Jumpstarting Your Honors Thesis

Scott CoffelHanson CTC Director,

College of Engineering

The X Factor: Confidence “If you think you can’t, or you think you can,

you’re probably right.”—Mark Twain

“Leap, and the net will appear.” —Unknown

Major revision… “Leap into writing your Honors Thesis,

and the net will appear.” —SC

Writing Makes Thinking Happen

“How can I know what I mean until I

see what I say?”

—E.M. Forster

Writers achieve coherence and organization through a process of drafts, feedback, and revision.

There are no shortcuts to a completed thesis.

Brainstorming:Taking Ownership of Your Thesis

Write down at least three to five aspects of your research that your readers need to know.

Can they all be connected? If not, can you minimize or exclude the least important?

Is the story of your research experiences greater than the sum of its parts?

Daily journal entries about your project add up to a tangible collection of starting points and crucial insights.

The Basics Provide background and context for research and/or

experiments. Indicate a gap in current knowledge and state the aim of

your thesis: how your work fits in. Provide a step-by-step record so that peers in your field

can replicate your methods. Assert and discuss the significance of your results. Condense your thesis into an abstract (it appears first but

is written last).

Three Signs of ExcellenceYour thesis— Demonstrates control of your materials

(precise descriptions and insightful analysis).

Is specific but selective (sticks to the major themes of your research).

Conveys a sense of the future (establishes your research as a starting point from which you or others will continue).

Synchronize Your Story

Make sure that your thesis does not contradict your advisor’s view of reality.

Avoid misrepresenting (over-hyping) your achievements: no brag, just facts.

Clarity is All Precise writing establishes your credibility as an engineer.

Therefore…

Scientific writing is a no-ambiguity zone: Ambiguity (defined as “doubtfulness or uncertainty as

regards interpretation”) can often lead to serious misinterpretations.

SummaryWriting a successful thesis is a process that through incubation (the day-to-day growth of your insights), drafts, feedback, and revision— Eliminates extraneous details. Demonstrates your powers of organization and analysis. Fosters self-confidence. Prepares you for the challenges of advanced study.

Thank You

“What is written without effort is read

without pleasure.”Samuel Johnson