How to Get Politicians' Thesis Papers
If you want to know what politicians were like before they became elected officials, their theses can provide insight into their focus and interests while they were college students. Because most people change in their positions over time, a politician's thesis can show how his ideas evolved. The insight you gain from reading a politician's thesis can be useful whether you are a teacher, student or voter interested in learning more about an elected official.
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Instructions
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Look up politician biographies that include information about institutes of higher education they attended and the degrees they hold. You can find this information on the politician's personal website, an official government website or by searching periodicals and newspapers. If the politician holds a graduate degree, you may be able to find additional information about his research specialty by contacting the graduate department in the school attended.
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Consult with a research librarian at the politician's alma mater about your project by phone, email or in person. In the pre-Internet age, colleges and universities stored graduate theses in their library collections as regular books. If your research subject graduated recently, his thesis may be available in digital format. Ask the librarian where the school stores student theses, and how to search for them in the library.
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Research to make sure you have the right name before you search the library catalog or other university archives. If the politician changed her name since college, be sure to search under the name she used when enrolled as a student, and not under her current name.
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Check out the theses following library procedures. If the library classifies theses as reference materials, you may have to photocopy them in the library. Ask a librarian for advice on the best way to get the information you want from a thesis.
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References
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