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Hey guys, I need your help.
I have to choose the topic for my MA paper and I can't even decide which area of American Studies I should focus on.
I know I don't want to write about history and politics. Culture, people - those are the things that interest me. Phenomena, trends that are exclusive to Americans are also welcome. Obviously, I need to research sth and prove in my paper that it is like this, and not like that. Also, while thinking about possible ideas, take into account that I live in Poland and I may not have similar access to required materials, although the Internet is very helpful. Abundance of materials is sth I consider crucial.
That said, I'll be very thankful for any interesting ideas you come up with.
Thanks in advance.
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Don`t think it`s very smart to ask for a topic on the internet at least without giving useful background knowledge (your interests, the research field of your supervisor, your areas of competence etc.)
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The thing that jumps to my mind immediately is our ingrained ideals of Calvinistic Protestantism and the American Dream. Basically the American Dream is that with hard work and dedication you can go from rags to riches. Calvinistic Protestantism was the basis of this idea and a core tenant of our founding fathers. You could cite real world topical examples such as the immigration bot legal and illegal (ie from Mexico) because the immigrants view the USA as the land of opportunity and want the American Dream. You could also bring up the Occupy Wall Street movement that is currently going on and talk about the younger generations have become disillusioned with the idea of the American Dream. I have never had to write a senior thesis though so this may not help you at all. 
Cheers and good luck!
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You are going to need to provide a very thorough picture of yourself as it pertains to interests, academic experience, and faculty familiarity. In other words, the internet is a pretty bad place for advice of this sort, but to even attempt we'd need a lot of detail.
^To the guy above, American dream thesis paper? I'm sorry, but those topics are more for senior year of high school, maybe undergraduate. At a masters level, you have to at least attempt to say something "new", or investigate a particular phenomena in a unique manner. Although, maybe this is not the case, the fact that the OP goes to school in Poland makes this even harder.
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wouldnt it be more productive to talk to your professor?
Have a little chat with him talk about what general field you want to write about and I am sure he can point you to good books which will help you find a thesis for your paper.
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Gambling? Attitudes towards etc. Like changes in, or the recent controversies about offshore gambling sites.
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What do Advisers do nowadays?
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The American desert, and its effect on artists, such as Burning Man's David Best.
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Look into the dynamic between students and professors in American colleges and Universities, particularly the advising roles professors take with their students. Maybe you could then compare that dynamic with Poland's professor/student relationship.
+ Show Spoiler +
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Talking to adviser is obviously the way to go. But things to think about: What kind of classes have you taken? Which stood out for you more? What are you passionate about? Also think about feasibility; don't work on things just because they sound amazing, make sure they are doable for your MA period.
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MA Thesis? Or paper for MA course work?
You ask advice in an online community?
For Starcraft?
And, as a graduate work, you plan to write on American Studies?
Specifically culture and people?
To top that, you are in Poland/Polish?
Back in my days, you take graduate degree to specialize, and not explore something you don't even have the vaguest idea about. This can't be serious.
You must be trolling, sir.
In the off chance that you are serious, I suggest American Porn, it's structure, how, through its narrative and filmic expressions, quotes from the American society in general. That'd be some graduate work, I guess.
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On December 02 2011 02:24 DueSs wrote:Look into the dynamic between students and professors in American colleges and Universities, particularly the advising roles professors take with their students. Maybe you could then compare that dynamic with Poland's professor/student relationship. + Show Spoiler +
This varies not only from school to school, but advisor to advisor. You would know this if you had completed middle school.
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On December 02 2011 02:26 Agent Smith wrote:
MA Thesis? Or paper for MA course work?
You ask advice in an online community?
For Starcraft?
And, as a graduate work, you plan to write on American Studies?
Specifically culture and people?
To top that, you are in Poland/Polish?
Back in my days, you take graduate degree to specialize, and not explore something you don't even have the vaguest idea about. This can't be serious.
You must be trolling, sir.
In the off chance that you are serious, I suggest American Porn, it's structure, how, through its narrative and filmic expressions, quotes from the American society in general. That'd be some graduate work, I guess.
in my time people are actually able to read the first few sentences at least 
he is talking about his MA thesis and not about PhD. Doesnt really make him look better but yeah ...
