Thesis isn’t too far away, so here are some goals to get me ready…
Goal 1: Reread the cited articles of my proposed concentration. Do they still make sense? Decide if they are still applicable, and if so, write a brief description of a NEW way to think about the same readings (as opposed to the idea that is cited in my proposal). Find at least 3 new articles that relate to any new ways of understanding the previous articles/sources. My thoughts about my concentration topic have gone through a lot of change over the past few years, but it is hard to back such changes up when I can’t remember my original sources. Having new ideas does not mean I need to start from scratch, going backwards can help me move my concentration forwards.
Goal 2: Work towards 3 possible ideas for thesis. This would include at least 3 framing/focus questions and a possible methodology for achieving each topic. I’ve been starting to think about what direction I want my thesis to go, but have not thought realistically about what sort of research it would require. Would I need to work with GIS? Other data processors? If so, I need to figure out early because it might require me to have a better working knowledge of whatever I decide.
Goal 3: I think I want to situate my thesis in Japan, especially after studying abroad there. What are the biggest issues happening in Japan? Look up at least 3 different articles pertaining to at least 3 different topics of interest in Japan. Can they be connected together? What is Japan’s environmental history/academics? I have mostly studied Japan through culture and language, if I am to situate my work there, I need to have a more concrete understanding of what that would look like. How can I connect Japan with something here in Portland?
I really appreciated your first goal because I have been struggling with deciding on how to frame my concentration. I have been overwhelmed by the amount of information I have been exposed to and I constantly feel like I have to change my whole concentration. I specifically thought that what you said about going backwards was really insightful and I think I should do something similar. In order to accomplish your third goal I think that Andrew Bernstein would be a really good resource to go to. I was in his Global Environmental History class last semester and he had a wealth of knowledge that pertained to Japan’s environmental history.
Good stuff, Tasha!
I especially love your first goal because it inspires me to do the same. It is tempting for me to just completely throw out everything I have worked on because I am going in a new direction, but it is important to try and build rather than start over. Adding on to this, maybe it would be helpful for you to take it a step farther and write a new set of 4 questions, before going back and seeing how your old questions fit in to the different directions you want to go in.
First, loved how the ellipses leads provocatively into the post. Also, just organizationally speaking, it’s helpful that you separated your goals and arranged them so neatly. About goal 3, I wonder what you mean when you say ‘biggest issues,’ just because that is so broad and subjective. Do you mean specifically in terms of environmental issues, or maybe social issues, economic, all the above? Whatever they are I like that you are looking to find the connections between them! I also think that something interesting that connects Japan with Portland is that Japan (or at least certain people and places there) use and have used Portland as a model of a successfully environmentally friendly city, and potentially even based some of their city planning off of Portland.
I think that your second goal is particularly strong and forward looking, even though it sounds really hard! If you can do that, though, I’m certain it will benefit you a ton!