The Senior
Thesis is a year-long project (during which students enroll in AH371 Fall,
and AH381 Spring) culminating in a lengthy paper of approximately 25-50
pages.In some cases, enrollment
in AH381 may follow intensive work students have completed in a 300-level
course other than AH371.This endeavor
is an important learning experience carefully mentored by faculty advisors.Writing
a Thesis is not an entitlement but a privilege.A
potential advisor should thoroughly evaluate students in terms of ability,
commitment, preparation, and appropriate match between advisor and student
before accepting a student.Generally,
the student should have taken at least one course with the advisor.The
Thesis is necessarily a unique process for each student and her/his advisor,
and it must be customized, often by trial-and-error during the process
itself.
JUNIOR
YEAR, SPRING
Students
meet with faculty to identify a Thesis advisor and topic; register for
AH371.Advisors alert students to
available funds and deadlines – Student Opportunity Funds and the Harry
Gaugh Fund.
_____________________________________________________________________
·confirm
with advisors their intent to proceed
·in
consultation with their advisors, draft a schedule for readings and meetings
· begin
bibliographic research
during
the semester students
·continue
substantial research to gather relevant material and identify the thesis
of the Thesis
·meet
regularly with advisors to discuss their progress
by
the end of the semester students
·complete
a comprehensive annotated bibliography
·identify
a thesis and present it in a written proposal
·register
for AH381
·discuss
with advisors an acceptable Thesis format, including thesis, introduction,
transitions between sections or chapters, conclusion, and scholarly form
NOTE:
if a student decides not to complete the Thesis s/he needs to renegotiate
with her/his advisor the nature of the final project, due in December
during
winter break students
·begin
drafting the Thesis
SENIOR
YEAR, SPRING
first
week of classes students
·meet
with advisors to confirm intent to proceed
·consult
advisors about selecting the second reader
·in
consultation with their advisors, plan a writing schedule, identifying
revision due dates for sections/chapters
·will
be informed by their advisors that they should have a completed draft by
the prize deadline, on or about April 1
during
the semester students
meet regularly
with advisors to discuss writing progress
April
1st
·when
deemed appropriate by advisors, students turn in the final draft of the
Thesis for prize consideration; Art History faculty write responses to
papers
All students
(whether or not they submit their Thesis for a prize) will revise their
Theses until the end of classes, incorporating feedback from advisors,
second readers, and possibly other faculty.Students
turn in the final draft to their advisors and second readers by the end
of the semester.
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