Students will be guided through the process of writing their MA thesis through group discussions in a thesis seminar and regular individual meetings with their thesis supervisor.
In the first semester we will meet three or four times in a seminar setting to discuss research databases such as the MLA bibliography, America: History and Life, and the Lexis-Nexis Congressional Database as well as research methods, possible thesis topics, narrowing down topics, and thesis planning and supervision.
In the second semester, there will also be about three seminar meetings to discuss how to write a thesis outline, productive thesis statements, introductions and conclusions, etc. as well as individual chapters by students.
Once students have chosen a thesis supervisor, regular individual meetings will be scheduled to discuss progress and provide feedback on written chapters.