Synopses & Reviews
The senior thesis is the capstone of a college education, but writing one can be a daunting prospect. Students need to choose their own topic and select the right adviser. Then they need to work steadily for several months as they research, write, and manage a major independent project. Now there's a mentor to help.
How to Write a BA Thesis is a practical, friendly guide written by Charles Lipson, an experienced professor who has guided hundreds of students through the thesis-writing process.
This book offers step-by-step advice on how to turn a vague idea into a clearly defined proposal, then a draft paper, and, ultimately, a polished thesis. Lipson also tackles issues beyond the classroom-from good work habits to coping with personal problems that interfere with research and writing.
Filled with examples and easy-to-use highlighted tips, the book also includes handy time schedules that show when to begin various tasks and how much time to spend on each. Convenient checklists remind students which steps need special attention, and a detailed appendix, filled with examples, shows how to use the three main citation systems in the humanities and social sciences: MLA, APA, and Chicago.
How to Write a BA Thesis will help students work more comfortably and effectively-on their own and with their advisers. Its clear guidelines and sensible advice make it the perfect text for thesis workshops. Students and their advisers will refer again and again to this invaluable resource. From choosing a topic to preparing the final paper, How to Write a BA Thesis helps students turn a daunting prospect into a remarkable achievement.
Synopsis
Charles Lipson provides undergraduates step-by-step advice on how to turn a vague idea into a clearly defined proposal, then a draft paper, and, ultimately, a final thesis.
About the Author
Charles Lipsonis professor and director of undergraduate studies in political science at the University of Chicago. He is the author of Doing Honest Work in College: How to Prepare Citations, Avoid Plagiarism, and Achieve Real Academic Success, as well as How to Write a BA Thesis and Cite Right, all published by the University of Chicago Press.
Table of Contents
I. GETTING STARTED
and#160;
How to Read This Bookand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
1and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Introductionand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
2and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Useful Nuts and Boltsand#160;and#160;
and#160;
II. FRAMING YOUR TOPIC
3and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Taking Effective Notes and Avoiding Plagiarismand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
4and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Refining Your Topic, Writing a Proposal, and Beginning Researchand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;
III. CONDUCTING YOUR RESEARCH
5and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; What Is Good Thesis Research?and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
6and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Using Case Studies Effectivelyand#160;
7and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Every Thesis Should Have a Thesisand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;
IV. WRITING YOUR BEST
8and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Planning and Prewriting: How Do They Help Your Thesis?and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
9and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Writing Your Bestand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
10and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Effective Openings, Smooth Transitions, and Strong Closingsand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
11and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Good Editing Makes Good Writingand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
12and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Presenting Information Visuallyand#160;
and#160;
V. WORKING YOUR BEST
13and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Working Efficientlyand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
14and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Overcoming Problemsand#160;
and#160;
VI. SCHEDULING AND COMPLETING YOUR THESIS
15and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Thesis Time Scheduleand#160;and#160;
16and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Tips and Remindersand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
17and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Frequently Asked Questionsand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
18and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; What to Do When Youand#8217;re All Doneand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;
VII. DEALING WITH SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
19and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Thesis Defense and Second Readers: Questions and Answersand#160;and#160;
20and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; A One-Semester Thesisand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
and#160;
VIII. CITING YOUR SOURCES AND GETTING MORE ADVICE