Writing this thesis was one of the most challenging – and rewarding – experiences from my time here at Indiana University. Unfortunately, the work itself was often more challenging than rewarding throughout the semester, and there were many mistakes I made in the writing process that made it that way. However, with some needed reflection,… Read more »
Advice
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Here you are, probably in your final semesters at IU, finishing up the last of your course work and honors requirements. Now, to complete your thesis. This is the point in your college career when “senioritis” is in full swing, motivation is at an all-time low, and thinking of finishing a thesis may seem like… Read more »
“Oh no, look behind you! It’s a…..THESIS!”
Over the past year, I have written and presented on my very first thesis and here is some helpful advice for those of you who want to give it a whirl! Have a Feasible Question…and A Way to Answer It. When you first start the process of written a thesis, you first must present a… Read more »
Don’t Fall for the Planning Fallacy (Especially with Data Analysis)
Coming into this semester, I had big ambitions for getting my data analysis done early and having plenty of time after I finished that to work on the actual writing. What I did not realize was that projects with large data sets require lots of time spent organizing and cleaning the data in order to… Read more »
5 Little Writers Typing on a PC
Via Flickr We all know the story of the 5 little monkeys who continued to jump on the bed despite repeated warnings from their mother and the doctor. This is the story of the 5 little writers who could have easily avoided some common problems during their thesis writing process and made their life a… Read more »
I’m Rooting for You
Welcome to the final semester of the O’Neill Honors Program! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I’m here to tell you that everything will be okay. I was super behind when I enrolled in the thesis writing course (oops), but I made it through and ended up producing something I’m actually really proud of! Who would’ve thought?… Read more »
Do as I Say, Not as I Do: How (Not) to Write Your Honors Thesis
Congrats on deciding to write your thesis! That gold fourragère will look lovely at commencement (I’m staying optimistic for us May 2021 folks!). Writing a thesis is difficult work for everyone; don’t be your own worst enemy. Let’s learn from my mistakes! Mistake 1: Staying Distracted Embed from Getty Images Put your phone down. Do… Read more »
So You’ve Decided to Write an Honors Research Thesis
So you’ve decided to write an honors research thesis. You’re probably thinking something along the lines of “Oh god, how will this all get done?” or “What if I tank the paper and my grade point is ruined and I can’t graduate and the world explodes?” I’m here to tell you that it will… Read more »
Relationship Advice, Your Thesis, and You
My thesis is 7,480 words long, but it’s really comprised of the different relationships that brought me to this point. Here are some of the relationships I predict will surround your thesis – and what advice about your thesis I’d pull from each. Your Family, Friends, and Mentors: Generating a research question often has much… Read more »
Advice and Encouragement
Hello future CARI student! Although all of this seems very far away, you should know that it is never too early to start thinking about and brainstorming for your topic. A few pieces of advice: Pick a topic, if possible, that you’ve been interested in for a while. If you genuinely enjoy reading about your… Read more »