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Writing Resources
Senior Thesis Information & Support
Scroll down the page to see handouts
on various steps of the process, links to research
resources and department guidelines, and information on support from the
ARC, including writing groups, consultants, and more!
Handouts
Getting Started:
Researching, Documenting, Writing:
The Defense and Beyond:
For Advisors:
Courses on Research
Methods, Fall 2011:
Research for Success: Using the Library for Thesis and
Capstone Projects (this is an 8-week mini-course for
sophomores, juniors, and seniors preparing to write a
Senior Thesis)
UEP 0294-06: Qualitative Skills for
Planning and Public Policy (this is a full-credit course
on qualitative research skills. Seniors writing a thesis
are invited to enroll but need consent; email:
justin.hollander@tufts.edu)
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
Molly Wilder at
Molly.Wilder@tufts.edu.
- 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 make an appointment through
Tutor Finder
- 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
Caroline Gelmi at
Caroline.Gelmi@tufts.edu.
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 website.
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.
Electronic submission of Honors
Theses to Archives!
Most departments now prefer that you
submit
the final version of your Senior
Honors Thesis in digital form to
Tufts Digital
Collections and Archives. Click on the link for more
information about how to submit the thesis. Once
uploaded, your Honors Thesis will be searchable and
viewable through the website at
http://dl.tufts.edu/view_text.jsp?pid=tufts:UA069.001.DO.UA005.
Questions about the Senior Thesis? Trouble with your
committee? Plagued by procrastination or poor time
management? Contact
Kristina Aikens at
Kristina.Aikens@tufts.edu.
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