ryanlikesvespas

I definitely googled (and still am) before posting my dumb questions. Problem is most the time I came across some other schmuck asking the same questions I am'

Good thinking. Unfortunatently my school locks you out of the online databases, JSTOR, etc, after you aren't enrolled. Apparently they think you need to enroll and finish your masters thesis all in one semester.... Luckily, my brother is a grad student at another college and he has passed along his username/password for my use, and they have an online database with thesis/dissertations I am combing through. Thanks again! I'll post any progress.

I apologize for the tardy response, some resent life events have come up. Unsure if I mentioned it but my thesis advisor, although on sabbatical emailed me back with some good info and hasn't forgotten me! StrangeLight, that sort of information was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much! Will keep you posted of any other questions. One last one: Is there an online database or something with finished thesis? I've never actually read someone else's and it may not be a bad idea to wrap my ahead around what others have done in the past, yes?

Good point, that is why I actually took the second internship. I was hoping to be able to do some of my own research, but the museum didn't end up having a whole lot of anything in the time period that I was interested... Here's a big question for anyone willing to entertain it... Many would say the idea of a thesis to many is to take a look at whats been written, said, thought out, etc and put your own spin on it however that might be. What if its something that hasn't been written on? Say you have a stack of primary sources on a specific topic. Is an historic narrative appropriate? Ex- a military unit, a vessel, a person, plantation, yada yada, examine the primary sources, and bring it into comparison of the bigger context on the war (military unit), the navy (a vessel), the office (a person), agriculture/slavery (a plantation). Taking this route is much more appareling to me, just don't know if it will fly. Man, do I feel like an idiot asking these questions 30 hours into a 33 hour masters degree! I can't help but blame myself but you can imagine I'm a little frustrated with my advisors, and the dept.

Great, great point. You may have to move for an outstanding program for the ability to be more competitive to where you may want to settle long term. Go to the local not so bad grad program and you may be competing with someone else that took your spot where you want to end up. It appears to be increasingly more difficult to find a job in academia now and I would venture to guess more people are moving to teach than staying in place, unless you're in a college dense area. Get accepted, see whats offered, and give it sometime. Talk with the family you want to be around about your decision too. I know my parents would have felt guilty if they had known I turned down a program because of them.

Glad that worked out for you. I've began to do the same thing. I had two really great museum internships regarding the same subject matter that I have a strong interest in that hasn't been written a whole lot on. What's difficult is digging through it all, when most of what is out there is some historical narrative ("history books"- see barnes and noble) and stacks of primary sources. I'm curious, was your thesis combating these "chauvinist ideas" or something else?

Excellent idea! However, I'll be completely honest when saying these conference papers lacked originality and really much research at all. Its amazing how easy it is to write a paper regurditating a few authors' opinions in a single paper. Silly Undergraduate mistake!

How about you see it through, and their news? I'm sure they aren't looking for an answer tomorrow. You applied to a top program, and if accepted, you may change your mind after talking with current students, faculty, etc. Moving across the country is a big deal, but who knows, you may actually enjoy your new location and be able to visit family more than you think. Don't let emotion make your decision alone. Wait till all the cards are on the table first. You've got nothing to lose!

Didn't pull it out of your ? So how did you come up with yours?

Thanks, hadn't heard of that forum. Took a look, and looks like you have to register in order to view any of it. Tried registering and says the webmaster is out of town for a week. I'll bookmark it and keep checking.

LLajax, thanks for the response. I grew a pair and emailed my thesis advisor, explained to him my situation, a few stupid questions I have (length, depth, etc), and a topic I was considering over a year ago when still actively involved. I get an automatic email back saying he's on sabbatical the entire Spring semester... FML. He is really the only person in the department that specialized in the early American period, so this definitely sucks. I doubt he is going to want to be proofread chapters of a thesis while on sabbatical. I already enrolled in the course, and he was paid for "advising me" even though we had virtually no communications after I spoke with him about the thesis. In order to get some support, I may have to re-enroll in a course with him, while on sabbatical, if he is willing to do that. Anyone else care to chime in? Maybe I should have posted this in the "writing, presenting, and publishing" section?

Buffalo, NY is a very cheap town to live in. UB is north of town, so you can get a small apartment in the burbs for less than $600 or live in the city for less and commute. Its a very culturally rich city and you should find a Turkish population in town with no problem. Get with other students before moving into an apartment though to verify what part of town its in. The city has some very impoverished areas and the crime rate in certain neighborhoods is through the roof. When I was going to grad school in Buffalo my wife's car window was broken 4 times and my wheels and tires were literally taken off my car and it was sat on cement blocks (I have pictures to prove it!). Bring a nice winter jacket. It tends to snow ALOT. Good luck, UB is a great school!

Ok, real quick with my situation: I finished my BA in History in May 09. Started MA in History in August 09, and completed all course work in 12 months, and enrolled in the thesis course in August 2010. I'm currently in the Air Force and found out and left for flight training soon after. I received an "Incomplete" for the thesis course, and have something like 7 years to complete it. I was not required to write a thesis during my undergrad, and my graduate work was full of courses with the "read a book in a week, write a 3 page book review, and give a 5 minute presentation to your peers" sorts of classes. I did write a few original 12-15 page papers for professional conferences as an Undergrad and first semester Graduate student. Ok, so fast forward to present. I still haven't started on writing this damn thesis. The clock is ticking, I'm getting antsy, and know I need to get the ball rolling. I have little interest in pursuing a PhD at this point, like I did when starting grad school. I have 8 years left of my 20 years until retirement in the Air Force, and have thought about possibly pursuing community college or online teaching work down the road. So the thesis... Because I have been out of the loop for a year and half or so, I've kind of lost contact with my advisor (who is also the dept chair). I've sent him two emails over the last few months with no response. For all I know, he's on sabbatical. Or he was paid for the course I took with him, thinks I bailed, and isn't answering me. My questions to him have pretty much been exactly what I'm here seeking... Was anyone else lost when it came to beginning your thesis? Overwhelmed? Confused? My research interests are in early American colonial history, and I interned at two maritime museums. My institutions thesis handbook is very broad, with nothing even specific for the humanities. Hell, I don't even know how many pages I need to be shooting for, as I've read here and other places it ranges wildly. As for content, am I looking to write an historical narrative of something specific (a person, battle, ship, town) or something more broad? I know you must walk a line between to broad and too narrow. Maybe I just have too much pride to call my advisor and ask him these questions well after I should have when I enrolled, but was too busy flying airplanes. If anyone can offer any information, support, ect, I would be extremely grateful. I want to get this thing done. I'm not looking to change historical thought or break ground on new ideology. I'm looking to get my $20,000 piece of paper and move on with my life. Thanks so much! </rant>