Course Description
This course provides you with the building blocks to construct a successful honors thesis. The topics and readings provide guidelines and examples for each element of your project. In parallel with each topic and assigned reading, you will be reading and researching your own sources that apply to your thesis project. By the end of Autumn Quarter, you will, step by step, have produced a complete research design and will have begun the research and writing process for your thesis. During Winter Quarter, you will complete and defend your honors thesis.
Building a community to support your research and writing is important. Your honors cohort, this class, and the faculty and students of the department are all part of your research and writing community. Research and writing are daily practices. Attaining excellence in research is no different than attaining excellence in piano, ballet, basketball, or soccer. Work on an element of your project every day. Some days will include many hours of intensive work, but that is no substitute for your daily practice.
Course Requirements
Weekly thesis assignments (40%)
You will complete thesis assignments every week; they provide essential building blocks of your thesis. Assignments are to be submitted via Canvas the night before class. (5% each).
Workshop presentations and participation (30%)
You will present your assignment for a class workshop twice during the quarter as noted in the Course Schedule (10%), comment on presentations throughout the quarter (5%), present your full research design to the class at the end of the quarter (10%), and discuss assigned material throughout the quarter (5%).
Complete research design (30%)
Your work throughout the quarter will culminate in a complete written research design that, supervised by your advisor, will guide your independent research and writing during Winter Quarter. (30%)