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On December 02 2011 02:21 MangoTango wrote:
Homework threads ಠ_ಠ
Homework thread? really? He's brainstorming his master's thesis. Its not some high school history report LOL.
You should pick a cultural concept that is distinctly American in contrast to the rest of the first world I think.
-Prison system based on punishment and retribution not rehabilitation
- A political system that views compromise as a sign weakness not a sign of progress
- American Health care, particularly the struggles those living under the poverty line go through in obtaining the most basic of health care (ER care). You could have a lot of room to talk about the possible long term savings in increasing preventative care (if everyone had a physical every year there would be less people visiting the ER for example)
- The generation of 20 somethings who have a college education, but have no work experience or truly marketable skills, and have been taught all life that working a physical labor job or something is "below" them or a sign of failure. Basically the Occupy Wall Street Movement.
That's all I got! You can totally PM if you wanna bounce ideas or something.
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On December 02 2011 02:26 Agent Smith wrote:
Back in my days, you take graduate degree to specialize, and not explore something you don't even have the vaguest idea about. This can't be serious.
You must be trolling, sir.
And now you post on the team liquid forums.
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Ok, I'll add some info about myself.
I'm majoring in English Philology and I'm minoring in American Studies (I hope I said that correctly). So, I think, it does not have to be as original a paper as in the case if I majored in American Studies, or, at least, studied Sociology or Cultural Studies. I like NBA, American music (rap, rock, r&b), Hollywood movies, American tv shows, American education system (you have so much more freedom, compared to the Polish one where you have to study lots of unimportant subjects at every lvl of education). I'll try to add more info later.
#Skilledblob - It would be, but right now my ideas are way too vague. He won't do it for me, and I wouldn't even expect it. It's my responsibility to make the ideas as precise as possible. Then he can think of some specific topics or tell me if the idea is a go or no-go.
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On December 02 2011 02:29 Skilledblob wrote:Show nested quote +On December 02 2011 02:26 Agent Smith wrote:
MA Thesis? Or paper for MA course work?
You ask advice in an online community?
For Starcraft?
And, as a graduate work, you plan to write on American Studies?
Specifically culture and people?
To top that, you are in Poland/Polish?
Back in my days, you take graduate degree to specialize, and not explore something you don't even have the vaguest idea about. This can't be serious.
You must be trolling, sir.
In the off chance that you are serious, I suggest American Porn, it's structure, how, through its narrative and filmic expressions, quotes from the American society in general. That'd be some graduate work, I guess.
in my time people are actually able to read the first few sentences at least he is talking about his MA thesis and not about PhD. Doesnt really make him look better but yeah ...
His title is MA thesis. But he introduces it as an MA paper idea. So I asked.
Nonetheless, how do you even dare defend this?!! What kind of university even has students that are on the "exploratory" stage of their Master's work, thesis or simple course work. What a shame!
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On December 02 2011 02:27 cyanide66 wrote:Show nested quote +On December 02 2011 02:24 DueSs wrote:Look into the dynamic between students and professors in American colleges and Universities, particularly the advising roles professors take with their students. Maybe you could then compare that dynamic with Poland's professor/student relationship. + Show Spoiler + This varies not only from school to school, but advisor to advisor. You would know this if you had completed middle school.
Oh the irony. This flew over your head like an eagle. Read it again, but this time APPLY the sarcasm.
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On December 02 2011 02:34 DueSs wrote:Show nested quote +On December 02 2011 02:27 cyanide66 wrote:On December 02 2011 02:24 DueSs wrote:Look into the dynamic between students and professors in American colleges and Universities, particularly the advising roles professors take with their students. Maybe you could then compare that dynamic with Poland's professor/student relationship. + Show Spoiler + This varies not only from school to school, but advisor to advisor. You would know this if you had completed middle school. Oh the irony. This flew over your head like an eagle. Read it again, but this time APPLY the sarcasm.
Goddamit! LOL
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EPT
