SOAN 453: Senior Seminar
Spring 2000 T 3:00-5:30, Alumni 432
Professor Thomas D. Hall
A. Lindsay O'Connor Professor of American Institutions
417 Alumni Hall, x7545, email:thall; web: people.colgate.edu/thall
Last Updated: 1-18-00
OFFICE HOURS:    Tu 6-7; Th 3-5, & by appointment
Thesis Proposal

Due no later than Tuesday, February 22, 2000

What I would like is the following:

• 1. The social problem you are going to study. Be as specific as you can at this point. If you are still narrowing it down, describe what you are struggling with. [about one paragraph, or if very specific, one sentence].
• 2. A discussion of WHY your social problem is a problem, a paragraph or two about how and why it is a SOCIAL PROBLEM.
• 3. Alternatively, if your social problem is problematic, a paragraph or two about how and why it is problematic.
• 4. A brief statement about the significance of your social problem. What will it contribute to our general understanding of social problems? Alternatively, what issues or problems does this case raise with respect to understanding social problems? A few paragraphs.
• 5. An annotated bibliography of at least 10 items.
• 6. Hand in TWO [2] copies. I will keep one, and return one for your use. You will probably find it very interesting to look back later at what you wrote  to see what you think once you are done.

This is a formal exercise, so the rules about writing papers apply to it [see How to Write Essays for Professor Hall].   However, it is not carved in stone.  Sometimes things change as you get further into the topic.  This happens more often to those who are still struggling with parts 2 or 3.  That is all the more reason why you should write about the struggle:  I can often help you reach a reasonable solution so that you can go on to write an excellent thesis.  While this is only a beginning, it is a necessary first step.

Send comments or questions to thall@mail.colgate.edu