Junior Year
- Identify a topic of interest
- Identify and contact two potential faculty advisors
- Write a one-page proposal in consultation with faculty advisor by June 1 to include:
- Topic
- Faculty Advisor
- Brief bibliography of summer research readings
Summer term
First week of July, as a rising Senior: submit a description of the topic you intend to pursue to your two advisors and the chair.
Senior Year
Fall Term
Second week of classes, senior year-(2022 deadline: September 20th 9 AM): submit a formal thesis proposal, signed by two advisors, submitted to Liz Cassell for the steering committee approval.
Content of the proposal:
Name, tentative title, explanation of the title;
2-4 pages double-spaced pages, including the following:
- a very brief introduction of the texts/artifacts that you plan to analyze;
- a clear description and explanation of what is comparative about your approach and why this comparison matters;
- an explanation of what questions you intend to ask and what approach you intend to use to answer them. If you are already clear about your methodological orientation, say so.
- an indication of the direction that background reading on the topic might take (including theoretical writings, historical background on a given period, criticism of a given author's works);
- a brief statement of what you hope to find out in the course of this work, as well as how it matters in the bigger scheme of discussions in present-day scholarship, criticism, and/or society;
- a bibliography of primary and secondary works.
Please get feedback of the draft from your advisors and the chair before submitting. Also get feedback from peers.
**NOTE: Students who miss the deadline may not be able to write the thesis.
Winter term:
- Enroll in COLT 85
- Research, read, write in consultation with faculty advisor and meet for regular consultations
Spring Term
- Enroll in COLT 87 to complete your thesis
- Finish writing, format thesis using MLA guidelines and submit it to your advisors by the third Monday in May
- Public oral presentation : May 25, 2023 15:30-5 PM, (typically the 4th week in May)
- Upload your final thesis to digital commons: instructions will be sent via email: due date June 1st