You will meet with your thesis committee for the first time on Tuesday, February 5, 2002.  The purpose of this meeting will be to introduce the proposed hypothesis and design problem vehicle which you are considering for your thesis work, and to receive the response of your committee members.

At this early point in the thesis process, your proposal is not expected to be fully resolved. It should be understood as a provisional and non-binding point of departure, a means of instigating further work. However, it is in the best interests of you and your committee that it is as complete as possible, even if some areas are generic or speculative. But don't panic if you can't address all areas now! At this point, it is also appropriate to include alternatives to, or variations on any of the areas of discussion.

Outline

Please use the following general outline in writing your proposal:

COVER SHEET:

Header: ARC505 Thesis Preparation Spring 2002

A. Title.
The title references the topic of the thesis, its contention, in the most succint manner possible.

B. Subtitle
The subtitle references the vehicle. Thus it typically names a building type and a proposed site.

C. Author:
Your name.

D. Date:
Spring 2002

Note that latter versions of this cover sheet will be more formal and will list the names of the committee.

Within the document:

I. Contention
A. Issue(s) of concern
B. Your position regarding issue(s)

II. Program
A. Institution / activities
B. Approximate square footage
C. Design issues presented by program
D. Ways in which specific program helps test hypothesis

III. Site
A. Identification
B. Graphic documentation
C. Issues presented by site
D. Ways in which specific site helps test hypothesis

IV. Processes and techniques
A. Research / design process tactics and strategies
B. Representational tactics and strategies
C. Issues presented by process and techniques
D. Ways in which specific processes and techniques help test hypothesis