master's Essay/ master's project guidelines	Graduate Liberal Studies Program 284 High Street Middletown, CT  06457 Phone (860) 685-2900 Fax (860) 685-2901

Timeline

Students have a maximum limit of one year (three terms) in which to submit and receive approval for their proposal following the completion of 27 units of credit (nine courses), subject to the limits of the six year completion requirement (eight years by petition).  If a student's master's essay/project proposal has not been approved by the end of the third term after completion of 27 units, the student will no longer be eligible to complete the master's essay/project.

Students are expected to submit the final archival copy of the essay/project within four terms after completion of 27 units.  The four term time period begins with the term immediately after the student has completed all coursework (excluding the master's essay or project course) required for the 30-unit plan of study. 

Students have a maximum limit of three years (nine terms) in which to complete the master's essay or project following the completion of 27 units of credit (nine courses), subject to the limits of the six year completion requirement (eight years by petition).

Ideal Timeline for the Master's Essay/Project

Registration during the Proposal and Essay/Project Work

Tuition and Fees

Each term students will will be registered for one of the following:

The Proposal: Structure

The proposal is the foundation from which the master's essay or project is developed.  Students should view the proposal not as just a description of what they intend to accomplish in the master's work, but as the first step in the development of the work.  The proposal should be a detailed document that incorporates research, coursework, and time frames for completion.  Students should utilize the appropriate publication manual for the chosen topic (see below) and format the proposal in accordance with the guidelines described at the end of this document.  In addition to serving as a guide to the student throughout the development of the master's essay or project, a thoroughly developed proposal also demonstrates to the GLSP director that the student has a clear vision and plan for accomplishing his/her goals. 
 

Requirements  

Title page (1 page)

The title page must include a working title, formatted exactly as the sample in the essay guidelines.

Proposal (5 7 pages)

 1.         Abstract (1 paragraph)

In one paragraph, state the central question, theme, or problem your essay or project will address. Do not use generalizationsyou should state your issue in the form of a developed thesis statement.

2.         Development of topic

Provide a detailed description of the topic and the academic context (i.e., the problems or issues in the field that the essay/project will address). This discussion may include a description of a hypothesis, anticipated results, process, product, artistic direction planned, or expected findings

 3.         Methodology 

Address the academic disciplines from which you will draw and explain which of these disciplines will inform the methodology you use. Provide a detailed description of the methods of inquiry and analysis.

4.         Literature review: analysis of scholarly context

Review the available literature on the topic: what is already known about the topic? What is not known? How does this information relate to the proposed work?

5.         Anticipated findings

Provide a description of what you expect to find as the result of your research.

Appendices

1.         Timetable 

Document the key milestones required to complete the master's essay or project in the specified timeframe and provide description of how the student will interact with the faculty advisor: schedule of meetings, timeframe for response and feedback, key dates to deliver information for review, review for publication style compliance, etc.

2.         Wesleyan resources

Describe the faculty and library resources available at Wesleyan that will support your project.

3.         Bibliography  (4 7 pages)

Preliminary list of the source materials to be used (libraries, readings, references, labs, field area, etc.), documented using one of the publication styles (i.e., APA, MLA, Chicago, or Turabian

4.         Essay/Project Approval Form signed by advisor, reader, and student, submitted for approval by GLSP director

5.                  All documents required for IRB approval (required only if student plans to use human subjects as data)

The Proposal: Choosing a Topic

Students will work with their chosen topic for approximately two to three terms and it is therefore most important that students choose topics of compelling, sustainable interest.

Requirements

• The topic must be within the student's area of concentration,
• The topic must be compatible with the programs liberal arts curriculum,
• There must be an appropriate advisor for the topic (a Wesleyan faculty member or visiting lecturer who taught a GLSP course within the past two years) who is available and willing to be an advisor, and
• The topic must be approved by the GLSP director.

Where to begin
The best place to begin searching for topic ideas is in the student's former coursework.  Students should think back through their GLSP courses for ideas and topics that can be developed into a graduate level master's essay or project.  The most successful master's essays and projects usually arise from ideas developed in previous coursework.  Choosing a topic in which you have already done some research will make the essay or project much more manageable because you already have a base of knowledge and research from which to draw. 

Students may also choose to consult with faculty members about ideas, and are welcome to examine previous master's essays/projects in the Olin Library archives (in closed stacks; advance notice required).

Many liberal arts topics, in the students' concentration area, may be chosen for the master's essay or project.  However, professional projects such as lesson plans, instruction manuals, or purely technical descriptions are not consistent with the GLSP curriculum and will not be approved for the essay or project.  Areas of inquiry not taught at Wesleyan may not be approved

The Proposal: Choosing a Faculty Advisor and Faculty Reader

The master's essay or project must be completed under the guidance of a faculty advisor with expertise in the students chosen topic.  The faculty advisor serves as the academic subject and discipline-specific style expert, reviewing and approving all work prior to submission to the GLSP office. 

