How to Write a BA Thesis: A Practical Guide from Your First Ideas to Your Finished Paper (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)

411 Pages·2005·1.51 MB·English

by  Charles Lipson

How to Write a BA Thesis
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Getting into Print
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Naomi B. Pascal, and Theses, and Dissertations
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and Linda L. Shaw
Style
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From Dissertation to Book Frances W. Zweifel
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Getting It Published
William Germano
How to Write a BA Thesis
a practical guide from
your first ideas to your
finished paper
Charles Lipson
The University of Chicago Press chicago & london
Charles Lipson The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637
The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London
is professor and
© 2005 by Charles Lipson
All rights reserved. Published 2005
director of
Printed in the United States of America
undergraduate
14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 1 2 3 4 5
studies in political
ISBN: 0-226-48125-5 (cloth)
ISBN: 0-226-48126-3 (paper)
science at the
University of Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Chicago.
Lipson, Charles.
How to write a BA thesis : a practical guide from
your first ideas to your finished paper / Charles
Lipson.
p. cm. — (Chicago guides to writing, editing,
and publishing)
Includes bibliographic references and index.
ISBN 0-226-48125-5 (cloth : alk. paper) —
ISBN 0-226-48126-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Dissertations, Academic—Authorship.
2. Academic writing. I. Title. II. Series.
LB2639.L54 2005
808⬘.042—dc22
2004026816
o The paper used in this publication meets the
minimum requirements of the American National
Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of
Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi z39.48-1992.
To my sons, Michael and Jonathan
contents
i. getting started
How to Read This Book 3
1 Introduction 9
2 Useful Nuts and Bolts 12
ii. framing your topic
3 Taking Effective Notes and Avoiding Plagiarism 37
4 Refining Your Topic, Writing a Proposal,
and Beginning Research 66
iii. conducting your research
5 What Is Good Thesis Research? 89
6 Using Case Studies Effectively 99
7 Every Thesis Should Have a Thesis 110
iv. writing your best
8 Planning and Prewriting: How Do They Help Your Thesis? 123
9 Writing Your Best 143
10 Effective Openings, Smooth Transitions, and Strong Closings 159
11 Good Editing Makes Good Writing 177
12 Presenting Information Visually 192
v. working your best
13 Working Efficiently 233
14 Overcoming Problems 244
vi. scheduling and completing your thesis
15 Thesis Time Schedule 267
16 Tips and Reminders 275
17 Frequently Asked Questions 282
18 What to Do When You’re All Done 292
vii. dealing with special requirements
19 Thesis Defense and Second Readers: Questions and Answers 301
20 A One-Semester Thesis 304
viii. citing your sources and getting more advice
Appendix 1: Best Sources for More Help 311
Appendix 2: Footnotes 101 317
Appendix 3: Advice for New Faculty Advisers 390
Acknowledgments 395
Index 397
i
Getting Started