CSUS English Department

Your Guideline to Writing a Thesis:

What to Expect

If you’ve clicked on this link, you’re probably either vacillating between writing a Master’s thesis and taking the English comprehension exam, or are looking for hints on writing your required thesis for English composition or another department. Either way, you need to know that writing a thesis is not easy, simple, or something you can do at the last minute (even for the expert procrastinator). Writing a thesis takes time, discipline, and commitment. You cannot write it in one week or one month. (Most cannot even write a prospectus in one month). It can be stressful, frustrating, and is definitely time consuming. English comprehension exam, anyone?

What is a Thesis?

Simply put, a thesis is “a scholarly essay of approximately 60-75 pages on a subject chosen in consultation with two faculty members who will serve as readers.“ A thesis is an essay in which you explore an idea or problem in literature or composition using your own opinion as well as outside research. This is your chance to research something you have always wanted to know more about but have never done so.

What do I need to know before enrolling in 500?

You must write a prospectus and have it signed off by the graduate coordinator and your readers the semester before you enroll in 500.

Huh? What does that mean? Well, a prospectus is a 5 to 10 page proposal of your thesis; it is an outline of what you plan to write about. It will include a list of the resources you will use, both those that support your argument as well as oppose it. Click here for more about writing your prospectus.

So I need to write a prospectus. How do I do that?

The first step in writing a prospectus is to choose a topic that interests you, one that you can do research on extensively. Then create an argument that can be supported by outside sources. At this point, I would suggest that you consider which professor you want to be your primary reader (see below). After you have talked to various professors and have received some advice on your prospectus argument, start researching. Your prospectus must have a nice balance between research and your own voice; spend several hours in the library or researching different online journals (www.mla.org, http://comppile.tamucc.edu/search.php, http://www.eric.ed.gov/), books, or theories that will be useful to your prospectus, and weave them into your argument. You will need to include a solid list of sources in your bibliography as part of your prospectus, so don’t neglect research until the last minute. A prospectus alone may take several months, as you will be conducting research before you write to help you make a solid argument. Keep in mind that even after you have researched, you may decide to change your argument or throw out some sources. Make sure your prospectus is open-ended enough for you to explore many different ideas yet specific enough for you to really hone in on your main point. At this point, there really is no magic formula in creating a stellar prospectus except to conduct extensive research and keep writing!

What is a reader, why do I need one, and how do I find one?

A reader is a CSUS professor who will guide you in your thesis writing process. A reader helps you voluntarily; much like a mentor, they receive no extra pay for guiding you through your thesis process. So choose a reader whom you get along with and who seems to have a little extra time. Most readers prefer that you have taken a course from them so they have an idea of your writing style and work ethic. It’s also to your advantage as the student to have a reader you’ve previously taken a course from, because you will be familiar with their criticism and responses. However, if you find a professor who is knowledgeable in your topic that you haven’t taken a course from, start by getting to know them. Visit their office hours, and ask them for suggestions on sources or any areas you are curious about. Once you get to know this professor fairly well, ask them to be your reader for your thesis. You will want a reader who is knowledgeable in the topic of your thesis and who can guide you with suggestions, so choose your reader wisely.

Who is my audience?

Your audience is your readers and the academic community. After you complete the content of your thesis, it will be bound (you will be published!) and stored in the basement of the CSUS Library. Here, other students or community members can come and use theses for research.



From Prospectus to Thesis

Okay, so you’ve written your thesis prospectus, gotten it signed off by the graduate coordinator, and are enrolled in 500. Now what?! Well, there are many different ways to successfully write a thesis.

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

Start Early

I cannot stress this enough. A thesis will most likely be different from anything you have written before. A thesis is a reflection of you—you are forming an argument about an issue and using other sources to prove your point. You will do hours of research, writing, and editing, so don’t push off making your thesis a priority.

Browse through old theses in the basement of the CSU Library…

so you can get a feel for what lies ahead. Look at other theses in your department, your specific field of study, as well as theses’ directed by the reader(s) you are considering. This way you will get a general grasp of what a thesis looks like, the amount of work and dedication you must exert (don’t forget to check out the extensive bibliography), and what your reader will expect from you (http://eureka.lib.csus.edu.proxy.lib.csus.edu/).

Create a strong argument…

and have this approved by your reader in the early stages of your thesis process. The last thing you want is to have a topic, develop your argument, and research several journals only to find that your argument is too general and must be rewritten. Make sure you’re passionate or very interested in exploring your thesis topic. You will spend hundreds of hours on your thesis—you will get bored. If you’re not passionate to begin with, this will be an incredibly long, tedious, unenjoyable project.

