Hello fellow honors thesis writers. How strange to be on the advice giving end, and not the receiving end…
First of all, if you are taking the time to read advice, you are on the great path to excellence! Keep pushing and it will pay off!
My first bit of advice lies in that of connections. Connections will make this process so much smoother. Not only will these connections help you not feel alone, but also help others learn along the way. It is easy to experience burnout and utilizing the people around you will bring your thesis to new heights. I will portray this in a 5 part checklist to creating strong connections:
1. Honors Advisor
First stop on this journey is creating a strong relationship with your thesis advisor early on. My advisor, Professor Hughes, and I prioritized weekly updates. Whether this was in person or via and email, I made sure to update her every week. Many times this was a VERY messy outline or ROUGH draft. She was the most important connection along my journey.
2. Mid-Semester Reviewer
My mid-semester reviewer was the angel I needed. This connection was an unexpected one that came halfway through the semester. I used this connection to not only be an ally when it came to giving honest feedback, but I also used this person when it came down to final presentations. The week leading up to the final presentation, my advisor and my mid-semester reviewer sat in room 167 as I ran through my presentation over and over AND OVER again until I felt confident. He was also open to a quick phone call when Professor Hughes was teaching or busy. Having a roster of connections is key!
3. A classmate
Professor Baggetta sets up writing groups with our classmates to ensure we hold each other accountable. Making these connections helped me stay on top of my work. I wanted to come to class with positive energy to contribute to my team members. This not only helped with staying accountable, but having connections with classmates also reminded you that you aren’t alone. His experience is a gift so please utilize it!
4. Professor Baggetta
Before I got the ball rolling, I ensured to touch base with Professor Baggetta to ensure I was on the right path. Although your advisor is the one grading your manuscript, Professor Baggetta is an essential recourse. Remember he has read ENDLESS manuscripts and knows the mistakes people commonly make. He has also done research of his own and knows the struggles you may encounter and how to overcome them.
5. An unbiased friend or family member
I utilized my loved ones in many ways. I sent my final manuscript to a family member for final proofreading. I also showed my friends visuals I used on my final presentation to see how easy they were to understand to people who were not familiar with the field. When my final presentations rolled around, I also sent the Zoom link to the friends and family that supported me along the way as many of them saw my temporary moments of insanity.
Abby Bruno is a Senior Studying Human Resource Management. Having worked and studied during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Abby is interested in how the pandemic has affected workers around the world. She will continue to study this relationship after she graduates in December of 2021. She would like to give a special thanks to her advisor Cheryl Hughes and Professor Baggetta, both of the Indiana University O’Neill School, for their guidance, patience, and support with this research.
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