Graduating with Honors in WLL

Students wishing to graduate with Honors in any WLL major (Chinese, German, Japanese, Russian, Comparative Literature, MESALL) have several options for doing so. The most usual scenarios involve writing a research thesis or preparing a significant work of translation, with a critical introduction. Normally, these projects are conceived within the framework of the required XL 479 Senior Seminar in the Fall semester of Senior year, and then completed the following Spring, either in an individually arranged Senior Project Directed Study course (LC, LG, LJ, LR, or XL 402) or in the Translation Seminar (TL 540). If Study Abroad arrangements or other scheduling problems make participation in XL 479 impossible, students may arrange a Fall Senior Project Directed Study course (LC, LG, LJ, LR, or XL 401) as a substitute, thus completing their project in a two-semester Directed Study (401/402). On consultation with an advisor, projects may also be undertaken in alternative formats or media (databases, websites, films, etc.).

In addition to either the Senior Project Directed Study course or the Translation Seminar, one additional elective related to the major is also required, for a total of 13 (rather than the usual 11) courses in the major; this elective may be taken during or prior to Senior year.

Interested students should consult with their faculty advisor near the end of Junior year, or during the summer before Senior year. A minimum GPA of 3.0  is required.

Expectations for the Honors Thesis

The Honors Thesis should be a substantial work of literary scholarship, involving work in the language or languages of concentration as well as significant engagement with relevant methodology and secondary literature in the field. Length may vary, but past Honors Theses have tended to run in the neighborhood of 50 pages.

Expectations for the Honors Translation

The Translation Thesis should fulfill the requirements for final projects in the TL 540 Translation Seminar. It should be a substantial work of translation and should include a critical introduction.  Length may vary, but past Translation Theses have been approximately 20 double-spaced pages for prose, and 10 double-spaced pages of poetry, with a 5-page translator’s preface.

Expectations for Projects in Alternative Formats or Media

Expectations for projects in alternative formats or media should be developed in consultation with an advisor

The Thesis Defense

Students will be expected to defend the completed thesis, translation, or alternative project, dissertation-style, before a committee of three professors consisting of their sponsor (their advisor in LC, LG, LJ, LR, or XL 402) and two other readers, on or before the last day of classes in the Spring semester of Senior year. The defense date will be chosen by students in consultation with their sponsor. The defense will be either open or closed to guests at the student’s discretion. A final draft of the project should be provided to the committee two weeks before the defense. The committee may require additional edits after the defense. With the Honors Thesis or Translation, a paper copy incorporating any recommended changes should be delivered to the department office, and an electronic copy submitted to the sponsor, by the end of the exam period. Submission formats for alternative projects should be determined in consultation with the advisor.

To qualify for graduating with Honors, you should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in your WLL major at the end of your junior year, and room in your schedule to take the two required extra courses (TL 540 or LC, LG, LJ, LR, or XL 402 plus an extra elective, for a total of 13 courses rather than 11). There are several ways of arranging your senior year to fulfill the requirements for graduating with expectations of Honors. The most usual scenarios are these:

1)   Write a research thesis: Take the Senior Seminar (XL 479) in the fall (this course is already a requirement for the major) and begin a year-long research project in that class that you continue in the spring with a faculty advisor in a senior project directed study (LC, LG, LJ, LR, or XL 402). In addition, you should take one extra elective related to your major (this may be a course taken prior to senior year).

2)   Complete a significant translation: Begin a translation-focused project in the Senior Seminar (XL 479) in the fall (this course is already a requirement for the major), and continue work on that project in the Translation Seminar (TL 540) in the spring. In addition, you should take one extra elective related to your major (this may be a course taken prior to senior year).

3)   Undertake a year-long directed study: If you are unable to take the senior seminar (e.g., on account of insoluble scheduling issues), you may arrange with a faculty advisor to take LC, LG, LJ, LR, or XL 401 in the fall and LC, LG, LJ, LR, or XL 402 in the spring. In addition, you should take one extra elective related to your major (this may be something taken prior to senior year).

4)   Senior study abroad: If you are studying abroad in the fall or spring or in both semesters of your senior year, you may make special arrangements with a faculty advisor to complete the requirements for Honors, if circumstances permit. In addition, you should take one extra elective related to your major (this may be something taken prior to senior year, or as part of your program abroad).

Honor Thesis Completion Schedule

  1. By the end of Junior Year, students are advised to contact a mentor from the WLL faculty expressing their intention to write an Honors Thesis.
  2. Fall Semester of Senior Year: by Week 6 students submit their statement of intention online with advisor’s signature.
  3. During winter breakthe chair will decide on readers in consultation with the advisor.
  4. Spring Semester:
  5. Week 1: students meet with their advisor to establish a meeting schedule.
  6. Week 5: partial draft of thesis due (including bibliography).
  7. Week 10: final draft of thesis due; thesis submitted to readers; defense scheduled.
  8. Week 12: the defense
  9. Week 14: final version of thesis submitted to the department.