The Senior essay is written by University or College English students. It is also done by students in other departments and faculties. The project is usually lengthy (40pages usually) and is undertaken with the aid and guidance of your Advisor. It is usually undertaken by senior English majors and this senior essay provides an opportunity for the student to pursue a special interest especially those who love writing long term papers and work independently. It is demanding and it is advisable to take the Senior Seminar if in doubts of what the Senior Essay would require. It can cover a topic in literature, poetry and other aspects of modern interest.
Some of the reasons why the senior essay is written are;
- It is a satisfying way of fulfilling one semester of the senior requirement.
- Writing it provides an opportunity for those who are eager to pursue a special interest.
- Writing it provides an opportunity for those who like to write long papers.
- It allows expression for those who work well independently.
The Senior Essay has as its component an intensive research and writing project (critical, not created as it is intended to make the student dig deep and not merely put together what they imagine) undertaken with the guidance of a faculty advisor. The Senior Essay is not a prerequisite for finishing the English major, nor is it compulsory for getting a distinction in the major. The Senior Essay is important because of the devotion it demands from scholars and the knowledge with which it rewards them while they are reading for it.
In modern times, many scholars find the knowledge they gained while preparing the Senior Essay of great essence to their private lives. Since it allows independence while working with the Faculty Advisor, it also allows the student to work independently and can thus be enabled to work on their own with little intervention. A student who also takes interest in particular writers like Virginia Woolf, George Eliot, Jane Austen and others can also adopt their works for his Senior Essay and this sort of specialization helps the student discover himself while preparing his Senior Essay and to pick a topic where he/she can plant deep roots.
It is necessary to warn the student in advance that a Senior Essay entails inexorable deadlines and sometimes tiring effort; it can be thrilling and exciting to write, but only if there is commitment. Procrastination has proven a tragic error. Given an essay of this magnitude, it is not advisable to leave studying, analysis, and thinking until the last minute. Time is of the essence when the Senior Thesis is involved.
An introduction into how the Senior Essay is written is that, in addition to the prospectus and final draft, you will be asked to hand in, at the end of four weeks, five to ten pages of work done or, if appropriate, an annotated bibliography so that you, your advisor, and the department will know how your work is making headway relatively early in the term.
It is expected that you meet with your advisor very often as he will do the analysis of the bibliography and ensure that you are in line will bringing in other bits and pieces of experience. This is sine qua non as his role and place cannot be taken too lightly. He or she can chip in bits and pieces of editing and changes that need to be done in the work. An example can be found in some of the already published works such as Re-envisioning Health: The Creative Force of Illness for Virginia Woolf’s Women and also Henry James, George Eliot, and the Ethics of Attention. The earlier mentioned topics are some examples of Senior Essays.
For a person who loves poetry, there are several poems across the world to choose and because they are English students may be better exposed to Literature (modern literature) and the various forms of it. The introduction and conclusion of the essay are necessary and should be taken important as they influence the overall appearance of the work.
Usually, a completed senior essay consists of 30- 40 pages. There is really no limitation to the number of pages that can be used.
Specific Requirements for the Senior Essay are;
- On the last week of classes, you are expected to submit an application form. It should contain
(a) a report of your topic (which can be anything including issues of modern interests)
(b) an index of the reading and research (both main and subordinate) you aim to take on.
(c) an outline of the preliminary and advanced courses you have taken that have equipped you to work on your topic independently
(d) some meetings scheduled with your advisor
(e) a signature from your advisor
- By the conclusion of the fourth week, the student can submit a few pages of their writing. This is necessary to show how far they have gone with the work and to reflect the possibility of getting the project done.
- By the close of the ninth week, the student must hand in his/her rough draft. If you fail to submit on time either the initial draft or the introductory work described above, you may not get a grade higher than B+ in your essay.
- The concluding essay should be submitted by noon on the Friday of the final week of classes in the fall term, and the same goes for the spring term
In conclusion, after going through the earlier listed processes, what is done is that it will be read through, graded, and commented upon by your advisor and by an additional reader selected by the Senior Essay Committee. the reports from the two readers will be available from two to three weeks after you submit the last draft although this may vary in other places. The department will retain a copy on file so that future students can see use it as a template and be creative with theirs.
