Procedures and Guidelines for Writing an Ethics in Society Honors Thesis

The following information assumes that a student will graduate in June of the senior year. Students who are on alternate schedules should check with the Program coordinator regarding an individual schedule.
 

5 Steps to Submitting Your Honors Thesis

1. Take the ETHICSOC 190, Ethics in Society Honors Seminar, junior year.

During your honors seminar you will formulate and develop a thesis topic. A topic is a specific area – such as human rights, or global justice, or education in a democratic society. At the end of the seminar you should have formulated a question within your topic – for example, what is the justified role of religion in democratic education? You may even have an inkling of how you want to answer this question. None of this, however, is written down in stone; many students change direction. However, the experience of choosing a topic will be useful; it will force you to focus your interests. It may also be helpful to look at past honors theses to get some idea of their form and style: copies are available from the Program Coordinator.


2. Find a Primary Advisor.

You will need to find a faculty member who will guide you and advise you during the course of researching and writing your project. While it is important to find someone who is knowledgeable in your field, it is equally important to find someone you feel comfortable working with. Most students will want to confer regularly with their advisor. It is also important that you seek feedback from other faculty during the thesis brainstorming and writing process.


3. Sign up for Research Units


In the autumn quarter of your senior year, you should enroll for 5 graded units in ETHICSOC 200A, Ethics in Society Honors Thesis. (Fewer units may be taken upon program approval)

By the end of autumn quarter, you should have completed a substantial amount of your research and reading. You are also required at the end of the quarter to hand in a detailed outline of the thesis to both your advisor and the Program in Ethics in Society director.

In winter quarter, you should enroll for 5 graded units in ETHICSOC 200B, Ethics in Society Honors Thesis. (Fewer units may be taken upon program approval) By the end of winter quarter, you should have a draft to show your advisor.

At the end of Autumn quarter, you will receive a letter grade for the quality and quantity of work completed. If a significant amount of work wasn't completed, the advisor may opt to give a grade of "N" - meaning "continuing work."

At the end of Winter quarter, you will be given a grade of pending the final evaluation of your finished thesis. In both cases, the “N” grade acts as a placeholder - the units are neither complete, nor incomplete. When you hand in your thesis, in Spring, and receive a grade for the entire thesis, this grade will be submitted and the “N” grade will be superseded by the final letter grade(s) you have earned.

You may enroll for these “Ethics in Society Honors Thesis” units on a different schedule, as long as the scheduling does not adversely affect the progress of your work. See the Program coordinator for details.

4. Find your Second Reader.

While your advisor will be assigning you a grade for your thesis based on both your research and the final product of that research, your second reader reads the final thesis and evaluates it on its own merits. (See "Evaluation of Thesis" below.)

Many students have consulted faculty other than their advisors, and have a very good idea of who would be likely candidates for their second reader. This person should be available to support you through the process and offer suggestions for further resources. Postdoctoral scholars at the Center for Ethics in Society will be assigned to undergraduates in the program based on topic area, as much as possible.

You should strive to submit a readable first draft of your thesis to your advisor by the end of the winter quarter. This allows time over the break for your advisor to read the draft and make suggestions early in spring quarter – leaving you approximately six more weeks before the final deadline in early May to polish and complete your thesis.


5. Submit final draft in early May.

The final and complete copy of your Honors Thesis is due the first or second Monday of May.

(This applies to students graduating in June. Others should consult the Program coordinator for appropriate dates.)


Three copies of the thesis must be made. Students will hand deliver (if possible) a copy of their thesis to their advisor, second reader(s), and the Program office.

In addition, the Program would like an electronic version of the thesis for its on-line library.

You may pick up copies of the comments once both readers have responded and the final grade has been determined. If either or both readers return their copies to the office, you may pick them up and keep them for your own use.

Evaluation of the Thesis

The student’s advisor reads the thesis. The advisor will grade the student's work in both producing the thesis as well as the final product. The second reader is responsible for evaluating only the finished thesis.

The thesis will be evaluated for cogency of argument, appropriateness of evidence, and adequacy of conceptualization. The thesis need not be original research in the sense of a dissertation, but it should offer some new insight into the area of study.

If the grades of the advisor and the second reader are not reconcilable, the final grade is determined either by a split grade or by compromise, which may be reached with the assistance of an additional reader appointed by the Faculty Director. A thesis must obtain a grade of B plus or higher in order to receive honors. Alternatively, a student with a lower grade can graduate with an EIS minor.


Awards Given for Outstanding Theses

Robert M. Golden Medals for Excellence in the Humanities / Firestone Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Research: Students who have completed excellent honors theses by May may be nominated for a Golden or Firestone Medals. The Firestone Medal is awarded to graduating students for honors projects in engineering and the social, physical and natural sciences. The Golden Medal is awarded to graduating students for honors projects in the humanities or creative projects in the arts.  These medals, which are accompanied by a cash award, are awarded to students in recognition of outstanding achievement.

Ethics in Society Cook Prize: Every year, the Program awards The Lyle and Olive Cook prize for the best Ethics in Society honors thesis. This award acknowledges the most remarkable thesis which displays the interdisciplinary scholarship encouraged by the Program. Students who wish to be considered for the $400 prize must turn in a completed essay by the May deadline.