The Prospectus is, aside from the thesis itself, the most important document related to your thesis project. It defines and limits the scope of your research and becomes the guideline you will follow in researching and writing your thesis.

You will prepare your Prospectus with the guidance of your Thesis Director and the rest of your chosen committee. There is currently no formal defense of your Prospectus required by the Honors Office (although your committee may choose to do so).

PROSPECTUS IS DUE ON FRIDAY OF THE 7TH WEEK OF CLASSES, NO LATER THAN THE TERM BEFORE YOU ANTICIPATE DEFENDING YOUR THESIS. *IN ADDITION* ONE FULL TERM MUST ELAPSE BETWEEN COMPLETION OF YOUR PROSPECTUS AND DEFENSE OF YOUR THESIS.

YOU MAY NOT SUBMIT YOUR PROSPECTUS AND DEFEND IN THE SAME TERM!

Each member of your committee must read and approve your Prospectus. With this and the due date in mind, it is wise to plan ahead and allow time both for selecting your remaining committee members and for writing, submitting, and revising your Prospectus before you turn it in to the Honors Office.

Besides the required Prospectus Approval Form (all forms except the application are found in the Honors in the Major Blackboard organization), a strong Prospectus will usually include the following elements:

• A statement of the issue you will address, and how it is significant in your field (i.e., your project's nature and purpose)
• A critical review of related work in your field, with the purpose of providing background information and revealing your project's originality and how it is a worthwhile endeavor
• Your research methodology and defense of the methods you have chosen
• Tentative thesis outline. The expectation is not that you will follow this to the letter in your final thesis project, but that you will use it as a guideline to follow in continuing your research and writing up your paper.
• Preliminary bibliography (this will, of course, not be complete, but will provide insight into the types of resources you are using)
• Tentative time schedule showing inclusive dates for carrying out each phase of the research and writing of your thesis.

Your prospectus will demonstrate that you possess the intellectual skills and in-depth knowledge of your field sufficient to undertake and successfully complete your project.

There are occasions when the direction the research takes veers slightly from the original prospectus. Ordinarily, this is not a problem—it is, in fact, generally expected. In cases like this, there is no need to revise the prospectus.