Thesis Support

The Writing Center offers a variety of resources for Wesleyan seniors working on a thesis, regardless of topic or department. In an effort to add to the support available for thesis writers, we have expanded our events and programs. All services are, of course, free. We look forward to working with you!

 

Weekly Write-Ins

Write your thesis in only two hours a week! It’s true. These low-stakes meetings are a great way to build accountability, consistency, and community during the thesis writing process. Write in community with other thesis writers, and find some connection during the semester. Weekly write-ins will begin February 21st on Wednesdays from 8-10pm in Boger 112 and 114.

 

Thesis Writing Retreats

Thesis Writing Retreats provide thesis writers time and space to work on their projects alongside other writers. The Writing Center provides food, drinks, on-site writing tutors, and rotating workshops to help support thesis writers as they work together. 

During the Fall 2023 semester, the Writing Center will hold retreats on the following days:

  • October Thesis Writing Retreat, Friday, 10/27 from 12:30-4 in Boger 
  • November Thesis Writing Retreat, Friday, 11/17from 12:30-4 in Downey House Lounge 
  • December Thesis Writing Retreat, Sunday,12/3 from 12:30-4 in Boger.

During the Spring 2024 semester, the Writing Center will hold retreats on the following days:

  • End of Winter Break Retreat, Monday, 1/22 from 12:30-5 in Downey Lounge. RSVP here.
  •  February Writing Retreat, Friday, 2/2 from 12:30-5 in Downey Lounge. RSVP here.
  • Pre-Spring Break Writing Retreat, Friday, 3/1 from 12:30-5 in Downey Lounge. RSVP here.
  • April Writing Retreat, Friday, 4/5 from 12:30-5 in Downey Lounge. RSVP here.
  • Final Push Retreat, Sunday, 4/14 from 12:30-5 in Downey Lounge. RSVP here.

Thesis Mentor Program

Each spring the Writing Center offers a thesis mentoring program in which thesis writers are paired with trained mentors. Each mentor is a veteran writing tutor. Thesis writers and their mentors meet every other week. Mentors can offer writing advice, assist with time management, and help plan or revise thesis chapters. Students paired with a thesis mentor are expected to meet with their mentor at least twice a month (and ideally on a weekly basis) for approximately one hour.

Applications for Spring 2024 are CLOSED. Please check back in December 2024. If you have any questions, please email writingworks@wesleyan.edu.

 

Thesis Writers' Moodle

Join our events remotely, find a community, exchange drafts, and share tips and resources all in our dedicated Moodle! Don't let the thesis process become more difficult or lonely than it needs to be. You can find the moodle in the "Community Moodle" bucket. 

 

Resources for Thesis Writers 

As you plan your project:

  • Blank Monthly Calendars - Break up your project and set smaller deadlines.
  • Blank Weekly Calendar - Feel like there's no time to get started? Track how you already spend your time.
  • Daily Planner/ Organizer printable templates
    • Design your own daily planner with your own 
      • with Canva: templates available by subjects/tasks (sign-in with Google for free usage and download)
      • with Creately
  • Managing your writing project with digital tools:

Having trouble getting started?

Strategies for tackling big projects:

  • Mindfulness - Prioritize your body and emotions with some of these ways of incorporating mindfulness into your writing process.
  • The Must-Do Method - Get your priorities straight with these quick steps.
  • Pomodoro Technique - Stop that overwhelmed feeling from taking over by dividing your time and interspersing breaks.
  • Batchotasking - Monotasking and batching are a great team.
  • Lists and project management - Which type of list is right for you?

Citations and note-taking software:

  • Zotero - Organize your resources and get citations instantly.
  • Evernote - Save all sorts of web sources and also make to-do lists.

The basics of citations and style:

To hear about other writers' projects:

Using all of your languages when writing:

 

Check out some words of wisdom from past thesis writers:

(Find more advice scattered through the guides on this page!)

During drop-add, consider adding a course that’s tangentially related to your thesis topic. It can help you look at your thesis through a different lens, and you might find some fantastic sources you can use in your thesis.
-Former thesis writer, class of 2018

 

I wrote my thesis in Anthropology and German Studies. A significant portion of it was ethnographic. In the humanities, as well as the more qualitative social studies fields like anthropology, the thinking that you do happens through writing, not beforehand. A lot of people spend a large portion of their thesis year planning what they are going to write about. My strategy was just to keep writing, and it was through the process of writing that I finally landed on what ended up being my central argument in my thesis.

-Anna Apostolidis, class of 2019, Anthropology & German Studies

 

If conducting an experiment, take advantage of any time you spend waiting to do writing. Write what you can when you can. While waiting on IRB approval, I wrote my introduction and methods. When I got my data, I just had to write results and a discussion. My thesis was done about a month early!

-Katie Vasquez, class of 2020, High Honors in Psychology