Advice on Finding a Thesis Adviser - Department of Government ...

thesis writing process involves. The Guide is online at:
http://www.gov.harvard.edu/undergraduate-program/guide-writing-thesis-gov
Tip from Prof. Platt: Writing a thesis involves asking and answering a
question of interest to political scientists. Many theses begin as topics of
interest, not fully-formed questions, so consult with faculty and graduate
students who can help you formulate a question that suits your topic.
As you decide whether or not to write, you should talk with advisers, teaching
fellows, and faculty about your potential thesis ideas. (See the sections below for more
tips on how to approach faculty and teaching fellows). As you think about whether or not
to write, Prof. Domínguez’s advice is important to remember: “Ask yourself: What things
turn you on? What motivates you the most? Who is the person you’ve become?” Is
dedicating a significant portion of your senior year to the thesis something you’re excited
about doing? The senior thesis is a unique opportunity to try your hand at a serious
research project, but undertaking such a project involves a serious time commitment.
You’ll have a lot of other commitments senior year. Think about your
applications to law schools and graduate programs; your interviewing at OCS; and your
leadership responsibilities on campus. Will you have time, or are you willing to make
time, for the thesis? Writing a thesis takes up blocks of time: will you have these blocks
available, or are you willing to block out time for your thesis, even if it means you might
have to drop other activities or pursuits? Think too about why you want to engage in the
thesis research and writing process. Is it the capstone to your Harvard college career?
Does it fit into your post-graduate plans?
Tip from Prof. Domínguez: it is misleading to talk about a senior thesis,
since you will start serious work on it in the fall of your junior year. Most
of your research should be done by the end of the summer before your
senior year. If you wait to start research until your senior year, it is too
late.
In the spring, the Government Department will host a panel of Government
concentrators (both thesis writers and non-thesis writers) who will talk about their
decision to write. If you are still unsure about whether or not to write, attending this panel
serves as an opportunity to discuss your plans.
2. Questions: How do I choose a thesis topic / question? What does a
senior thesis look like?
The most important part of the thesis process is coming up with the “right”
question. You have much leeway in finding the right question, but it should be (1)
something you really want to know about (a point emphasized by Professor Dominguez),
(2) answerable, and (3) in accord with scholarly principles in political science (a point
Professor Platt tried to reinforce). Because political science includes many diverse types
of scholarship, your question will look quite different depending on whether you’re
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