Requirements

• The advisor must be either
  • a member of the Wesleyan faculty, or
  • a GLSP visiting lecturer who has offered a course in the program within the last two years,

• The advisor's area of expertise must be within the student's area of concentration,
• The advisor must be available to serve as an advisor throughout the entire process, and
• The advisor must be approved by the GLSP director.

Where to begin
The best place to begin is with your previous GLSP instructors. Choosing a faculty advisor with whom you have previously studied is strongly encouraged because the faculty member is already familiar with your academic work and you are already familiar with the faculty members expectations and critical methods.

If it is not possible to work with a previous GLSP instructor, you will need to find a faculty member or recent GLSP instructor who has expertise in the area of your master's essay or project. 

Choosing a Faculty Reader
Once you have selected a faculty advisor, you should consult with your advisor and the GLSP to determine an appropriate faculty reader. The reader will review your official draft after it has been approved by your advisor. The role of the faculty reader is to review the work to provide additional expertise and affirm that the work addresses its academic subject successfully. The reader may be familiar with research on the subject that the student is unaware of, and may suggest that the student address that research or related issues.

The Proposal Process
Students are encouraged to schedule a meeting with Sheryl Culotta, Associate Director for Academic Services, to discuss possible topic(s) and develop a list of potential advisors.  Sheryl can be reached at 860-685-3008 or by email.

After doing some initial research on your proposed topic, you should prepare a one two paragraph abstract, preliminary bibliography, and brief outline before approaching a possible advisor. These will help you to convince the faculty member of the value of your project as well as your ability to achieve your goals. You should also be prepared to discuss a tentative schedule for completing the master's essay or project with the faculty advisor. At this initial meeting it is advisable to confirm that the faculty member will be able to serve as faculty advisor throughout the entire process from development of the proposal through submission of the final approved essay. This timeframe is typically two to three terms (10 - 12 months), and both the student and faculty member should be prepared for this commitment.

Once a faculty member has agreed to serve as your advisor, discuss your anticipated graduation date and agree on a timetable for meetings and submission of drafts.  It is your responsibility to keep your advisor apprised of your progress.  In most cases, students and advisors need to meet three five times: initially, to finalize a topic, then to review drafts.  Keep in mind that your advisor must have enough time to read and evaluate your work before returning it to you with comments, and that you will need time to incorporate those comments.  You should also be prepared for the possibility that your advisor will request substantial changes to every draft, including your proposed final version. 

Once you have refined your topic and timeline and your advisor has approved it, complete and submit to the GLSP office the Proposal Approval Form with your official proposal.

Proposal Submission and Review
Each proposal is reviewed twice: first by your advisor, then by the GLSP director.  When you believe your proposal is ready, submit it to your advisor along with the Essay and Project Approval Form for his or her review and approval.  Once your advisor has signed the Approval Form, submit the Approval form together with your proposal and Essay/Project Registration form to the GLSP office.  A confirmation letter stating that we are in receipt of your proposal will be sent to you within 1-2 business after receipt of your proposal.  The student should allow at least 2-3 weeks (excluding holidays) for review and comments or review and approval by the GLSP director.

Revisions and Approval
Once the GLSP director has reviewed your proposal, you will receive a letter in the mail stating (1) that the proposal has been approved as is, (2) that it will be approved with the following revisions, or (3) that that the director would like you to make the following revisions and re-submit the proposal.  In the letter, the GLSP director will comment on the concept, content/clarity, and formatting of the proposal.  In many cases, the GLSP director will ask for revisions to the proposal prior to approval.  Students should factor this possibility into their timeline.

Use of Human Research Subjects

Student-Advisor Relationship and Responsibilities

The student and faculty advisor will work together from the development of the initial proposal through to the completion of the final revisions.  It is important for both the student and the advisor to understand their responsibilities to ensure that the student-advisor relationship is successful.

• Ensure that the students proposal is sufficiently detailed so that it communicates the intent and viability of the proposed topic;
• Ensure that the student is meeting the goals of the proposal during the development of the official draft;
• Serve as an academic subject expert to the student, helping to identify source materials, etc.; and
• Be able to assist the student in meeting the requirements of the style manual used for the particular essay or project (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian), unless other arrangements are made with the student.  Please note students should always use the latest edition of any publication style manual.

• Ask the advisor for help when necessary;
• Implement changes suggested by the advisor; and
• Keep in contact with the advisor on a regular basis.

