Question for the grad students, profs, scholars, etc.

[theregalrenegade]

I'm having problems with tangents. I seem to be running off on them whenever I start a project/paper. I have particular interests in my field, but I'm not sure what will be my ultimate focus, especially when in comes to my Masters thesis. I find everything within my field so fascinating that I can't seem to funnel anything into a specialization? Or my interests just don't have any common themes.

My professors are encouraging me to get cracking on a topic for my MA thesis and I'm feeling pressured. I want to choose a topic that will have some relevance to what I will eventually do my PhD work on. But, doesn't that mean I'll have to have some idea of what that will be now, too?

When during your courses of study did you choose a focus for your studies and how? Was it an "ah-ha" moment? Or did it flow naturally from your classes and/or projects? How many of you changed your minds repeatedly?

I'd love to know what all of your experiences were like.

[sandyvanb]

I'm having problems with tangents. I seem to be running off on them whenever I start a project/paper. I have particular interests in my field, but I'm not sure what will be my ultimate focus, especially when in comes to my Masters thesis. I find everything within my field so fascinating that I can't seem to funnel anything into a specialization? Or my interests just don't have any common themes.

My professors are encouraging me to get cracking on a topic for my MA thesis and I'm feeling pressured. I want to choose a topic that will have some relevance to what I will eventually do my PhD work on. But, doesn't that mean I'll have to have some idea of what that will be now, too?

When during your courses of study did you choose a focus for your studies and how? Was it an "ah-ha" moment? Or did it flow naturally from your classes and/or projects? How many of you changed your minds repeatedly?

I'd love to know what all of your experiences were like.

In my MA program we had to take historiography in our first semester. My advisor was teaching the class and I had no idea what I wanted to explore for my paper. It was also recommended that if we planned to write a thesis that we write our historiography on the topic we were going to use for our thesis. My mentor told me to look at the French and Indian War and a hole was clearly visible through my work. That became my thesis. You really can't find a hole to fill without doing a historiography. My MA thesis will *hopefully* continue on to my PhD dissertation. Have you taken your historiography course yet?

[theregalrenegade]

I have taken a historiography course, but it wasn't exactly in my area of study. We are at the mercy of whatever historiography courses are offered at the time. I took one on the French Revolution, which definitely is connected to 18th century Britain, however not my where my interests lie. I'm in the midst of an independent study over the summer and my professor has helped me explore some those interests/options, but nothing is jumping out or leading me anywhere.

[sandyvanb]

OK, I understand. We were allowed to pick our own topic in our historiography course. You need to just start reading about whatever topic sounds interesting and look at the arguments,and point of view, and see if you can find a hole to fill. Just keep reading until something grabs you. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be a long process. See if you can get your professor to give you any more direction, it is so hard to find a good thesis topic!

[Katzenmusik]

I have the same problem! Here's my strategy...

1) Make a long list of every single historical idea or theme that interests me.

2) Narrow the list down to topics I've been interested in years, rather than random flights of fancy.

3) Figure out which of those ideas have already been beaten to death by other historians, and rule them out.

4) For the remaining ideas, figure out which have accessible primary sources.

5) Gradually the list will shrink. Bring it down to two good choices.

6) Flip a coin.

7) If you are at all disappointed in the outcome of the coin toss, choose the other topic.

8) File away all the random flights of fancy for future inspiration.

[theregalrenegade]

I have the same problem! Here's my strategy...

1) Make a long list of every single historical idea or theme that interests me.

2) Narrow the list down to topics I've been interested in years, rather than random flights of fancy.

3) Figure out which of those ideas have already been beaten to death by other historians, and rule them out.

4) For the remaining ideas, figure out which have accessible primary sources.

5) Gradually the list will shrink. Bring it down to two good choices.

6) Flip a coin.

7) If you are at all disappointed in the outcome of the coin toss, choose the other topic.

8) File away all the random flights of fancy for future inspiration.

I like it! I've started something similar, but was getting impatient. Great strategy though :-)

[goldielocks]

When during your courses of study did you choose a focus for your studies and how? Was it an "ah-ha" moment? Or did it flow naturally from your classes and/or projects? How many of you changed your minds repeatedly?

I'd love to know what all of your experiences were like.

For me, my focus stemmed naturally from my interdisciplinary background. Is there another field in which you've done a lot of coursework? If so, maybe consider the strengths of taking what you've learned from that field and applying it to History.

Also, as I've been working on my thesis, I've found that my focus gets sharper and sharper with each book that I read. I find myself jotting down lots of questions that I'd like to answer, as I make my way through the reading. If you have a general area that you're interested in, but need to narrow it down, I'd just suggest reading and reading and reading. Something will jump out at you.

Good luck!

[sandyvanb]

For me, my focus stemmed naturally from my interdisciplinary background. Is there another field in which you've done a lot of coursework? If so, maybe consider the strengths of taking what you've learned from that field and applying it to History.

Also, as I've been working on my thesis, I've found that my focus gets sharper and sharper with each book that I read. I find myself jotting down lots of questions that I'd like to answer, as I make my way through the reading. If you have a general area that you're interested in, but need to narrow it down, I'd just suggest reading and reading and reading. Something will jump out at you.

Good luck!

I agree wtih this. I was interested in comparative history, and in both American and French history. My advisor really pointed me in a clear direction for my thesis once she had a clear idea of what I wanted to do.

[theregalrenegade]

I've taken classes in anthropology, art history, and literature - and have found interests in them all. This fall I'm taking an 18th century English art history course and a Gothic literature course that I'm really excited about. I'm hoping to get some inspiration there. In the meantime, I read everything I can get my hands on that looks interesting and keep a running list of interests and questions. Hopefully, something will jump out.

Thanks for the support!

[TMP]

Ask your thesis adviser or a professor for an idea. I know a historian personally who wanted to do something 17th century German history for her MA thesis. Her adviser asked if she wanted a job and she said yes. Then he pulled out a box of microfilms and told her to pick one out and find a topic in that reel and make a thesis out of it or there would be no job for her with her original idea. She ended up studying and writing about Nazi medicine and is one of the leading scholars in that area. You never know.

[natsteel]

Not everyone can do a whole MA thesis or dissertation on a topic about which they themselves are not excited. However, I think the moral of ticklemepink's story is: You shouldn't pick a topic solely based on job prospects, but you should drop topics based on job prospects. That is to say, don't work on some trendy topic just because it's trendy (after all, it may not be six or seven years later when you finish it). But, also keep in mind that the more obscure a topic is the harder it might be to find a job.