By Sarah Faulkner

Senior Thesis is the TPA dreaded assignment. A fifteen to twenty page essay sounds horrifying and difficult. However, the key to success is simple and the process is surprisingly easier than it sounds. “Start reading your books during the summer and read them more than once,” says Caroline Burget, “and also write down similar themes you notice.” This makes it easier to have discussions with your group during meetings and figuring out what you want to write about becomes clearer. While you are figuring out a topic that interests you, think about your third book. This will be important to your argument and bring light to  something in your original books that are not obvious at first. Your advisors will also help you with your topic. “Be sure to meet with your advisors – I know it might seem like a drag to do so but they actually have great comments, a deep insight about the texts, and they’re not being advisors for their health, they’re there to help you!” says Miles Serb. The advisors are the ones giving the grade on your paper, so it is extremely important to talk to them and go over your thesis with them on multiple occasions. However, you must be the one to instigate the meeting. Senior Thesis is your responsibility, not theirs.

Reading the books is the easy part – writing is the difficult part. Fifteen pages is a daunting goal and the rough draft is due a couple of weeks after winter break. However, writing a couple of pages a day is not too difficult. Anne Fischer says: “Most importantly, when comes time for your rough draft, put in the work.  Don’t waste your time by writing stuff you have no intention of keeping.  This way, when it’s time for the final draft, its an easier editing process and a lot less stressful. You will only get out of Senior Thesis what you put into it.” Write about what you care about and the words will come naturally. The rough draft does not have to be completely understandable, but it is easier on you in the long run when you make it as good as you possibly can. Your advisors will help you make it better and clearer. Your essay will not be perfect, but it does not have to be. You just have to put in your best effort.

The most terrifying experience, however, seems to be the defense. How do you prepare for it? How hard will the questions be? How brutal are the advisors? You prepare for your defense by knowing your paper and predicting questions. Caroline Burget says, “I went through my entire thesis and asked every question that I could think of, familiarized myself with all of my books, and when I went to other people’s defenses I wrote down the kind of questions they were asked. So those sorts of things are helpful. I don’t think one can simply read their thesis and go into the defense and do well. Preparation is really helpful and beneficial.” Another way is to trade your theses with your friends and ask each other difficult questions. What seems clear to you may be confusing to another person. If you’re extremely nervous in the beginning of your defense, your advisors will make you feel comfortable. As long as you know you’re material, you will do well on your defense. One senior even said after the defense, “It was actually kind of fun.”