Since last semester, I’ve committed myself to completing an honors research project. This two-semester project allows seniors to complete research alongside an advisor on a topic of their choosing. I completed my honors thesis in history, writing extensively about a 1970s radical feminist organization by and for women of color called the Third World Women’s Alliance (TWWA). I worked with Dr. Richard Anderson of the history department, who helped me through every chapter and every step of the process.
I can’t overstress how much my project has taught me so much about myself as a student and scholar. That’s not to say that I didn’t think I could commit to such a colossal amount of research and writing, but I was astonished by how I stuck through it until the very end.
Whenever underclassmen inquire about doing an honors thesis, I am quick to say, “Do it! It’s so rewarding!” And it is! The more I wrote, the more I fell in love with my topic. As much as I recommend students doing an honors thesis or a similar research project, there are some do’s and don’ts when committing to a project of your choice.
Do find a designated place to get writing done.
Believe it or not, this was something I struggled with when I was first writing up my thesis. For me, at least, I needed to find one special place that would help me get into the mood for writing and where I wouldn’t bump into anyone. That place was the Easton-Palmer Public Library! I’m a commuter, so it was much more convenient for me to go to my local library than drive 20 minutes to campus to try and find a spot on campus to write.
Even though this library isn’t your typical “quiet” library, it was the only place where I knew I could get writing done. It had cozy alcoves where I could just study and have a scenic view. It was also fairly spacious, so I didn’t feel overwhelmed by a bunch of bookshelves. If you can, find a place that is secluded enough where you won’t be interrupted, and you can just be with yourself and your research.
Do create a regular schedule for research.
When completing an honors thesis, it can be easy to get sidetracked, especially when you have other classes. A common struggle for me was finding the right times to do my research when I had to keep up with assignments for other classes.
I started creating a weekly schedule of what tasks I needed to complete and notes from my advisor just to keep myself accountable. I didn’t always get the weekly tasks completely in a timely manner but I kept myself on track by focusing on the small-scale aspect of my paper. Whether you keep a Google doc like I did or a spreadsheet, I encourage you to start every week with plans for your research and have consistent days for writing.
Do present your research/practice by talking about it to others!
This is, in my opinion, one of the more rewarding aspects of completing an honors thesis: getting to gush about your work! Once you complete your research, you’ll have ample opportunities to flex your research skills and just talk about the work you’ve done. I always got a kick out of telling friends or family fun facts about the TWWA and fixating on what I found through archival materials and newspaper articles.
I highly recommend finding opportunities to talk about your discoveries with others, whether it’s poster presentations at Reeves Library or presenting your work at Scholars’ Day. Not only do you get to spotlight your incredible hard work, but you also get to practice actually talking about and analyzing your research! Trust me, this is extremely useful when you ultimately have to do an oral examination for your project.
Don’t force yourself to write/do work.
There will be days when you will hit roadblocks with your research. You won’t always feel that spark to write, and that’s okay. Just don’t force yourself to write. I had to learn not to be hard on myself when it came to writing. I would always feel pressed for time and guilty if I skipped a day or two of research and writing. In retrospect, I’m glad that I didn’t force myself to write when I didn’t have it in me.
When it comes to your work, you want to produce something that reflects your dedication and passion for your subject. Forcing yourself to write just makes your project feel like a chore rather than something you are genuinely interested in.
Don’t procrastinate on your research.
While I mentioned not forcing yourself to write, you also shouldn’t procrastinate on your work either. Writing an honors thesis requires an overwhelming amount of time, believe it or not, so save yourself the stress by trying not to put off your work until it’s too late.
I’ve known people who started and completed their projects the week they were due … personally, I would’ve lost my mind completely trying to do 50+ pages in the span of a week.
Don’t give up on your topic – transform it!
I’m someone who didn’t know what I wanted to write about until halfway through the first semester of my honors. During the beginning phases of research, I sometimes lost motivation on my topic and questioned whether I could write something good enough to pass with honors.
Looking back, that was destructive thinking, and I’m glad that I gave my project another chance. I didn’t completely scrap my original plans for the project, but instead, I tweaked them. I narrowed my focus to one feminist organization that had an abundance of archival and digital documentation and an entire biography written by one of its members. I made the necessary steps to transform my topic into one that I was passionate about and one that would change my outlook on my research. Don’t be quick to give up on your topic. You may just need to find uncharted territory within it to find something truly worth writing about!
