Notre Dame students are known for being hardworking and over-achieving. Double majors run rampant under the Golden Dome. However, being hard working and dedicated does not mean you have to write a thesis to continue considering yourself a stellar student. It may even be better for you if you don’t write one. After going through the process of deciding to write a thesis, writing it, and revising it again and again and again, here’s my advice to all of you juniors and underclassmen who are thinking about writing one. Ask yourself these questions and if it seems like the right fit, write on!
Why do you want to write a thesis?
This is an important thing to ask yourself. Do you want to write a thesis because there’s a really cool topic you’ve always wanted to explore but never had the time? Do you love writing research papers and knowing all about a specific subject? Are you going applying to graduate programs? Would writing a thesis significantly strengthen your resume?
If you answered yes to most of these supplemental questions, a thesis may be a smart plan to pursue. Writing an extended research paper is great experience for any type of graduate program and if you need a writing sample, your thesis could be a very impressive showcase of your best writing.
Passion is an important part of writing a thesis. You’re going to spend a LOT of time on your subject. It’s your job to know what’s being said about it and to contribute something new to the conversation. If you aren’t willing to devote hours to reading, research, writing, and revision, you may want to rethink committing to write a thesis. Make no mistake, it’s a commitment. If you’re planning to work after graduation, a thesis may not be necessary. Make sure you really want to put in the time before you start writing.
Do you have a topic?
While you don’t have to have a topic before you decide to write a thesis, you should at least have a few in mind. Depending on your department, you may have to meet with the Undergraduate Chair about your prospective thesis topic and it’s good to have a few in mind. The next step is picking your topic. Do you fervently love and adore your topic? I’m not asking if you like what you want to write about, I’m asking if you love it. Because if you don’t, writing a thesis may turn out to be one of the most miserable academic experiences of your college career.
Likely you’ve never embarked on a project of this length and because of that, you don’t realize how crucial your topic is. Remember, nothing is off the table and nothing, with the right amount of research, cannot be made scholarly. Originality is important, but so is enjoying the process as much as possible.
I personally chose to write my thesis on genre, choices, and allegory in Harry Potter. And despite the hours I have spent in the library writing, the moments of extreme frustration with authors I didn’t agree with, losing an entire 20 page draft on my thesis (FOR YOUR SANITY USE DROPBOX OR GOOGLE DRIVE OR SOMETHING EQUIVALENT), and more drafts than I care to count, I still have enjoyed writing my thesis, because I know my topic well and I love it! Pick something you already are reasonably familiar with and then go and offer your own insight on that topic.
One last note on topics. Your original topic is probably going to be way too broad and very industrious. Don’t be afraid to hone in on your greatest interest. That will be the research you’ll enjoy doing the most and it will help you produce your best work.
Who are you going to work with?
Do you have a professor who you would like to guide you? Is there someone who works at Notre Dame who specializes in your specific topic? Does your potential advisor sound enthusiastic and supportive of your project? Picking your advisor is as important as picking your topic. They are the person who’s going to pick apart your paper and make it better little by little. You need to trust their guidance, be willing to listen to their advice, and believe in their reassurance.
There are days in thesis writing that suck. Sometimes another author presents a problematic argument, sometimes you just can’t find the information you’re looking for, other days you’ll stare blankly at the screen attempting to craft the perfect thesis statement (I do not believe such a thing exists, but strive for it), and at times you’ll simply be overwhelmed by the amount of reading and other homework you have to do. All of these feelings are natural, but you want an advisor who can reassure you when you’re lost, correct you when you can do better, and bolster you with their enthusiasm.
When I was choosing my advisor, I didn’t know of any professors at Notre Dame who had experience with Harry Potter, so I went to talk to two professors whose classes I had really enjoyed. I distinctly remember walking out of one of the meetings really upset because the professor did not really think I had a topic or a focus. My other thought my topic was incredibly innovative and exciting. She is currently my thesis advisor and even though she still hasn’t read the series, her feedback has been invaluable. Don’t be afraid to choose an advisor with a slightly different specialty than your topic, then can offer helpful outside perspectives.
Do you have time?
This is the mother of all questions: Do you actually have time to write an extended research paper? If the answer is maybe or not really, don’t do it. Unlike normal classes, you don’t have thesis work due regularly, this means it falls on you to motivate yourself to get it done on a reasonable time schedule. Procrastinating your thesis (we’ve ALL done it), never ends well. So make sure you have time to complete your homework, applications, interviews, articles for campus media, dorm responsibilities…you name it…and write your thesis.
If you genuinely don’t have time, don’t stress yourself out like that. Also, don’t forget about football season and your social life, you’re going to want to participate in both of those!
Do you actually want to write a thesis?
Hopefully, I haven’t scared you off. But you really need to ask yourself these questions. If you don’t want to write a thesis, but feel like you should, don’t! Write a thesis because you’re passionate about something. Write a thesis because you need to or you want to, but don’t write one because you feel like it would look nice on your resume.
If you’re willing to put in the time and can commit yourself to it, do it! But theses are not the time to be overachieving Notre Dame students, they are the time to show how much you love what you do. If your motivation is anything less than excitement, passion, and originality, do yourself a favor and don’t write a thesis! But if hours of digging through obscure books, data, google results and old pages sounds like your idea of fun, write on!