24th July 2008, 05:00 PM
Undergrad dissertation-wise it's better to do a smaller topic well than a big topic badly. I got a first and I only looked at secondary sources.... you don't necessarily need archive material. The important part is to not just repeat, but try to add something new to whatever you're doing. A few ideas:
*Pick a period, pick an artefact type and analyse it to death with some insightful interpretation. Sounds easy if you say it fast!
*Pick a method - 'how has the use of isotopes informed the (pre)history of XX?'
*Pick a theoretical stance 'Feminism and the Iron Age' or 'Phenomenology and the Bronze Age'
Lastly, pick something you KNOW you like and try not to change your mind! I'd just read some general texts and peruse. Find something you really enjoy. About twice as many dissertations are started than finished!
Good luck
*Pick a period, pick an artefact type and analyse it to death with some insightful interpretation. Sounds easy if you say it fast!
*Pick a method - 'how has the use of isotopes informed the (pre)history of XX?'
*Pick a theoretical stance 'Feminism and the Iron Age' or 'Phenomenology and the Bronze Age'
Lastly, pick something you KNOW you like and try not to change your mind! I'd just read some general texts and peruse. Find something you really enjoy. About twice as many dissertations are started than finished!
Good luck