Writing Resources

Senior Thesis Information & Support

Handouts and Links:

 

Mini-Course on Research Methods, Fall 2009:
Check out this 8-week mini-course for sophomores, juniors, and seniors preparing to write a Senior Thesis! Research for Success: Using the Library for Thesis and Capstone Projects, Fall 2009.

 

Professors share research tips: Podcast
Listen to Tufts professors offer suggestions to students writing a senior honors thesis. Interviewed are Dr. Jeanne Penvenne (history), Dr. Calvin (Chip) Gidney (child development) and Dr. Michael Reed (biology). Dr Jean Herbert (academic dean) moderates. (1 hr, 3 min.) http://www.library.tufts.edu/tisch/tischTalks.html
Scroll down to find this October 2008 podcast on the Tisch Talks web page.

 

Senior Thesis Support::
The Writing Center staff provides tutoring, mentoring, workshops, materials, and one-on-one support for seniors writing the Honors Thesis or other major independent projects.

  • Writing Consultants: Senior thesis writers have the opportunity to consult with graduate student writing tutors for feedback about ideas, writing style, chapter outline, documentation of sources, and presentation at conferences or the defense. To request a writing consultant, contact Leif Eckstrom.
     
  • Speaking Consultants: If you plan to present your senior thesis research at a conference or if you would like to practice for your thesis defense, consider meeting with a Speaking Consultant. Our Speaking Consultants are graduate students in the Drama Department and they have experience teaching acting and public speaking skills. They can help you prepare your presentation, polish your delivery, and overcome stage fright. For more information, see our web page or contact Helen Lewis.
     
  • Humanities Thesis Exchange: This support group for seniors writing a thesis in the humanities provides a low-pressure, low-stress environment for students to join together to share ideas, questions, and concerns about their senior theses.  Led by Graduate Writing Consultants, the Humanities Thesis Exchange meets regularly throughout the fall and spring semesters to discuss issues unique to senior thesis research in the humanities (being "original," incorporating theory, finding your voice, setting an appropriate tone, structuring a non-empirical analytical thesis, and managing a long manuscript) as well as issues common to all senior thesis writers (time management, perfectionism, working effectively with multiple faculty advisors, and preparing for the thesis defense).  Any student writing a senior thesis that focuses on literature, language, film, media studies, visual studies, narrative, critical theory, cultural studies, or the arts is welcome to join, as are seniors from the following majors: Archaeology, Architectural Studies, Art History, Asian Studies, Chinese, Classics, Drama, English, French, German, Greek, History, ILVS, Italian Studies, Japanese, Judaic Studies, Latin, Latin American Studies, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, Spanish, and Women's Studies.  For more information, contact Laurel Hankins.
     
  • Attention:

    If your senior thesis involves interviews, surveys, or the use of human subjects for social, behavioral, educational, or medical research, you will need prior approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) before you may proceed with your research.

  • The IRB “reviews all human subject research protocols to determine if they are assuring adequate protection of human participants.” These protocols apply to student research and may apply to interviews conducted in the United States or abroad, especially those involving vulnerable populations (such as children and refugees). If you think your research may fall into this category, talk to your faculty advisor or department chair, or call the IRB office for more information: 627-3417. Visit the IRB web site.

 

Questions about the Senior Thesis? Trouble with your committee? Plagued by procrastination or poor time management? Contact Carmen.Lowe@tufts.edu

 

New for 2009!  Electronic submission of Honors Theses to Archives!
You may now submit your Senior Honors Thesis in digital form to Tufts Digital Collections and Archives.  Go to this web site for more information on how to upload your completed thesis manuscript:
https://dca.lib.tufts.edu/submissions/.  Once uploaded, your Honors Thesis will be searchable and viewable through the Digital Collections and Archives web site.

 

Senior Thesis Guidelines by Major Department:
Check your department’s policies on thesis honors and deadlines for thesis proposals.

If your major or department is not listed above, contact the department chair or department administrator to see if there is a handout available or other departmental sources of information about the Senior Honors Thesis for your major.

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