Candidates electing Plan A (thesis option) will write a scholarly essay of approximately 60-75 pages on a subject they have chosen in consultation with two faculty members who will serve as their readers. Before enrolling in English 500, each candidate must complete a written prospectus of the thesis.

The prospectus will provide a formal summary of the student's proposed study. More specifically, it will include the following:

• A clear sense of focus and direction for the proposed study. In this sense the student would do well to view the prospectus as an expanded thesis statement. Just as thesis statements offer focus and direction for an essay, the prospectus will provide potential readers with a clear idea of what the student's proposed subject and approach will be.
• A sense of the scope of the thesis. The prospectus will not only introduce readers to the issues at hand and any controversies or debate which may surround the student's topic but also delineate how many chapters the study will include and what material will be covered in those chapters.
• A critical overview of secondary materials pertinent to the writer's subject. The number of secondary sources will vary with each project; in the case of a heavily researched writer, Shakespeare or James Joyce, for instance, the student would be expected to refer to major studies or only those studies which bear directly on his or her particular approach. In the case of a figure for whom resources are limited, the student would be expected to demonstrate a familiarity with all or most of the sources.
• A bibliography of primary and secondary sources the writer has consulted. This bibliography must follow the format prescribed in the current edition of the MLA Handbook, copies of which are available in the bookstore.

With some revision, the prospectus might be the basis for or actually become the first chapter of the thesis. While there is no set length for a prospectus, writers should expect that a carefully prepared prospectus would typically range in length from 5- 10 double-spaced, typewritten pages.

After completing the prospectus, the student should present it to his or her two faculty advisors for their approval. The advisors should indicate their approval by signing a prospectus completion form, which also requires the signature of the graduate coordinator. Only when a copy of the prospectus, along with the signed prospectus completion form, is submitted to the English Department secretary will the student be permitted to enroll in English 500. Students may not enroll in English 500 through CASPER.

The student should understand that the prospectus stands as a working agreement that defines the scope of the thesis. It is not a blueprint from which one never deviates; indeed, after more research, the student may find that substantial changes must be made, and he or she should discuss these with the readers involved. If, however, the student decides to embark on an entirely new topic, he or she must repeat the process of preparing a prospectus and securing the approval of their readers.

Important Note: The prospectus requirement does not apply to students in the creative writing program. Creative writing students are, however, required to submit a petition, signed by their two readers and the graduate coordinator, before they may enroll in English 500. This petition is available from the English Department secretary, and must be returned to her.

For more information conerning formatting issues and thesis preparation, please visit the following link:

http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/forms.htm

Overview of Thesis/Project format