Superior students majoring in German (a GPA of 3.5 in German and 3.3 overall) may qualify for departmental honors by completing a research project (an honor thesis) during their last year of study. Students will complete two quarters of advanced German: they may choose from German 398, German 399, or 400-level courses. Interested students should consult with the departmental Director of Undergraduate Study (Franziska Lys) or the Honor's adviser (Stefanie Harris).

How to get started
If students are interested in writing an honor thesis, they should contact Prof. Stefanie Harris by e-mail (s-harris8@northwestern.edu) or by phone (491-8295) to make an appointment. He will then discuss their topic with them, will help them arrange a winter/spring quarter sequence of Independent Study, and will help them put together a thesis committee to supervise the work (an advisor specializing in the area of their research and one independent reader). To have time to research and write a thesis, students may sign up for two quarters of 399 during their senior year (or for two 400-level courses, or for one 400-level course and one 399).

Format of an Honor Thesis
The two-quarter research should result in a thesis of 25 to 35 pages in length with endnotes and an up-to-date bibliography. The thesis should make an original contribution to the topic under discussion. In the context of undergraduate education, "original” denotes a study that deals with a given issue within the boundaries of established critical literature, exploring and developing particular angles that are underexposed or have been neglected. The thesis advisor establishes, in consultation with the students, the agenda and general schedule for the research and for the writing of the thesis. Even though students may have signed up for one or two quarters of Independent Study, the ongoing research should be guided by regular consultations between the each student and his or her advisor. In writing the thesis, students should be sure to review the guidelines on academic integrity provided by both the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and by Northwestern University.

Schedule and Review of Work
During fall quarter of the senior year, students should draft a general topic of the thesis, write a tentative synopsis of the project (2-4 pages in length), and submit it to the advisor and the second reader for their approval no later than one week before registration for winter quarter (sample project description). By the third week of winter quarter (i.e. the first quarter of Independent Study) students will have to submit a final statement and outline of the nature and substance of the research project. Both, the advisor and the second reader will have to approve it.

By the first week of spring quarter, students will submit a comprehensive draft of the senior thesis to their advisor. The advisor will review it and comment on the progress. This will serve as a basis for the final version of the thesis.

Towards the end of the spring quarter, at least three weeks before the College’s deadline of notification, students should give the final version of the thesis to the second reader who will suggest improvements, changes, or amendments to be incorporated into the submitted version of the thesis. The thesis advisor and the second reader will then be able to issue their independently written evaluations of the project. These statements will be communicated to the members of the honors committee for their approval of granting or not granting departmental honors. You will be notified no later than one week before the College’s deadline for the submission of the successful candidates’ names. In the case of a negative decision, you can request a review from any two members of the honors committee toward the reversal or confirmation of the original evaluation. The honors committee usually consists of three members, one of them serving as honors coordinator. It is to be constituted periodically for a three-year term of service.

If you have questions, please contact Stefanie Harris or Franziska Lys.