Deadlines

2018/2019 Benchmarks for Honors Thesis Completion

Fall Semester

Deadline Benchmarks
Contact faculty member
 (1st week of classes)		 You should be narrowing in on a research question with your prospective advisor about a topic.
Meeting 1: Orientation
 (1st week of September)		 We will meet as a group and discuss the expectations, requirements, standards, and schedule for writing a thesis.
Thesis Agreement (September 27)

You should submit the thesis agreement signed by you and the honors director.
Outline signed (October 18) You should work with your advisor to develop a basic research plan for your project (including sources). Please have your advisor sign a copy of this outline/research plan and submit it to the honors director.
Chapter draft submitted (Before Thanksgiving) You should turn in a draft of a chapter to your advisor.
Develop a winter break agenda
 (Week after Thanksgiving)		 You should speak with your advisor and come up with a game plan for the winter break. What can you get done? What is your game plan for the spring semester?

Spring Semester

Deadline Benchmark
Chapters write-up (Jan.-March) You should be writing steadily at this point. As you complete draft chapters, submit them to your advisor for feedback.
Progress report (February 13) The honors director will check in with your advisor to find out how you are doing.
Drop deadline (February 28) Last day to drop the thesis.
First thesis draft (March 28) You should turn in a 1st draft of the entire thesis to your advisor. This is a great opportunity for feedback. At this time, you should also discuss with your advisor who might serve on your defense committee. Once you have a list of names, reach out to these professors.

Feedback on draft (April 10)

 Your advisor should return your draft with comments and suggestions for improvement. At this time, you should have members for your defense committee lined up.

Final thesis draft (April 24)

 Turn in your revised final draft!! You'll deliver a copy of your thesis to each member of your committee. Then, celebrate!

Thesis defense (April 29 - May 4)

Your oral defense will be scheduled by the politics department for sometime during this week.

Graduation (May 19)

You graduate today! Congratulations!