Senior Exercise

Seniors are required to take the integrative senior seminar (ANTH 499) in the fall of their senior year. Assessment in this course will be based mainly on exams covering the materials as well as participation and other assignments. During the semester, students will choose an individual research topic, preferably one related to the theme of the seminar, and will begin to write, producing a draft of the paper near the end of the semester. As part of the course, students may be graded on a prospectus for the paper, presentations about the research, or other preparatory activities, but will not be graded on the draft of the paper itself.

Faculty will read and comment on the draft, returning it to the student at the beginning of the second semester. The revised paper, which constitutes the senior exercise, will be due by February 15 and will be read by two faculty members. Papers will be assessed on the breadth and quality of the sources used, the proficiency of the composition, and the strength and creativity of the argument. Those who excel in all three dimensions will receive a pass with distinction; those whose performance is judged inadequate in any two of these dimensions may be asked to revise and rewrite.