KEY DATES
There are three deadlines that apply to all students, no matter the shape or form of your project.
Full rough draft due to your readers and Prof. Alexy by email - 12pm, March 8, 2023
Final version (printed paper copy) due to the WGS front office - 12pm, April 5, 2023
Honors colloquium presentations - Last week of classes, April 2023, specifics TBD
Based on advice from previous students, I also recommend the following deadlines to make sure you have enough time for thoughtful reflection and writing:
Submit IRB application by October 1, 2022
Finish collecting data (of whatever sort) by November 15, 2022
TIMELINES
At the start of our year together, I ask you to build a timeline for your project. We will discuss this assignment together in our first meetings. Please use this list of possible items to build a draft of the timeline for your project, from now until the final draft is due in April 2023. Think about:
- What are the steps you need to accomplish?
- Realistically, how long will those steps take? (Please be kind to yourself when guessing!)
- Who will you need to consult or solicit feedback from? What time will they need to provide that feedback?
- What else is on your mind and in your schedule for this year?
This is a draft so you are welcome to include questions or comments for Prof. Alexy. That said, please do try to make it a solid draft, with all the important elements and steps included.
Elements to Include in Your Timeline
Please pick the categories and activities that are appropriate for your project to build a timeline for the year. Please don't feel stressed if there's something on this list that you're not doing (e.g. interviews), or if there are elements you've already finished. Use the parts that are helpful and ignore the rest.
The trick of building a timeline is to 1) think about what steps you want and need to complete and also 2) think realistically about how much time it will take you to complete those steps. This is not a moment for aspirational guesses. Be as realistic as you can and then add some extra time to give yourself a cushion.
Project Design
Identify research questions
Articulate / draft project overview
Mentoring Team
Identify possible mentor(s)
Invite mentor(s) to be part of your team
Set up regular meetings based on your needs and your mentor's preferences
Build those meetings into your schedule:
When will you talk with your mentor?
What drafts will you share on what dates?
* Remember to give your mentor(s) the necessary time to read drafts and / or produce comments. I suggest at least a week but please confirm that with your mentors.
Literature Review
Identify relevant literature
Read / take notes on literature
Create annotated bibliography
Draft thesis sections reviewing literature
* Build in extra time to engage new literature that you realize becomes relevant later in the project?
Survey Methods
Draft survey questions
Confirm / plan for any IRB review
Share draft with mentors and receive feedback
Learn the survey software you plan to use
Learn any analytical software you plan to use (SPSS, etc.)
Build the survey (using software)
Make plans to distribute survey (who, how, etc.)
Code and clean results
Conduct follow up survey perhaps?
Interview Methods
Draft interview questions
Confirm / plan for any IRB review
Share draft with mentors and receive feedback
Gather materials for interviews (will you record through zoom?, etc.)
Learn any analytical software you plan to use for coding
Make plans to recruit interviewees
Transcribe all or part of the interviews (perhaps using AI with additional cleaning?)
Code interviews and look for patterns
Conduct follow up interviews perhaps?
Textual or Media Analysis Methods
Make a list of texts (readings, films, shows) you need to read or watch
Plan reading / viewing time
Perhaps create a form to fill out for each text
What do you want to notice?
What do you want to track or analyze?
Build in time for re-reading or re-watching if necessary
Data Analysis
* I have noticed that this is the step that many students forget to allow (enough) time for. It's easy to forget that gathering data is only one step and not the same as analyzing the data!
Plan the time and space you need to analyze your data and examples
How much time will you need to think about what you've discovered and what you want to say about it?
Drafting and Revising Writing
Outline your thesis
What chapters or sections must be included?
Label the pieces your writing will need
Draft each of those pieces
Put the pieces together and make necessary changes
Share draft with friendly readers (including Prof. Alexy)
Share draft with mentors
Schedule in time to consider and respond to any comments you get
Submit final version
Creating Other Media
Plan any film, dance, performance, etc. you intend
Anticipate logistical concerns
Gear or platforms you might require
Gear or platforms that might be nice (but not required)
Sources of funding or other support available to you
Share draft with friendly readers (including Prof. Alexy)
Share draft with mentors
Schedule in time to consider and respond to any comments you get
Submit final version
Anticipating Challenges
Think about realistic challenges you may face:
What do you know about yourself that might be relevant? What works for you? What doesn't work for you?
What can you guess about the unpredictable world that might be relevant?
When might you need some extra time?
Build in some wiggle room for your future self!
