The Honors Thesis Journey: Asha Baron

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Asha Baron, a senior honors journalism and communications major, is in the midst of her Honors Thesis journey. Her Thesis consists of a creative portfolio combining her writing skills with her love of comedy. 

For her Thesis, Asha is writing six episodes of a workplace comedy series, and is also writing a pitch (a document sent to networks when pitching ideas for television shows). Baron was inspired by her time working as a tour guide in Washington, DC.

"I was working on a boat in Georgetown, DC, giving historical tours. The show is about that experience and the people that I met there, because they all seemed like television characters to me. They were very interesting people, and I just think they would all lend themselves well to a comedy," she says.

Her literature review includes books on screenplay writing and successful sitcom episodes. The screenplay was inspired by her research on these episodes, including noteworthy television shows like Parks and Recreation. Baron has always been interested in writing comedy. She notes that, during her time working as a tour guide, she kept notes on her phone about humorous experiences on the boat.

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She began her work as a final project in a class with film studies professor Kevin Anderson. For this project, Baron was allowed to write the pilot episode for her new sitcom. She continued developing the sitcom during an independent study with Anderson, who later became her Thesis supervisor.

Baron has taken her creative portfolio in stride and offers advice to students looking to also pursue a creative portfolio for the thesis:

“Don't be intimidated by the idea that your Thesis is going to be different. Don't let that intimidate you away from doing it. Your Thesis is just as valid. If you're more of a creative person, then do a creative thesis, do what you like to do. Don't be afraid to ask for help, talk to the people in the Honors College, talk to people about what you're doing. They're very much willing to help."

Baron is very excited to finish her screenplay and maybe one day we’ll get to see it on our screens!