Thesis
Mariel Pettee portrait
Mariel N. Pettee '14 is composing a dance piece examining the Higgs boson particle.
The Creationists
The work produced by undergraduates who are awarded creative theses varies widely with regard to medium as well as subject matter. But these students are united by a belief that creative work is just as valid a way of demonstrating scholarly excellence as critical work.
Celebrity Theses
Throughout the month of March, seniors across campus will breathe sighs of relief as they press “save” for the last time on their theses. As these students finish up the final touches on their papers, FM takes a moment to look back at the theses of some notable alumni and their choice of research topics. Not surprisingly, many of these now-famous former seniors wrote about topics that give us a glimpse of who they became. So, read on to learn more about the stars.
So You Think You Want To Write A Thesis? Lolyourthesis.
Here are some gems that reflect the best of what the blog has to offer—divided into categories of “way too real” and “good luck with that....”
HKS Dissertation on Immigration and I.Q. Draws Criticism
A recently unearthed 2009 Ph.D. dissertation approved by Harvard Kennedy School faculty has drawn strong criticism for its assertion that low-IQ individuals—a demographic that the author says is disproportionately Hispanic or of other non-white or non-Asian ethnicities—should be restricted from immigrating to the United States because they lack “raw cognitive ability or intelligence.”
Harvard Honors 81 With Hoopes Prize
The winning projects, most of which were senior theses, were selected from a pool of nominations by students’ faculty supervisors. Hoopes winners are awarded $4,000 each and their nominators receive $1,000.
Non-Thesis-Writing Senior Experiences a Totally Normal Week
“It was a totally ordinary Tuesday night,” said John. “I was watching seasons two through five of ‘The Office’ on Netflix, and suddenly my roommates came in, all excited. They were way happier than I’ve seen them in months. It was weird.”
As Deadlines Approach, Seniors Print Their Theses
When Laura E. Donohue ’85 found out that the paper supplier Crane and Company was discontinuing the type of paper used by many students to print their theses, she knew she had to make a phone call.
Spot The Imposter: Which Thesis Titles Aren’t Real?
Ever listen to a senior explain his or her thesis and think, there’s no way in hell you can write 70 pages about that? Use your sleuthing skills to guess which of these thesis titles could have won a Hoopes Prize, and which are simply FM’s comic gold.
For Creative Concentrators, A New Happily Ever After
Folklore and mythology recently joined English; literature; studies of women, gender, and sexuality; and visual and environmental studies in offering some concentrators the option of working on a creative project as a senior thesis.
Seniors Selected for Best Theses
The prize for the very best thesis in the Harvard senior class went to two students this year, one who proposed ways to address cholera epidemics in Haiti for her thesis and another who wrote a collection of poems.
81 Students Win Hoopes Prize
Eighty-one students won Harvard’s highest honor for undergraduate writing, the Hoopes Prize, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced on Thursday.
Excerpting Senior Writers: Erik Fredericksen '12
Fredericksen reflects on his thesis, a translation of a Latin ode, and shares his translation of Horace's Ode 3.13.
Excerpting Senior Writers: Carla Ferreira '12
Carla Ferreira reflects on her poetry thesis and shares three poems selected from her work.
Excerpting Senior Writers: Matt Aucoin '12
Matt Aucoin reflects on writing his poetry thesis and shares two poems from his work, including one set to music.
Excerpting Senior Writers: Isabel Kaplan '12
Isabel Kaplan reflects on writing her fiction thesis and shares an excerpt from her work.
Excerpting Senior Writers: Justin Wymer '12
Justin B. Wymer reflects on writing his poetry thesis and shares an excerpt of his work.
Excerpting Senior Writers: Mac McAnulty '12
Mac McAnulty reflects on writing his non-fiction thesis and shares an excerpt from his work.
Excerpting Senior Writers: Sam Chalsen '12
Sam Chalsen reflects on writing his screenwriting thesis and shares a scene from his screenplay.
Excerpting Senior Writers
Crimson Arts bids these seniors the best and offers a glimpse into their work with selected excerpts.
Many Dissatisfied with Creative Writing
The challenges of both securing a seat in Harvard’s oversubscribed creative writing classes and winning a coveted approval for a creative thesis can be both academically limiting and creatively frustrating.