There are three deadlines that apply to all students, no matter the shape or form of your project.
Full rough draft due to your readers and Prof. Alexy by email - 12pm, March 8, 2023
Final version (printed paper copy) due to the WGS front office - 12pm, April 5, 2023
Honors colloquium presentations - Last week of classes, April 2023, specifics TBD
Based on advice from previous students, I also recommend the following deadlines to make sure you have enough time for thoughtful reflection and writing:
Submit IRB application by October 1, 2022
Finish collecting data (of whatever sort) by November 15, 2022
TIMELINES
At the start of our year together, I ask you to build a timeline for your project. We will discuss this assignment together in our first meetings. Please use this list of possible items to build a draft of the timeline for your project, from now until the final draft is due in April 2023. Think about:
- What are the steps you need to accomplish?
- Realistically, how long will those steps take? (Please be kind to yourself when guessing!)
- Who will you need to consult or solicit feedback from? What time will they need to provide that feedback?
- What else is on your mind and in your schedule for this year?
This is a draft so you are welcome to include questions or comments for Prof. Alexy. That said, please do try to make it a solid draft, with all the important elements and steps included.
Elements to Include in Your Timeline
Please pick the categories and activities that are appropriate for your project to build a timeline for the year. Please don't feel stressed if there's something on this list that you're not doing (e.g. interviews), or if there are elements you've already finished. Use the parts that are helpful and ignore the rest.
The trick of building a timeline is to 1) think about what steps you want and need to complete and also 2) think realistically about how much time it will take you to complete those steps. This is not a moment for aspirational guesses. Be as realistic as you can and then add some extra time to give yourself a cushion.
Project Design
Identify research questions
Articulate / draft project overview
Mentoring Team
Identify possible mentor(s)
Invite mentor(s) to be part of your team
Set up regular meetings based on your needs and your mentor's preferences
Build those meetings into your schedule:
When will you talk with your mentor?
What drafts will you share on what dates?
* Remember to give your mentor(s) the necessary time to read drafts and / or produce comments. I suggest at least a week but please confirm that with your mentors.
Literature Review
Identify relevant literature
Read / take notes on literature
Create annotated bibliography
Draft thesis sections reviewing literature
* Build in extra time to engage new literature that you realize becomes relevant later in the project?
Survey Methods
Draft survey questions
Confirm / plan for any IRB review
Share draft with mentors and receive feedback
Learn the survey software you plan to use
Learn any analytical software you plan to use (SPSS, etc.)
Build the survey (using software)
Make plans to distribute survey (who, how, etc.)
Code and clean results
Conduct follow up survey perhaps?
Interview Methods
Draft interview questions
Confirm / plan for any IRB review
Share draft with mentors and receive feedback
Gather materials for interviews (will you record through zoom?, etc.)
Learn any analytical software you plan to use for coding
Make plans to recruit interviewees
Transcribe all or part of the interviews (perhaps using AI with additional cleaning?)
Code interviews and look for patterns
Conduct follow up interviews perhaps?
Textual or Media Analysis Methods
Make a list of texts (readings, films, shows) you need to read or watch
Plan reading / viewing time
Perhaps create a form to fill out for each text
What do you want to notice?
What do you want to track or analyze?
Build in time for re-reading or re-watching if necessary
Data Analysis
* I have noticed that this is the step that many students forget to allow (enough) time for. It's easy to forget that gathering data is only one step and not the same as analyzing the data!
Plan the time and space you need to analyze your data and examples
How much time will you need to think about what you've discovered and what you want to say about it?
Drafting and Revising Writing
Outline your thesis
What chapters or sections must be included?
Label the pieces your writing will need
Draft each of those pieces
Put the pieces together and make necessary changes
Share draft with friendly readers (including Prof. Alexy)
Share draft with mentors
Schedule in time to consider and respond to any comments you get
Submit final version
Creating Other Media
Plan any film, dance, performance, etc. you intend
Anticipate logistical concerns
Gear or platforms you might require
Gear or platforms that might be nice (but not required)
Sources of funding or other support available to you
Share draft with friendly readers (including Prof. Alexy)
Share draft with mentors
Schedule in time to consider and respond to any comments you get
Submit final version
Anticipating Challenges
Think about realistic challenges you may face:
What do you know about yourself that might be relevant? What works for you? What doesn't work for you?
What can you guess about the unpredictable world that might be relevant?
When might you need some extra time?
Build in some wiggle room for your future self!