Independent Work in African American Studies

Important Benchmark Dates for Junior Papers and Senior Theses, 2019 - 2020

 The department provides a detailed calendar for Concentrators and their advisers each year. The following timelines for the Junior Papers and  Senior Thesis provide benchmarks for the completion of independent work.

Download & View 2019-2020 Independent Work [PDF]

 

Junior Papers

Fall Term

Week Description

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Submit JP prospectus to the Junior Seminar professor and your advisor when you email your prospectus to your advisor, ask them to set a 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 7) to:

  1. discuss your prospectus
  2. discuss how frequently you will meet, and the best ways to check in
  3. plan your next research/writing task.
Week 4 Submit partial first draft (perhaps one major section) to advisor, no later than Friday, February 28.
Week 5 Students receive first drafts back, with comments from advisors, no later than Friday, March 6.
Week 7 Spring Break
Week 8 Submit partial second draft to advisor, no later than Friday, March 27.
Week 9 Students receive second drafts back, with comments from advisors, no later than Friday, April 3.
Week 11 Submit third and mostly complete draft to advisor, no later than Friday, April 17.
Week 12 Students receive third drafts back, with comments from advisors, no later than Friday, April 24.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020

FINAL Junior Paper uploaded by 5:00 p.m. You will receive a link and instructions on how to upload the paper to Google Drive.

 

Senior Thesis

Fall Term

Weeks Description
Week 1 Schedule meeting with advisor to discuss thesis topic and plan for the semester, including tentative meeting times, no later than Friday, September 13.
Week 5

Submit five-page thesis proposal to advisor, no later than Friday, October 11.

The proposal should include:

  • description of topic, 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 discussion 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, December 13, 2019 Submit partial first draft (twenty pages) to advisor
Monday, January 31, 2020

Submit draft of additional twenty pages to advisor

 

Spring Term

Weeks Description
Week 2 Submit draft of additional twenty pages to advisor, no later than Friday, February 14.
Week 6 Review your degree progress in TigerHub and submit your Degree Progress Check-In to the Department Manager (aprilp@princeton.edu) by March 13 at 5:00 pm.
Week 8 Submit draft of entire thesis to advisor, no later than Friday March 27.
Week 11

Upload your thesis via the Thesis Central Senior Thesis Submission System to the University Archives, and submit 2 unbound hard copies to the Department Assistant (jana.johnson@princeton.edu), by April 17 at 12:00 noon.
Friday, May 1, 2020 Students receive comments from first and second readers
Friday, May 8, 2020 Submit Senior Comprehensive Statement and Honors Calculationto the Department Manager (aprilp@princeton.edu) by 12:00 pm.
May 13-14, 2020 Senior Comprehensive Oral Exams – BLOCK BOTH DAYS ON YOUR CALENDAR