GRS/WGS Senior Thesis Daily Schedule
Week 1
2/10
2/12
Week 2
2/17
2/19
Week 3
2/24
2/26
Introductions and initial discussion of research topics
 Fill out individual information and interest inventory sheet (handout in class).
 What makes a good research topic? Questions, scope, and finding evidence.
Topics: Exploration and research questions
READ: Hubbuch, “What is a Research Paper?” and “Where do I Begin?”
pp. 1-22 and handouts.
 Build upon your brainstormed topics to outline a provisional research
question and the type of sources or data you will use to answer it.
 Check out what is known or been recently said about said topic. Go
ahead, do a few google searches. See what’s out there.
Refining your topic
READ: Hubbuch, 22-42
WRITE: One page topic statement-what is your topic, why does it
interest you, what is your big question, what do you know so far, how will
you answer it?
CONSULT: Discuss your research topic with your advisor this week and
then check in with the professor. Get suggestions for important texts and
for framing your research.
Compiling a working annotated bibliography
READ: Hubbuch, “Finding the Evidence” and “Creating a Working
Bibliography” 43-63 and 111-113
 Work on Bibliography
 Read everything you can on your topic
Consult: Bring your topic statement and working bibliography to your
Write: bring a starter list of scholarly sources to class—academic vs.
popular literature
Library research
READ: Hubbuch, “Reading Critically and Taking Notes” 89-110
Library session with Sharon Walters and Susan Birkenseer to discuss your
research plans
Formatting your bibliography
Ruiz, GRS/WGS Calendar
Spring 2015, 1
Read: Familiarize yourself with one of the following as appropriate to your methodology and
minor field—Hubbuch, “The MLA Style,” pp. 262-276; OR “The CMS Notes & Bibliography
Style,” pp. 282-303; OR “The APA Style,” 311-322.

Bring your topic statement, working bibliography, and style guide to
class.
 Topic Check: Is this study still feasible? How might you strengthen it?
 Work on Bibliography
 Read everything you can on your topic
Consult: Bring your topic statement and working bibliography to your advisor, get suggestions
for additional literature and framing your topic.
Week 4
3/3
Methodologies
Methodologies Sampler III: TBA
READ: TBA Handouts
Everyone should be reading around in your research area!
3/5
Methodologies Sampler IV: TBA
READ:
TBA (handouts)
Read, Read, Read for your thesis


Week 5
3/10
From Bibliography to Proposal
ASSIGNMENT: Annotated Bibliography due today
Methodology Sampler II (TBA)
READ: TBA (handouts)
3/12

Week 6
3/17
3/19
MLA users: meet w/professor during class time
Everyone Else: NO CLASS—Write, Write, Write!
Check in with professor and small group on your writing progress.
Review of Proposals and Writing Plans
FACULTY PRESENTATION
ASSIGNMENT: Proposals due to the professor and advisor! (abstract,
annotated bibliography, sample primary source overview)
APA and Chicago users: meet w/professor during class time
Everyone Else: NO CLASS—Write, Write, Write!
Ruiz, GRS/WGS Calendar
Spring 2015, 2
READ: Hubbuch “Writing Your Paper 143-169
CONSULT: Share proposal and writing plan with your advisor
Week 7
3/24
First writing deadline-10 pages! Bring in what you’ve written so far to
class
READ: Hubbuch, “How to and How Not to Incorporate Your Evidence
into Your Paper,” pp. 170-193.
3/26
MLA, APA, Chicago Styles.
Week 8
3/31
Easter Break
4/2
Easter Break
Week 9
4/7
4/11
Week 10
4/14
4/16
Week 11
4/21
Checking in: first pages, small group check in, citing evidence
Make an appointment to meet with the professor to discuss your progress
SECOND WRITING DEADLINE-20 PAGES!
ASSIGNMENT: Bring in your pages you’ve written so far to class.
Consider what will motivate you to keep going.
No class-write, write, write.
No class-keep writing, writing, writing
Check in with the professor and your small groups on your progress
Checking in
ASSIGNMENT: DRAFT #1 DUE-30 PAGES TO PROFESSOR
4/23
Week 12
4/28
Poster Workshop (will return drafts) and How to plan a public
presentation
Read: Hubbuch, “Polishing Your Final Draft,” pp. 194-205.
Check-in with advisor to discuss draft. Finish revising paper based upon
Advisor and Professor comments.
Introduction to Research Poster Design
Discuss synthesizing sources
Ruiz, GRS/WGS Calendar
Spring 2015, 3
Drafts will be ready by Wednesday in my office
4/30
NO CLASS: revise, revise, revise
Week 13
5/5
ASSIGNMENT: Draft #2 Due (revised based on feedback) to your
Advisor. Plan a meeting with your advisor to discuss.
Discuss introductions
5/7
Discuss conclusions
Poster workshop in class
Planning a public presentation
Prepare talking points: topic, method, thesis, findings, significance,
anecdotes, why you are interested, why they should be
Week 14
5/12
5/14
No class—keep writing
ASSIGNMENT: Draft #3 due to peers by the end of the day
In-class Peer Review for posters.
Make a priority list of revisions for your final week
ASSIGNMENT: Bring completed posters to class
Week 15: Finals Week
Final exam: Presentations and celebration TBA
Thoughts on Writing:
I wanted to write something in a voice that was unique to who I was. And I wanted something that was
accessible to the person who works at Dunkin Donuts or who drives a bus, someone who comes home
with their feet hurting like my father, someone who's busy and has too many children, like my mother.
--Sandra Cisneros
“As a writer, I need quiet. Turmoil–even intellectual turmoil–rousts the ideas from my brain. Like birds
shaken from cover by the unthinking hunter, they fly away. Perhaps that is how some writers work. I
work in silence (no music playing), solitude (no interruptions, please) and joy”.
--Jane Yolen
“No black woman writer in this culture can write "too much". Indeed, no woman writer can write "too
much"...No woman has ever written enough.”
― Bell Hooks
Ruiz, GRS/WGS Calendar
Spring 2015, 4