English 483, 484 Honors Thesis in Creative Writing
| Concentration in Creative Writing (ENCR) includes the opportunity for students to enroll in a four-credit course, EN483 (fall) or EN484 (spring). This is the only way to earn honors in Creative Writing and is offered only within the English Department. Latin Honors and Distinction in the Major remain but are based on grade averages rather than the completion of a certain kind and amount of independent work. This also counts as the fourth or “other” course required for the concentration |
Here are the ground rules: |
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You must have a 3.0 GPA and a 3.25 in the major at the end of junior year. In addition you must have completed EN378 or EN379 with a grade of A- or better. Exceptions will be made by special permission only, on the recommendation of the Creative Writing faculty.
After completing the sequence of workshops culminating in EN378 or 379, you need to follow these steps:
1. Speak to the Creative Writing professor with whom you would like to work. Be aware, however, that the Creative Writing faculty assigns tutors after all proposals are submitted. Every effort will be made to assign you the tutor of your choice, but because of limited faculty resources, this may not always be possible
2. Submit a written (1-2 pp) proposal outlining your project for the Creative Writing faculty. You should place this in the Program Director’s box a week before pre-registration period for the following semester, in April for the fall semester, in November for spring. Students will be informed as to the Creative Writing Program’s decision on their request within a week of the deadline.
3. Once the Creative Writing Program approves your project and assigns you a tutor, you should enroll in EN483 (fall) or EN484 (spring) for four credits. You will also need to secure a second reader, with whom you may consult, as needed, during the appropriate semester.
A draft of the finished work must be submitted to your tutor one week prior to the last day of classes. The finished work—with all final revisions—must be submitted by the last day of classes to your tutor and an outside reader. An additional copy for binding should be submitted to the secretary of the English Department. (This copy should include a formal cover page. Copies are available in the English Department office.)
Your tutor and second reader will evaluate your thesis. If there is disagreement between the two readers about the grade, the English Department will provide a third reader. We do not count words, but most fiction manuscripts will probably be between 40 and 50 pages; poetry manuscripts 12-20 poems. They should be finished fiction or poetry of high quality, which demonstrate independence, originality, and thoroughness. The grade they receive will be the grade for EN483 or EN484; a B+ or higher is necessary to graduate with honors.
4. Students who enroll in EN483 or EN484 in a semester in which Projects in Creative Writing is taught will be encouraged to attend the class (as a way to provide a format for their work), but they should still enroll in EN483 or EN484 (and not in Projects in Creative Writing). | |
