project opens your mind to so many possibilities you never previously considered. The due date seems so far away, you're ready to tackle anything. However, you will soon find that no matter what you choose, it will become much larger than you intended. So pick something that seems overly specific and don't worry; in no time it will expand before your very eyes.  

4. Find a compatible tutor - This is absolutely crucial. I saw too many cases where students and tutors butted heads throughout the year, and this becomes really problematic as things draw to a close and everyone gets tense. It's like shopping for a car: you want to take it for a test drive, maybe even get your own mechanic to check it out. It's preferable if you've had the professor in a class previously, so you know how he or she works. But regardless, spend as much time with them as possible to get a sense of how you would work together during the year.  

5. Begin research immediately - Again, April 12 may seem far off during the dog days of September, but the days, weeks, and months seem to pass by exponentially faster as the year progresses. Start to use time that you normally would not consider using for academic work (e.g., Saturday and Sunday mornings); often, it seems the mind is more settled at these times.  

6. Get to know the library inside out - however much you detest it in there, you will need it far more than you realize, especially Interlibrary Loan (ILL) - This wonderful service was absolutely indispensable to me and many of my friends throughout the year. While Wesleyan has a large number of journals, they are often missing the one you need. And think about it: you can get virtually any article anywhere in the world, for free, within two weeks, usually shorter. How can you pass that up?   

7. Establish a note-taking system - If I had had a consistent method of gathering information from the beginning, my work would have been infinitely easier. Whatever method works for you, do it and keep doing it. As the amount of material you gather increases, and you have to bring it all together, coherent notes will help a great deal.   

8. Don't throw away anything - Anything.  

9. Set deadlines - This was probably the single most important thing for me. The deadlines that I established with my tutor kept me writing on a regular basis, and turning in chapters even if they weren't done. This makes you feel like you're moving along and progressing, which is essential in keeping up your morale.   

10. Make outlines - Many people I know hate to work from outlines, but after my thesis, I will always swear by them. My outlines were extensive and took days to create, but once they were done I could put them away for a while and not think about them. When it came time to write a chapter, I would pull out an outline, and after a few long (but not stressful) nights in the Computer Center, I would have a finished product. There was nothing better than this feeling.  

11. Make everything relevant - One problem I saw many people having was that they were so close to their theses, they never feel like they had done enough. As you near the end and are panicking that you have not addressed this and that, just read over your thesis over and think, "'What have I said so far?" Then try to continue in a way that most efficiently utilizes. all the previous work you have done.   

12. Refer back constantly - Assuming you don't radically change your topic halfway through (which is not a terrible thing; I saw several people do it and succeed), it is good to keep going back to the original texts/articles that prompted your research. These will help recenter you and remind you of some of the themes that you may have intended to follow at the beginning, but which got lost in the flood of the school year.   

13. Know when to let go - Remember, this is just another paper. A very hig paper, granted, but just another paper. You need to leave it alone at times, maybe for extended periods of time, so that you can regain your perspective and return to it re-energized. And as the end nears, you will have to come to terms with the fact that you are not going to be able to say everything you wanted to say. Accept that, and then write a good, proud conclusion.  

14. Build your bibliography throughout - Whenever you cite something, immediately record the full citation in your bibliography; this way you don't lose any citations, and you're not bogged down at the end, having to write 15 pages of Jones, P. (1977)....   

15. Start writing early - And often. Most tutors want at least the first chapter done by winter break.   

16. Use your friends - Because there is such a mythical status surrounding the Wesleyan Thesis Writer, you will no trouble hitting your friends up to read sections of chapters and give you feedback.  

17. Finish early - Aim to finish at least three weeks before the thesis is due: revisions, proofreading, etc., will take way more time than you think.  

18. Loosen up - Don't get too attached to your topic; be willing to follow things that seem tangential at first, if they are interesting to you. This happened to me and the tangent became a whole chapter of my thesis.  

19. Write well- Remember that even though this is taking you a year to write, other people are going to read it from beginning to end, possibly in one sitting. Stay interested in what you are writing about, which will make it interesting for the reader.  

20. Write simply. Don't use jargon-you'll have enough time to do that if you become a professor. Use good grammar too. There's nothing worse than having to plow through 150 pages of misplaced modifiers, dangling prepositions, and run-on sentences. The Writing Workshop tutors are always there to help.  

21. Share the knowledge - Write up your own list of tips and pass it on.