Unveiling the Enigma of the "Black Box" Part 1: holy smokes, I need to pen a thesis
In the world of academia, the research process can often feel like a mysterious black box. But Teri Tillman '16, Humanities Correspondent, is on a mission to demystify this process by revealing her thesis-writing journey.
Tillman graduated from Princeton in 2016, and as part of her Princeton career, she was expected to write a 15,000 to 20,000-word research paper. Now, she's happy to take readers on a journey of making the research process more transparent.
To effectively narrow down a thesis topic, Tillman suggests starting by choosing a broad area of interest that engages you. Perform some preliminary research to understand existing work and terminology. Then, narrow your focus using these strategies:
- Identify sub-areas or specific aspects within the broader topic to make the scope manageable and precise.
- Develop a list of key concepts and keywords, including synonyms and related terms, which can guide thorough literature searches and help organize your research questions.
- Frame your topic in the form of a specific research question or thesis statement, preferably asking "how" or "why" rather than yes/no questions, to deepen inquiry.
- Consider multiple perspectives or additional theories that can expand or nuance the analysis but keep the integration focused to avoid overbroadening the scope.
For example, if your broad interest is Ancient Greek comedy, you might refine your topic to "Women's roles in the comedies of Plautus" while incorporating feminist theory for analysis, thereby grounding your project in previous research but adding a fresh theoretical lens.
Tillman is currently analysing her previous research papers (JPs) to narrow down her thesis topic. She's emotionally excited and nervous about the project, wanting to prove her capability to have her own ideas come to fruition. She aims to produce the longest piece of original research she's ever done.
Tillman is also considering incorporating additional theories to corroborate her arguments in her thesis. In fact, she has applied for funding to spend fall break in Paris studying advertisements in museum archives and libraries.
This article is part of a series focused on conversations with alumni about their undergraduate research. Previous articles in the series include "Looking Back on Undergraduate Research: Chris Lu '88 on Public Service" and "Looking Back on Undergraduate Research: A Conversation with Jacob Schatz '15".
Despite the article's focus on Tillman's research project, it does not provide specific details about her thesis or her current occupation and post-graduate plans. The article is categorized under "Senior Thesis".
As Tillman continues her journey through the research process, she encourages others to join her in making the process more transparent and accessible. After all, the research process should not be a mysterious black box, but a journey of discovery and learning.
Through her senior thesis, Teri Tillman '16 is embarking on an undergraduate research journey, aiming to deepen her education-and-self-development and facilitate personal-growth by uncovering new insights. In the process, she hopes to shed light on the research process, making it more accessible for others.
