Identifying a Senior Thesis Topic

Choosing a topic can look like a difficult and daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Take it slowly and thoughtfully, and you won't have a problem. Remember, your advisor is good resource at any stage of the process.

Choosing a Subject Area

No matter what your major is, the choice of topics can be overwhelming. Here are a few questions to help prompt some ideas.

• Did you have a favorite class? What did you like about the material?
• Is there a subject area that interests you, but you didn't take a class in?
• Do you have other interests (a minor, maybe) that you could apply to a topic?
• Have you looked at what other students have done?

Narrowing a Topic

Once you've done this, you are ready to come up with some ideas. There are a lot of ways to narrow your topic. This is a creative process; not everyone goes about it the same way, and you might change your mind a few times. These are only suggestions.

• Pick a few interesting topics, ones that might remain interesting to you for a while.
• Read about these subjects. Look for issues that grab or intrigue you.
• Do some light research on these topics. Find out what other people have written about them. Are there any raging controversies?
• Write a page, just for yourself, to see if you can articulate some of your ideas.
• Have an intelligent discussion with your advisor.
• Try to write a single sentence that states your central problem or idea. If you can't, you might need to refocus your efforts.

Senior Thesis Resources

Many colleges offer senior or honors thesis options. Some of these colleges offer tools to assist in the process. And while the thesis process is arranged as a step-by-step process, it usually never is. There's no formula to the thesis, but these tools will help you with organization and structure

Writing a Research Paper (Purdue University)

From Purdue's Online Writing Lab ("OWL"). You've probably written papers where a "great idea" turns bad when put to the test. This site helps guard against last-minute disasters. It analyzes every step of the process and helps you to be just as rigorous with your own approach. It doesn't mention the thesis per se, but what's a senior thesis but a glorified research paper? It provides plenty of help with brainstorming, outlines, paragraph construction, and other organizational issues. Many many links as well.

How to Plan and Manage your Senior Thesis (Wisconsin University)

A guide from the WU student handbook

20 Tips for Senior Thesis Writers (Harvard)

A very good guide to the thesis writing process. It articulates many of the questions and issues involved in a thesis. The guide also provides a framework, in worksheet form, for structuring your thesis.

Senior Thesis Guide (Middlebury College)

Middlebury is a small liberal arts college, much like Maryville.

eHow to Choose a Topic for a Senior Thesis

This site is interesting mostly as an example of other online resources. You can find tips on how to do pretty much anything. There is also a page on how to Write a Research Paper and how to Finish a Senior Thesis on Time.

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This page created by Christopher Ryland 25 August 2000. Last updated 28 July 2002.