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HONORS
The
senior honors program is for outstanding majors in SHC who wish
to take on the challenge of actively conducting research on their
own chosen topic. In three years of classroom learning, students
will have acquired a great deal of information and a variety of
interpretive skills. But for those with a passionate interest in
treating science in context, there is no substitute for actually
doing a sustained piece of research and writing.
The rewards they reap are many: the chance to work closely with
a faculty advisor, to craft an original research project, to sample
the pleasures of sustained intellectual study, and to sharpen their
skills in writing and research.
What are Honors and How to Apply
Basic Requirements
Students who wish to pursue honors in SHC must enroll in 398-1,2,3
(or an approved substitute set of courses), as well as complete
a senior thesis. Admission into 398-1,2,3 depends on 1) the securing
of a faculty advisor interested in working with the student, 2)
the completion of a research proposal acceptable to the director
of SHC, and 3) a minimum GPA of 3.3 overall and a minimum GPA of
3.3 within SHC. Students who complete their thesis with distinction
may then be recommended for honors on the vote of the director of
SHC, the student's faculty advisor, and (if needed) one other designated
SHC faculty member. The final awarding of honors is made by the
Committee on Honors of WCAS.
Applying for the 398 Seminar
Outstanding SHC majors are encouraged to apply to the seminar
in the spring of their junior year. Students need to submit a brief
(2 page) research proposal by the end of the sixth week of the spring
quarter and indicate that they have secured the assent of a faculty
advisor. Based on these proposals, the director will admit qualified
students into the honors program.
Writing a Research Proposal
Topic
Before they can begin, students will need to choose a topic,
one that will hold their interest over the long haul. Think of the
problems that have gotten under your skin in previous classes. What
issues have interested you most? Do you have any special language
skills? What kinds of materials do you most enjoy working with?
Do you feel a special affinity with a particular place or epoch
or issue? What sort of question would you like to answer?
Advisor
All students must secure, in advance, the agreement of a faculty
member to act as their advisor. After having given some thought
to potential topics, students should approach a prospective advisor,
and work with them to define a compelling, but workable project.
Statement
Based on this process of thinking, reading, and discussion,
students should prepare a short (2 page) statement outlining their
proposed topic. It is important to prepare as concise and coherent
a statement as possible at this preliminary stage. Be sure to identify
a specific problem or question the thesis will address. Indicate
the method with which you will treat this problem. If possible,
set your approach within the context of what other scholars working
in related areas have written. A short bibliography is essential.
Your objective is to demonstrate that you have begun to think through
the research process, that you have acquainted yourself with your
material and are aware of the issues at stake in your project. The
proposal should also speak to the your abilities, drawing attention
to relevant course work, previous research experience, language
skills, or other factors relevant to the project. Be certain to
include the name of a proposed advisor. No one will be admitted
to the seminar without faculty sponsorship.
Writing a Senior Thesis
The 398 Seminar
The 398 seminar is a three-quarter sequence taken in the senior
year in which honors students prepare a thesis and meet regularly
as colleagues to discuss problems of common interest under the guidance
of a faculty member. When this course is not available, a substitute
one-on-one reading class may be taken. Students will receive "K" grades at the end of the fall and winter quarters and then three
letter grades at the end of the spring; these three letter grades
need not be the same. Students also meet regularly with their faculty
advisor throughout the year.
The Thesis
A thesis makes some original contribution to the field. The
variety of methods and approaches taught in SHC mean that no single
type of thesis can be set as a definitive model. The originality
of the thesis may lie in its explication of untapped materials,
its reinterpretation of familiar problems, its new synthesis of
existing interpretations, or some other novelty. A thesis will almost
invariably include: 1) an introduction to set out the problem, limit
the scope of the inquiry, and position the thesis in relation to
the current state of opinion on the topic, 2) a set of chapters
to present and analyze the relevant areas, and 3) a conclusion to
summarize these findings and suggest future avenues of research.
Theses are typically 40-60 pages in length and include a thorough
bibliography.
Research help
The SHC program and Northwestern University are prepared to
assist students financially in undertaking research for their senior
thesis. Students may apply for grants from Northwestern University's
undergraduate research funds. They may also be receive-upon application-up
to $1000 in financing from the SHC program itself for research directly
relating to their thesis topic.
http://www.northwestern.edu/undergrad-research/
Due dates/Requirements
The final thesis is due in the second-to-last week of classes
in the spring term. The student submits three bound copies: one
for his or her advisor, one for the director of 398, and one for
the department to keep on file. The thesis must include a title
page, acknowledgments, a one-page summary with five keywords, the
core text, endnotes (or footnotes), and a bibliography. The thesis
must be carefully proofread and the references prepared carefully
and in a consistent style.
Getting Honors
The Recommendation for Honors
Completion of the 398 seminar is necessary to be eligible for
departmental honors, but it does not assure the granting of honors.
The SHC program merely recommends students for honors, and their
recommendation is subject to approval by the CAS Committee on Superior
Students and Honors. SHC uses the following criteria in its deliberations:
1.
Two readers of the thesis must judge it to be of very high quality.
One will be the faculty advisor; the other is the director of
the SHC. In all cases, both readers must submit a written evaluation
of the thesis, explaining their recommendation for (or against)
the granting of honors, and commenting on the originality and
quality of the work. In cases where there is a division of opinion,
the third faculty member of SHC will report on the thesis as well.
2. The candidate should have a minimum GPA of 3.3 in SHC courses.
3. The candidate should have a minimum GPA of 3.3 overall.
4. Exceptions will be made to the minimum GPA requirement in items
2 and 3 if the thesis is judged of extraordinarily high quality.
The
CAS Committee on Superior Students then makes the final determination
of honors.
Complaints
In the case of complaints or difficulties, students may address
themselves to the director of SHC, and if they remain unsatisfied,
to the director of undergraduate studies in their home department
who will then resolve the issue.
Questions and Further Information
If you have any questions about the program, or simply wish
to discuss possible topics, feel free to contact the director of
the program, Prof. Ken Alder at k-alder@northwestern.edu
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