Create a thesis writing group

Attend a thesis writing conference (sponsored by the WAC program) if you can (http://www.csus.edu/wac/). Don’t wait until the semester you are writing your thesis and already enrolled in 500; attend a thesis writing workshop one or even two semesters before taking 500. This way you will have tips on how to write and research from those who have already successfully written a thesis. At the thesis writing conference, you will have a chance to sign up for a thesis writing group within your discipline. Join a writing group—it will keep you accountable with your writing and research. A writing group will also give you feedback and provide you with a peer edit before consulting your reader. Your reader’s time is very valuable, so you don’t want to waste their time with errors that could easily be found with the help of your writing group. Set goals when meeting with your group. Each member in my writing group set their own goals: the first week, one person’s goal was to have ten pages written by the next meeting; another member’s goal was to find several more resources; my goal was to edit and refine ten pages in my first chapter. A thesis writing group will help keep you accountable to being productive and producing a certain amount of work by the time you meet. To find out more about writing conferences or thesis writing groups, click (www.csus.edu/wac/).

Get to know other professors in your field

Even if you are convinced you have the perfect reader, talk to other professors who are knowledgeable in your discipline. Who knows, they might offer different ideas and resources to spice up your thesis. It’s always valuable to get different opinions and guidance from professors. Keep talking to them about your work!

§        Revise and Edit!

Your thesis is not just writing and research; it’s an entire process of thought and writing intertwined together. Revising is demanding and extensive: you will constantly be revising your thesis, especially if you find more resources. Get feedback from lots of people (but especially your reader) so you have a direction as to what kind of revision your thesis will benefit from.

Finish the content of your thesis early

If this looks very closely like the first tip, there’s a reason why this is so! A thesis is not like any other essay which you begin three hours before the deadline and turn it in to your professor’s box with two minutes to spare. Once you have completed writing the thesis and have had it approved by your reader, you still have a lot to do! There is a meticulous, strict guide for formatting for your thesis, issues that, after much laboring and toil, are NOT what you want to prevent you from graduating on time. Things as minor as the type of paper and ink you use (http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/forms/Thesis.pdf) have specific requirements, so double and triple check that your thesis follows it. Print out your thesis two weeks ahead of time and run it by the River Front Center graduate office to ensure that everything in your thesis is in good order.

§        Don’t forget that your argument should be the dominant voice

This is important to keep in mind when writing. Sometimes it’s easy to drown your writing in others’ research and ideas. DO NOT DO THIS. Be careful not to get buried in the summary of others’ readings, but know that your position must dominate your thesis. Begin with your argument and let other arguments be on the side. You are joining in on the conversation of academics, thus your voice must be strong.


