Folks, look in the blogroll for a pdf of the thesis advice I handed out tonight.

Also, you asked for copies of good theses from years gone by. See the samples in the blogroll under “sample theses.”

I’ll see Group A on Thursday. I want to know about your progress.

Your thesis proposals are due next Tuesday, March 10th.

Proposals should be 4 to 5 pages long (not counting bibliography). First, they should identify the sonnet sequence with which you have chosen to work. Second, they should explain the different approaches that you expect to pursue when writing about your sequence. Suggested focuses include but are not limited to meter & form, symbolism, the plotting of the sequence, its literary or historical significance, development of overall sequence logic, treatment by previous critics, biographical introduction to your author, etc. You should provide some discussion of ways that critics have approached your sequence — at the very least provide information about what sort of secondary source work you have identified (if not yet read). Finally, provide a bibliography of editions for your primary source and of secondary sources with which you will work.