Guidelines for the Greek & Roman Studies Major Senior Thesis
The following timetable gives the main steps. This paper should be between 30-35 pages, depending on the topic. Students can enroll in 499 either Fall or Spring of their senior year. Preparation work must be done the semester BEFORE registering for 499.
*Double majors are encouraged to do one of their senior papers their Jr. year or in the opposite senior term.
**Honors research papers are significantly longer and involve two semesters of 499; the number of these is limited to one or two per year.
Term BEFORE registering for 499:
- Confirm your specific topic.
- Select a primary thesis advisor from the GRS faculty members (Sultan, Sullivan, or Coles)
- Background reading: read or re-read the relevant primary sources, and any secondary materials you and your advisor have identified so far.
- Submit to your advisor for approval a 700-800 word abstract of your thesis, which explains what you will argue and the methodology you will use, along with a preliminary bibliography.
Term of completion (Fall or Spring of senior year)
- Register for GRS 499
- Working with your thesis advisor, select a second reader from inside or outside the GRS program.
- Meet regularly with your thesis advisor.
- Complete your research and begin organizing and writing.
- Give a complete first draft to your thesis advisor at least three weeks before the end of term.
- Second reader may see drafts, as you and he/she consider appropriate.
- Schedule the oral defense of your thesis for exam week.
- Submit the official bound copy to your thesis advisor at the end of term.
- Students are expected to present a 10-minute version of their paper at the April Ides Event, and encouraged also to present at the John Wesley Powell Conference.