Getting Started

Beginning a Senior Honors Thesis

Writing a Prospectus

A senior honors thesis begins with choosing and narrowing your topic, then crafting a prospectus that describes your research and writing plans.. A typical prospectus will usually be between 3 and 5 pages, and should include a brief bibliography. Writing your prospectus will help you to focus on a specific question or idea. Students who take on a project that is too large in scope often have trouble finishing. And remember, the prospectus does not necessarily reflect finished work; some aspects of your thesis may change as you complete the project. However, if major changes are made to your thesis, they should be reflected in an updated version of the prospectus. The prospectus should serve as a contract or plan-of-action for your thesis.

To give you an idea of what previous students have written for their prospectuses, see the examples below. Remember that these are meant only as samples, not templates. Comparing several of the past prospectuses will give you an idea of some of the best practices, but there is no one-size-fits all answer. Most importantly, tailoring your prospectus to your specific project is a great start toward a successful thesis.

Sample Prospectuses  

Browse through a few of the examples below, and notice not only what they have in common (a clear statement of the topic, how the thesis will be completed, a reference page, and a timeline for completion) but also how each is specific to the researcher and his or her project.