Independent Work in African American Studies | Department of African American Studies

Important Benchmark Dates for Junior Papers and Senior Thesis, 2020-2021

The Department provides a detailed calendar for concentrators and their advisers each year. The following timelines for the JP and thesis provide benchmarks for the completion of independent work.

Download & View 2020-2021 Independent Work [PDF]

Junior Papers

Fall Term

Week	Description
Wednesday, December 9, 2020	Submit Junior Paper Adviser preferences, JP Topic, and subfield track selection
Friday, January 15, 2021	Email your JP prospectus to your adviser and ask to schedule a day and time to meet in the first week of class in the spring term

Spring Term

During the spring term, you are strongly encouraged to have at least three sessions with a Graduate Student Coach. These will be scheduled in January.

Week	Description
Week 1	Meet with your adviser, no later than Friday, February 5 to 1) discuss your prospectus; 2) discuss how frequently you will meet, and best ways to check-in; 3) plan your next research/writing task.
Week 4	Submit partial first draft (perhaps one major section) to your adviser, no later than Friday, February 26.
Week 5	Students receive first drafts back, with comments from advisers, no later than Friday, March 5.
Week 7	Spring Break
Week 8	Submit a partial second draft to your adviser, no later than Friday, March 26.
Week 9	Students receive second drafts back, with comments from advisers, no later than Friday, April 2.
Week 11	Submit third and mostly complete draft to your adviser, no later than Friday, April 16.
Week 12	Students receive third drafts back, with comments from advisers, no later than Friday, April 23.
Monday, May 3, 2021	FINAL Junior Paper uploaded by 5:00 pm. You will receive a link and instructions on how to upload the paper to Google Drive.
Friday, May 7, 2021	Submit Senior Thesis Adviser preferences.

Senior Thesis

Fall Term

Weeks	Description
Week 1	Schedule meeting with your adviser to discuss thesis topic and plan for the semester, including tentative meeting times, no later than Friday, September 4.
Week 5	Submit a five-page thesis proposal to your adviser, no later than Monday, October 5. The proposal should include: description of the topic, the scope of the project, and methodological approach you plan to take discussion of how your coursework at Princeton or elsewhere has prepared you to pursue the topic a brief survey of sources and a review of the kinds of evidence you plan to use a discussion of the contribution your work will make to the existing scholarship in your area a preliminary bibliography a preliminary writing plan or chapter outline
Friday, November 20, 2020	Submit a partial first draft (twenty pages) to your adviser
Friday, January 22, 2021	Submit a draft of an additional twenty pages to your adviser

Spring Term

Weeks	Description
Week 1	Submit a draft of an additional twenty pages to your adviser, no later than Friday, February 12.
Week 6	Review your degree progress in TigerHub and submit your Degree Progress Check-In by March 12 at 5:00 pm.
Week 7	Submit a draft of the entire thesis to your adviser, no later than Friday, March 19.
Week 12	Upload your thesis via Thesis Central by April 19 at noon
Friday, April 29, 2021	Students receive reader reports and grade.
Friday, April 30, 2021	Submit your Senior Comprehensive Statement and Honors Calculation by 5:00 pm.
May 6-7, 2021	Senior Comprehensive Exams – BLOCK BOTH DAYS ON YOUR CALENDAR