New Senior Research Procedures for Projects to Earn Recognition
College Policy:
In spring 2009, the faculty passed a new policy regarding the “Recognition of Senior Thesis or Senior Creative Project.” This new policy on recognition of senior work is now in effect.
Standing for recognition is entirely voluntary. There is no college-wide GPA threshold for research recognition, although departments and programs may establish minimum requirements for students to apply for recognition. We suggest that researchers discuss with their advisor whether or not it is advisable for them to stand for recognition based upon both the quality of the work to date and the likelihood of meeting the April 12 deadline for recognition. Those students who elect not to stand for recognition will receive a grade on senior research 451/452 at the time senior grades are due. For those students who elect to stand for recognition, the following process has been established:
Standing for Recognition: In order to stand for recognition, senior researchers must do the following:-Secure a second reader: This reader must be a member of the teaching faculty and can be either inside or outside of the major department/program.
-Complete the Senior Recognition form by February 1st: This form is available in the Registrar’s office and on the office’s website. The form must be signed by the advisor, second reader, and department/program chair.
-Complete the project by April 12: By 4:00 p.m. on April 12, the senior researcher must submit three copies of the final product, in its appropriate form as determined by department or program, to the project advisor, major department/program chair, and second reader.
Meriting Recognition: A Final Product will be judged to merit Recognition if both the advisor and second reader give it a B or above, and at least one of the grades is a B+ or above. (These grades of the Final Product are separate from the grade for the eight [or four] credits submitted by the advisor for the Project). Projects that merit recognition will be recognized in the commencement program and on the student transcript. These projects will also be preserved in the library in the appropriate form as determined by the department or program.
Processing Recognition: The process for recognition to be properly recorded is as follows:
-Advisors and second readers must submit the grades on the Final Product to the Registrar’s Office by May 10. The Registrar’s Office will send an email to all advisors and readers requesting these grades.
-Advisors must submit a grade for the eight [or four] credit project (Dept/Prog course 451/452) by the date final grades for seniors are due.
-Department chairs must forward departmental copies of the final product to the Library by May 21.
Departmental Notes/Clarification: After the defense, advisors need to send the results (the papers committee members put grades on) to Sandra Cook in the registrar's office. She will determine if they make the requirements for recognition and forward the information for the Commencement Brochure.
The three copies: one goes to the dept, one to the library (send it to Ellen Conrad) and the third is for the student.
Department Policy:
Faculty/Student Responsibilities:
Primary Advisor: You need to designate one person as your Primary Advisor. This person will assign the grade and be the primary advisor for your project. Usually, this is the person who has the most expertise in your area of interest. It should be someone in Political Science so that the material will draw on the literature in the field and connect your thesis to your course work. Generally, you should meet once a week with your primary advisor.
You should consult with your primary advisor before you choose additional readers. There are many variables to consider in this choice and they can help guide you.
Second Reader: You should select a second reader. Your Second Reader may play an active or passive role at your request. You should consult with your primary and secondary readers to determine the appropriate level of consultation.
Third (Outside) Reader: You need to choose a professor outside of the department to read your work and attend the final oral defense. Generally, this person does not consult but is at the defense as another set of eyes and ears to ensure fairness and offer an additional opinion.
Be aware of disciplinary differences and the ways in which people can, or can’t, work together when you make this selection.
Researcher/Student Role: It is up to you to arrange meetings. You need to keep yourself on schedule and regularly consult with and provide drafts to your advisor(s). If more than one committee member participates (and ideally they will), you must coordinate and referee the comments you receive. This can be tricky but is a great learning process and closely akin to the real scholarly process.
It is not a good idea to wait and give the material to your Second Reader after everything is completed. While this is simple, it deprives you of valuable advice and deprives the reader of working with you. Part of the benefit to faculty is working with different ideas and with you. However, different faculty members approach the role in different ways so discuss this with your advisors in advance.
Required Fall Semester Meeting:
All senior researchers must meet with at least two department members around Thanksgiving to determine if a full year project will be allowed. Generally, a student should have at least a chapter or two written as well as an outline.
****There are previously completed senior research projects in the departmental library. You are encouraged to look at these as you proceed in your own project.
Formatting Guidelines
Margins
- Set margins to 1.5” left, and 1” top, bottom and right.
- Set header and footer to .5”.
Font
- Font size at 12 points.
- Select a single standard font: courier; times new roman; garamond; cambria. Use consistently throughout the document.
Alignment
- Align text left only.
Spacing
- Double space throughout document.
- Block quotes, if used, should be single space.
Chapter and Section Headings
- Chapter titles centered and in bold.
- Section headings centered and bold: Table of Contents, List of Figures, Preface, Acknowledgements, Bibliography, etc.
- Chapter subheadings should be indented.
- After each title or heading, double space before text. Indent the first line of paragraphs and do not double space between paragraphs.
Pagination
- Do not number the title page.
- Number all subsequent pages and center page numbers in the footer or right justify in the header, consult with your advisor on approved style.
- You may use running headers with chapter titles if your advisor approves.
Citations
- Use Chicago/Turabian style. Your use of parentheticals or footnotes/endnotes should be negotiated with your advisor.
Arrangements of Sections/Parts
Title Page (required)
Copyright page
Dedication page (optional)
Table of Contents (required)
List of Figures (optional)
Preface (optional)
Abstract (required)
Text (required)
Appendix/Appendices (optional)
Bibliography (required)
Format Guidelines for Project Title/Signature Page
- Center all title page text between margins.
- Each of the three spaces between the blocks of text should be of equal size.
THE WORLD’S BEST SENIOR HONORS PROJECT
by
Modesty S. Myname
A Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements to Graduate with Academic Recognition (omit if not for recognition)
Department of Political Science
Denison University
Month year
Approved by: Date:
__________________ Eric Boehme, Political Science ________
__________________ second, dept _________
Text formatting guidelines:
- Title must be all capital letters; title/author block is double-spaced (double-space the title as well)
- “Submitted” block and date block are single-spaced (no comma between month and year)
- Approval block is double-spaced; first signature is the primary mentor; second signature is optional (2nd mentor)
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Copyright, Name, date.