HIST UN3838

Professor Piccato helped guide us through the process of writing a thesis.

This is the first seminar of the year long senior thesis seminar. Earlier on we talked about the research process and the writing process, but later on we are increasingly working collaboratively to help each other refine our writing and research.

Organization of senior thesis, planning and methodology, research methods.

I am learning a lot about how to do independent research.

how to write a history paper in depth, how to handle criticism

I learned everything in this course. I don't think my experience as a history major would feel complete without it: Balancing secondary and primary source research and analysis. Brainstorming. Writing. Exploring intellectual curiosities. Literature reviews. Identifying gaps and strengths and weaknesses in current scholarship. Applying theory and different methodologies to the study of history. Providing meaningful and helpful feedback to peers. Research.

aspects of a longer research thesis project: prospectus, chapter drafting, thinking about evidence, etc.

I got much better at reading history and writing it. I learned how to effectively peer edit, which is something I haven't had to do for other classes.

Professor Ngai was incredible in terms of preparing me to write my thesis. She really engaged the class and set realistic objectives.

Approaching the genre of a senior thesis; structuring and organizing thesis research; citations; writing style; and we all wrote a first "chunk" of our theses as well as a prospectus laying out the thesis project.