	Your Guideline to Writing a Thesis: What to Expect If you’ve clicked on this link, you’re probably either vacillating between writing a Master’s thesis and taking the English comprehension exam, or are looking for hints on writing your required thesis for English composition or another department. Either way, you need to know that writing a thesis is not easy, simple, or something you can do at the last minute (even for the expert procrastinator). Writing a thesis takes time, discipline, and commitment. You cannot write it in one week or one month. (Most cannot even write a prospectus in one month). It can be stressful, frustrating, and is definitely time consuming. English comprehension exam, anyone? What is a Thesis? Simply put, a thesis is “a scholarly essay of approximately 60-75 pages on a subject chosen in consultation with two faculty members who will serve as readers.“ A thesis is an essay in which you explore an idea or problem in literature or composition using your own opinion as well as outside research. This is your chance to research something you have always wanted to know more about but have never done so. What do I need to know before enrolling in 500? You must write a prospectus and have it signed off by the graduate coordinator and your readers the semester before you enroll in 500. Huh? What does that mean? Well, a prospectus is a 5 to 10 page proposal of your thesis; it is an outline of what you plan to write about. It will include a list of the resources you will use, both those that support your argument as well as oppose it. Click here for more about writing your prospectus. So I need to write a prospectus. How do I do that? The first step in writing a prospectus is to choose a topic that interests you, one that you can do research on extensively. Then create an argument that can be supported by outside sources. At this point, I would suggest that you consider which professor you want to be your primary reader (see below). After you have talked to various professors and have received some advice on your prospectus argument, start researching. Your prospectus must have a nice balance between research and your own voice; spend several hours in the library or researching different online journals (www.mla.org, http://comppile.tamucc.edu/search.php, http://www.eric.ed.gov/), books, or theories that will be useful to your prospectus, and weave them into your argument. You will need to include a solid list of sources in your bibliography as part of your prospectus, so don’t neglect research until the last minute. A prospectus alone may take several months, as you will be conducting research before you write to help you make a solid argument. Keep in mind that even after you have researched, you may decide to change your argument or throw out some sources. Make sure your prospectus is open-ended enough for you to explore many different ideas yet specific enough for you to really hone in on your main point. At this point, there really is no magic formula in creating a stellar prospectus except to conduct extensive research and keep writing! What is a reader, why do I need one, and how do I find one? A reader is a CSUS professor who will guide you in your thesis writing process. A reader helps you voluntarily; much like a mentor, they receive no extra pay for guiding you through your thesis process. So choose a reader whom you get along with and who seems to have a little extra time. Most readers prefer that you have taken a course from them so they have an idea of your writing style and work ethic. It’s also to your advantage as the student to have a reader you’ve previously taken a course from, because you will be familiar with their criticism and responses. However, if you find a professor who is knowledgeable in your topic that you haven’t taken a course from, start by getting to know them. Visit their office hours, and ask them for suggestions on sources or any areas you are curious about. Once you get to know this professor fairly well, ask them to be your reader for your thesis. You will want a reader who is knowledgeable in the topic of your thesis and who can guide you with suggestions, so choose your reader wisely. Who is my audience? Your audience is your readers and the academic community. After you complete the content of your thesis, it will be bound (you will be published!) and stored in the basement of the CSUS Library. Here, other students or community members can come and use theses for research. From Prospectus to Thesis Okay, so you’ve written your thesis prospectus, gotten it signed off by the graduate coordinator, and are enrolled in 500. Now what?! Well, there are many different ways to successfully write a thesis. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind: Start Early I cannot stress this enough. A thesis will most likely be different from anything you have written before. A thesis is a reflection of you—you are forming an argument about an issue and using other sources to prove your point. You will do hours of research, writing, and editing, so don’t push off making your thesis a priority. Browse through old theses in the basement of the CSU Library… so you can get a feel for what lies ahead. Look at other theses in your department, your specific field of study, as well as theses’ directed by the reader(s) you are considering. This way you will get a general grasp of what a thesis looks like, the amount of work and dedication you must exert (don’t forget to check out the extensive bibliography), and what your reader will expect from you (http://eureka.lib.csus.edu.proxy.lib.csus.edu/). Create a strong argument… and have this approved by your reader in the early stages of your thesis process. The last thing you want is to have a topic, develop your argument, and research several journals only to find that your argument is too general and must be rewritten. Make sure you’re passionate or very interested in exploring your thesis topic. You will spend hundreds of hours on your thesis—you will get bored. If you’re not passionate to begin with, this will be an incredibly long, tedious, unenjoyable project. Create a thesis writing group Attend a thesis writing conference (sponsored by the WAC program) if you can (http://www.csus.edu/wac/). Don’t wait until the semester you are writing your thesis and already enrolled in 500; attend a thesis writing workshop one or even two semesters before taking 500. This way you will have tips on how to write and research from those who have already successfully written a thesis. At the thesis writing conference, you will have a chance to sign up for a thesis writing group within your discipline. Join a writing group—it will keep you accountable with your writing and research. A writing group will also give you feedback and provide you with a peer edit before consulting your reader. Your reader’s time is very valuable, so you don’t want to waste their time with errors that could easily be found with the help of your writing group. Set goals when meeting with your group. Each member in my writing group set their own goals: the first week, one person’s goal was to have ten pages written by the next meeting; another member’s goal was to find several more resources; my goal was to edit and refine ten pages in my first chapter. A thesis writing group will help keep you accountable to being productive and producing a certain amount of work by the time you meet. To find out more about writing conferences or thesis writing groups, click (www.csus.edu/wac/). Get to know other professors in your field Even if you are convinced you have the perfect reader, talk to other professors who are knowledgeable in your discipline. Who knows, they might offer different ideas and resources to spice up your thesis. It’s always valuable to get different opinions and guidance from professors. Keep talking to them about your work! § Revise and Edit! Your thesis is not just writing and research; it’s an entire process of thought and writing intertwined together. Revising is demanding and extensive: you will constantly be revising your thesis, especially if you find more resources. Get feedback from lots of people (but especially your reader) so you have a direction as to what kind of revision your thesis will benefit from. Finish the content of your thesis early If this looks very closely like the first tip, there’s a reason why this is so! A thesis is not like any other essay which you begin three hours before the deadline and turn it in to your professor’s box with two minutes to spare. Once you have completed writing the thesis and have had it approved by your reader, you still have a lot to do! There is a meticulous, strict guide for formatting for your thesis, issues that, after much laboring and toil, are NOT what you want to prevent you from graduating on time. Things as minor as the type of paper and ink you use (http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/forms/Thesis.pdf) have specific requirements, so double and triple check that your thesis follows it. Print out your thesis two weeks ahead of time and run it by the River Front Center graduate office to ensure that everything in your thesis is in good order. § Don’t forget that your argument should be the dominant voice This is important to keep in mind when writing. Sometimes it’s easy to drown your writing in others’ research and ideas. DO NOT DO THIS. Be careful not to get buried in the summary of others’ readings, but know that your position must dominate your thesis. Begin with your argument and let other arguments be on the side. You are joining in on the conversation of academics, thus your voice must be strong.
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