Writing an ALM thesis: Solo effort, a personal marathon, and finding a sounding board

As I described earlier in the week, there is another ALM thesis blog in progress. The other student -- a government concentrator -- is in the early stages of thesis research, but made a few statements about the personal issues involved in writing a thesis. Here is an excerpt from the "Thesis Blueprint" entry:

There is no blueprint. There is a general thesis manual. There is an advisor. There is something of a ‘broad stroke’ roadmap but the specific focus, effort, and persistence is all on the student. A solo effort throughout the early phases — reading, searching, pondering, narrowing down.

But doing a thesis isn’t only about academics; it’s also about emotions. A personal marathon. Frustration, excitement, confusion, hope, uncertainty. Did I mention doubt? So there are two parallel experiences in the thesis: the academic one and the personal one. My personal blueprint: have someone close to you who will act as a sounding board, emotional conduit, a grounding force, a reality check. Academic friends who take the same classes or professors, live nearby, hang out at Pete's Coffee and share gossip — they are the support system we lack because as older grad. students, most of us have busy lives, quite separate from both Harvard Square and Extension.

I totally agree with several points that the writer makes. The ALM thesis really is a solo effort. We're on our own 99% of the time, without peer feedback and peer pressure. We are really responsible for keeping ourselves motivated -- we don't have departmental affiliations and the regular contact with fellow grad students and professors that exist at other graduate-level programs. It is kind of like a "personal marathon," albeit one in slow-motion.

However, I would like to say that the blueprint you use doesn't have to include "someone close to you who will act as a sounding board, emotional conduit, a grounding force, a reality check." It's great if you have someone like that who is willing and able to take that role, but I would like to note that you can get by without a friend or family member to serve as a sounding board.

That said, some feedback is useful, and important. I turned to this blog, and the ALM thesis writers' group to serve as my feedback loop.

Check out the rest of the Mission Control blog, on the Harvard Law School blogging site.