I want to thank everyone for their input on this discussion.  It was very
helpful.  Although, I guess I should have worded my original posting
differently for the couple of you who read it the wrong way.
Another learning experience for me.

Thank you,
Jennifer Doyle


>From: Lee Appleyard <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Thesis Topic
>Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 17:16:28 +0100
>
>Make a possible list of subjects for a thesis/dissertation? Surely, you
>must
>be joking. Let's get a grip here, folks, it's not as if you are in your
>first year of university and are a wet-behind-the-ears, naive freshman
>being
>asked to write a major paper on which you know nothing.
>
>I'm a former science educator who, to be perfectly honest, is appalled at
>the lack of initiative being shown by some of the graduate students of this
>list and by many students in general. I too had to write a thesis (with a
>one year long research project and a formal oral presentation to boot
>coupled with that thesis) as part of my degree qualifications. My advisor
>was there to do just that: advise me, not hand me a list of research topics
>on a silver platter. I've been in the teaching profession for 14 years, and
>all too many times, I have seen or heard of students like several of those
>here, wanting to have the ideas planted in their heads. What ever happened
>to the initiative of doing the work yourself? Is there no longer any
>creativity among students? I have seen way too much of the attitude that
>the
>world owes people everything, but we need not do anything in return.
>Surely,
>if you have been at university for four + years, you already know what
>topics interest you. It's all so very simply, gang, you choose a
>dissertation topic that interests you. No ideas? Then all is in a sad state
>of affairs. I can see if you already have your topic and would like to
>bounce some ideas around, that's what brainstorming is all about. It is NOT
>about writing to ask for topic ideas or suggesting that a list be made
>available to you. Whether or not you're aware, your colleges and
>universities keep theses and disserations on file and made avaible to
>students such as yourselves. They're at your libraries and within your
>departments. You make your start there to see what has already been done.
>Sit down with a notepad and pen, or ok, your computer, and make a list of
>what interests you within your discipline. Check out the materials at your
>library to make certain there is enough information to insure that you can
>in fact carry out your study. Talk with your advsior, who will certainly be
>able to tell you if your idea holds any water. Yes, meeting with advisors
>can be difficult to schedule, but you have to remember, they're people too
>and have a heavy load of lectures as well as meetings with you. But don't
>tell me that they're unwilling to give you the advice you seek. Don't
>expect
>them to post a list of research topics on their doors.
>
>So, at the risk of offending a number of people - and I'm sure this
>undoubtedly will - stop your incessant moaning and get off your backsides
>and get your work done. Stop this ridiculous request for help as you call
>it - it's nothing but a cop out! Ask us what we think. Bounce your ideas
>around, and we will be more than happy to help. But, don't expect us to
>TELL
>you what to write. Find what stuff turns you on and NOT what you think we
>want to read. There's nothing more sad than targeting to what you think
>others want to hear or read, or you do like enjoy being conformists? Stop
>jumping on the bandwagon and do your own thing. Are you a mover and a
>shaker
>or a mere follower of the pack?
>
>Lee Appleyard
>[log in to unmask]
>


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