SENIOR THESIS REQUIREMENT: All students writing the thesis while in residence must follow these standards. Washington Semester students should attempt to adhere to them as closely as possible.

CALENDAR:

1. Two weeks after the start of the fall semester: All projects completed in Washington must be submitted for approval.

2. Sept. 23: Form notifying the department of seniors' plans for satisfying comprehensive requirement must be returned to the department.

3. Last day before fall break: Title, hypothesis, and brief outline of thesis must be submitted to supervisor by resident seniors.

4. Last day before Thanksgiving break: Detailed outline and bibliography must be submitted to supervisor by resident seniors.

5. March 28: Complete rough draft must be submitted to supervisor by resident seniors. NOTE: Failure to meet this deadline will result in the student attending graduation as a degree candidate.

6. Last class day, noon: Final drafts of all theses in appropriate binder must be submitted by all seniors (resident and Washington Semester).

ORGANIZATION OF THE THESIS:

1. Title page, as per example, noting who your personal supervisor was, or P. Pierce if the thesis is from Washington Semester.

2. Abstract or Precis of 100 to 200 words summarizing the hypothesis, the content of the thesis, and your major findings.

3. Table of Contents; acknowledgements if any; other front material if any.

4. Body of the thesis: divided into chapters. For most theses, the chapters should follow this outline:

A. Chapter describing the hypothesis of the thesis and presenting related material indicating the significance of the hypothesis and background material on the thesis, i.e., a literature search.

B. Chapters presenting data, facts, and analysis that support or disconfirm the hypothesis.

C. Chapters for evaluation of the data, facts, and analysis. Conclusions, proposals for the future, and statements on the significance of the thesis in light of the current literature in political science.

5. All tables, maps, and other figures should be appropriately annotated. They should be cited and discussed in the body of the thesis. Appendix material should follow the body of the paper.

6. Footnotes: Using a standard system such as that in MLA Style Sheet, Turabian, Manual for Writers, Chicago Manual of Style, AFA Style, or that used in the American Political Science Review.

7. Bibliography: Again using a standard system.

TITLE PAGE FORMAT:

TITLE

STUDENT

IDENTITY

SUPERVISOR