Next up in our Honours Student Interview Series is Emma Prantner. Scroll down to read through the complete interview and learn all about her honours thesis research and writing process.
What is the title of your honours thesis?
“Language in Crisis: Der Deutsche Schulverein and German Speakers in the Austro Hungarian Empire”
What interested you in this topic? Why did you choose it for your thesis?
I had an informal chat with a professor in my second year (Dr. Bryce) who was teaching a course on world history (HIST103). He had worked on a similar project of considering Germans and German identity abroad so we talked about possible research projects for me. It was very important for me to get to work with German sources (to utilise my language ability) and to get to work with a topic associated with Austria – a country that I now call home.
What was your favourite part of the research process?
I loved talking about my research with anyone who would listen! Whether they knew about the topic or not, talking about it and answering questions was how I got to really know my sources and my research. The archival work in Germany was an incredible opportunity (funded very generously by the Conway Travel Grant) and the lessons that I learned that summer are now carrying me through my master’s project (also in history)!
Where do you hope to go next with your research or career?
I’m currently finishing my dual master’s degree with Columbia University and the London School of Economics in international and world history. My dissertation is due in May so this spring is all about writing my story. This project is focused on environmental history in the Baltic Sea sphere – a new topic for me, which has been incredibly rewarding thus far. I’m hoping to continue on my academic path towards a PhD and would like to continue working on 20th century environmental history.
What advice would you give to someone who is excited but nervous about writing their honours thesis next year?
Talk about your project! Both with your peers, your other friends and with professors. It’s how you learn to express what your topic is really about, and often the questions that you get asked help you think about new angles of your research. You’ll also be surprised by just how much you know about your topic! My second piece of advice is to start writing early – even if it’s just in the form of doodling. Getting words on a blank paper is the hardest part but once you get into the flow of writing it gets easier. It is also much easier to flush out your thinking and your arguments when you have something concrete to work with.
Do you have a fun or anecdote you would like to share?
The only think I can come up with after laboriously thinking about this for 10 minutes is that most of my proof reading was done out loud to the audience of my very disinterested dog. (who nevertheless always listened very attentively to the tales of Germans abroad)
