Things that I think of when "thesis" is mentioned: Long Scholarly Specific issue Something I give a damn about Comprehensive All inclusive/exhaustive Precise Descriptive New Unique Respectable Focused on topic/issue carefully In-depth Built upon theories/older research Contributes to academics, society, and knowledge Something to be proud of First big paper Meaningful and important topic Something I'm already into and know about	Things that are important to me: Iraq Social justice Activism Native mascots Food/economic rights Information Alt.media Sustainability Capitalism / corporate power critique Human rights Non-violence/anti-war Democracy/anarchism Punk/indie rock culture/music
Criteria to decide a thesis topic upon: Relates to geography I've studies before (non-academically) I'm really into That I can (relatively) easily do in Akron Will keep my attention for a whole year Academic enough to stand-up to scrutiny and review Makes me want to write and do [field] research on Isn't bullshit Maybe a local angle/relevance/criteria/situation	Things that I think of in regards to "geography": Places People Interactions Cities Comparisons of places/people Space/distance Explaining a process How to define a place/people/idea Far away countries Importance of space and time Levels of taxonomy/hierarchy among space (government, society, economics, people) Why is that happening here/there? Relationships between two or more distant places/people
Things that differentiate me from other or "the average" students: More radical Activism Read more peripheral things See college as a platform for freedom (personal) Enjoy challenging others/myself Writing long papers is cool Creating a relationship with profs Attitude of enjoyment I laugh a lot and tell stories Things impassion me Less concerned with "trivial" things Don't care about "work" or getting a "job" Partying is interesting but not a goal Want to push myself to learn and know more and more Like hearing lectures, presentations, etc.	Reasons that I want to write a thesis paper: It'll be a challenge Know something so in-depth Something to be proud of Project to work on (over a long period of time) A "rites of passage" for a scholar Being able to think of something new/creative Doing research/"field-work" Publishing a book-sized piece of writing Contribute to a particular field of study Freedom to learn, broadly Writing and expressing my ideas (in different ways) Have it blossom in to a "career" or "interest" or a "life focus" of sorts Want to be able to say I Did That! Can tip my hat to writers and scholars I admire Be beneficial towards "doing good" with it (for society and people)
Things that I do in Ohio: Food Not Bombs Grad school Bike different places STAND Different things with AFSC Angela Go to libraries Lots of meetings Talk/meet with lots of people	Things that I've studies before (in depth): Iraq Anarchism The Drug War Native American reservations Central America - sustainability History (recent American) Media bias Globalization (Capitalism) Wars/non-violence Religion/theism/atheism Computers (internet, OS theory, programming)
Things that I spend a lot of time doing: Reading up on lots of different topics Talking with people one-on-one Relating histories Activism/planning Trying to put together a cohesive/comprehensive world view Writing about what I'm thinking Trying to save the world Going from one place to another Making lists