I don't post here often anymore, but I'm hoping one of you smarties can help me.
I'm applying to grad school, and several of the schools require a fully formulated master's thesis -- a fact which I just found out last week. I know the era I want to study, and the general topics I want to explore, but I'm nowhere near prepared to formulate a thesis. Unfortunately, I have to. I can change it later, but I have to write something smart enough to get in!
If anyone is an expert in 18th Century literature, or knows someone who is, who would be willing to PM or online chat with me for 10-15 minutes and let me bounce ideas off them, I would be super grateful. I'm not asking for anyone to tell me what to write; I just want to confirm that the ideas I have aren't overly obvious to someone more immersed in the field than I am.
I'm confused as to why they want a full thesis before you apply?? Isn't that what you work on while you're there? I'm in grad school right now and I'm working on my thesis project during the program. Do you mean they need a fully-formulated idea/essay explaining your planned thesis project/course of study?
Anyway, I can't be of help with your thesis topic, but best of luck to you!
Thanks to you both. Yep, they want a research proposal that includes an insane amount of detail. When I said "thesis" I meant the actual thesis to be explicated in the written work generally known as the thesis. Sorry, should have been clearer about that.
Anyhoo, I got some further clarity and at least now know the exact parameters of the proposal, which I guess is good. Overwhelming, but good.