I am a stone’s throw from completing my grad studies. I’m currently working on my thesis acknowledgments. Although my academic supervisor disappeared without contact for weeks on end, I will be gracious for his help, of course. I know who to thank and for the most part I know what to say.
To properly acknowledge my husband, however, I’m stuck at the starting gate. This man has lent incredible support, advice, encouragement, not only in the writing of the thesis, but throughout my research. He’s a one-man band of Hurray for Heckity!
Even the notion that I should continue my studies after a considerable break was due to his encouragement.
My sentiment might result in an overly cloying missive. I want my words to be memorable and unique.
There are so many gifted writers on the SDMB - I’m just looking for help in uncorking the bottle, so-to-speak. How would you begin? What would you want to hear, as a spouse or partner, should you be acknowledged in this way?
Does your school keep an online database of all the theses and dissertations of its graduates (mind did)? If so, I’d check out a few at random to see what others have written. It might inspire your creative juices to start flowing.
Does this not already say it all? I doubt he wants reams of flowery sentiments.
I have, in the past spent a number of years on a committee that makes awards to “best” M.Sc. and Ph.D theses in a certain category and was always fascinated by the acknowledgement page(s). I read MANY theses where the acknowledgements were cringeworthy and went on for several pages.
When I wrote both my M.Sc. thesis and doctoral thesis, I think one of the best tips I took to heart was to make short mention of those who helped by name and in one or two words or short phrase the way in which they had helped (research, funding, emotional encouragement etc.).
Thesis supervisor, or other advisors, close family/friends extended to a sentence or two.
I often found, when serving on that committee, that the longest-winded and for want of a better word “sucky” acknowledgements often equated to some of the worst written and woolly-minded theses.
YMMV. Just throwing out some thoughts for your consideration.
Missed edit window so just have to add some more thoughts.
This is likely to be a document that goes out into a public forum whether it is the University library, internet as a PDF file or other format, so only say in your acknowledgements what you want others to read.
Consider too that a potential employer may read your thesis and you want to appear as a professional person.
A thesis is not an ode to your SO - except perhaps in certain literary circles.
You might consider a specially bound copy for your husband with something very personal; verse, poem, picture, pressed flower etc. just for him if you want to get more sentimental than you might in a more academic framework.
Thanks, SmellMyWort I will keep reading thesis acknowledgments - so far they are helpful but haven’t really inspired me. King Bobo, Thank you very much for your thoughts. I was worried about writing something ‘cringe worthy’. Your idea that I should have a specially bound copy for my husband is a wonderful idea. I think I shall wax poetic in his copy - and write only heartfelt but professional acknowledgments in the published copy.