Thesis Information
Getting Started
Timing and organization are key factors in completing a successful senior thesis. Start at the beginning of your senior year, working regularly and in an organized fashion. Get your books early, keep track of your bibliography throughout your period of research, and – ideally – plan to have a complete draft ready for spring break (i.e. by around the Ides of March). That will give you plenty of time to revise the whole and make sure that your overall argument makes sense. You will also need to take time to proofread your final manuscript carefully.
You should remain in regular contact with your faculty adviser at every stage of the process. Do not hesitate to ask questions, if you are ever unsure about a source or an argument. Remember, too, that you have access to a wide range of people and resources you can go to for help. For bibliographic help in particular, and for assistance in thinking through your project, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our bibliographer for Classics in Firestone library, David Jenkins, and check out his page on Library Resources for Classicists. Make an appointment to see a peer tutor in the Writing Center at any time during the writing process, and plan to join the Department’s senior thesis workshop – a weekly meeting run by Classics graduate students to help seniors share and get feedback on their thesis work-in-progress.
Past copies of senior thesis can be found in East Pyne 161, the Classics Seminar Room, when that room is not being used for classes. A list of past senior thesis titles, and bibliography recommendations are posted below in PDF format.
You should be working steadily on the thesis, and you must meet the following deadlines over the course of your senior year:
Important Deadlines
Friday,November 2, 2012 - You are required to send your thesis title and a one-paragraph description to Jill Arbeiter (jilla@princeton.edu) by noon.
Monday, November 23, 2012 - A 500 word proposal for your thesis, with a separate page of the bibliography is due to Jill Arbeiter by 5:00pm. The proposal must be signed by your thesis adviser.
November 28, 29 and 30, 2012 - You will defend your proposal in front of a small faculty panel. Faculty members will help you think through the implications of your proposal and the various directions in which your research could go. These defenses last about 20 minutes.
Monday, February 4, 2013 (the first day of the second semester) - The first chapter of your thesis is due to your adviser.
Monday, April 15, 2013 - Three copies of your senior thesis (two bound and one digital PDF submission) emailed to jilla@princeton.edu) are due in the department office by 5:00pm. The Department of Classics does not recommend any particular bindery so you should shop around. You will need to print out your final copy according to the binder’s specifications (i.e. with a wide left margin). Keep in mind that if you leave things to the last minute, the binders may well charge you more. You are responsible for these costs. Some students have opted to print out and bind their final version double sided.
PENALTIES for LATENESS: Three (3) percentage points for each day or part of a day, starting at 5:00pm on April 16th (departmental policy).