The Master's Essay or master's Project

The Master's Essay
The master's essay provides an opportunity for in-depth focus on a particular subject in the liberal arts. The essay should be between 60 and 100 pages in length to allow the student to fully introduce and develop the topic, incorporate the relevant literature (as applicable), and summarize the conclusions. The essay must be completed under the supervision of a qualified faculty advisor.

The Master's Project
The master's project may take many forms including: creative writing; performance; theatre, film, or video production; experimentation/investigation; or artistic exhibition. It may be an original body of art, a creative performance, a mathematical project, or a laboratory science study.

The master's project in the area of writing could include a collection of poems, short stories, a short novel, a screenplay, or other creative writing. Another possibility is an investigative work based upon empirical studies in a laboratory or in the field. Written original creative projects (i.e., short stories, poetry, etc.) although similar in length to the master's essay (between 60 and 100 pages) must still be accompanied by an analytic paper, at least 20 pages in length.

No matter what form the project takes, students completing a final project must also complete an accompanying analytic paper of at least 20 pages. The accompanying analytic paper describes and evaluates the students experience of developing the project, and incorporates coursework, literature, and research that are applicable and relevant to the creative work.

Project Documentation
Students who complete master's projects must submit videotapes, photographs, slides, charts, and/or other appropriate forms of documentation such as programs or gallery lists.  Field projects might include a research-style manuscript and/or videos, photographs, charts, computer files, or other appropriate forms of documentation.  The faculty advisor must view the performance or studio work, preferably in person.  Whenever possible, the GLSP director or designee should also attend a show or performance.

Completing the Master's Essay or Project

Comments from the Faculty Reader
The readers charge is to evaluate the work to determine that the stated goals of the proposal have been met, that the student has demonstrated mastery of the subject matter, has incorporated the literature and research in the area, and that the work has been written clearly.  Creative projects are also evaluated on the artistry of photos, drawings, paintings, performances, or writing.  The readers comments will include one of the following determinations:

• Excellent as is
• Acceptable with minor revisions (typos, spelling, etc.) as needed
• Revisions to academic analysis and/or argument recommended

Excellent As Is
If the reader indicates that the official draft is excellent as is, the work should be checked for typos and minor grammatical errors and to ensure that all formatting is in accordance with the style manual and the guidelines in this document.  Once the faculty advisor has granted approval the student should submit the Revised Official Draft to the GLSP office for final review by the GLSP director. 

Acceptable with Minor Revisions
If the reader indicates that the official draft is acceptable after minor revisions, the student must consult with the faculty advisor to determine a plan for incorporating the readers comments.  The student and the faculty advisor must determine which of the readers comments contribute to the original goal of the work as outlined in the proposal, and which comments do not support this goal.  A response must be drafted by the student following the revision of the work that must outline how the readers comments were incorporated and offer a rationale for the exclusion of particular suggestions. 

The work should then be checked for typos and minor grammatical errors and to ensure that all formatting is in accordance with the style manual and the guidelines in this document.  Once the faculty advisor has granted approval the student should submit the Revised Official Draft along with the written response to the readers comments, to the GLSP office for final review by the GLSP director. 

Revisions to Academic Analysis and/or Argument Recommended
If the reader indicates that "revisions to academic analysis and/or argument recommended," the student must consult with the faculty advisor to decide on a plan for addressing the comments.  The student and the faculty advisor must determine which of the reader's comments contribute to the original goal of the work as outlined in the proposal, and which comments do not support this goal.  A response must be drafted by the student following the revision of the work that must outline how the readers comments were incorporated and offer a rationale for not incorporating particular suggestions. 

Once the faculty advisor has granted approval the student should submit the Revised Official Draft along with the written response to the readers comments, to the GLSP office for final review by the GLSP director. 

Submission of the Revised Official Draft
Once the comments from the reader have been incorporated into the essay or project and the advisor has approved the work, the student must submit the Revised Official Draft, formatted in accordance with the guidelines at the end of this document, together with the response to reader comments, to the GLSP office for review by the GLSP director. 

The GLSP director will review the essay or project and return it to the student along with a letter detailing any changes that need to be made prior to approval, or notifying the student that the essay or project has officially been approved.  Students should allow at least five business days to receive final approval from the Director.

Grading
Once the faculty reader, the faculty advisor, and the GLSP director have approved the essay or project, a grade request form is sent to the faculty advisor, by the GLSP office.  The comments from the faculty reader and director (if applicable) should be taken into consideration when issuing a grade, although the faculty advisor has the final decision on the grade assigned to the work.  All grades for master's essays or projects must be submitted on the GLSP Approval of Essay/Project Form, which is sent to the faculty advisor by the GLSP director.

Submission Requirements

Paper:

• 24 pound or heavier
• Archival quality/acid free
• White bond
• 8 x 11 inch format

• Printed using a laser printer or another of comparable quality (not inkjet or similar quality printers due to the "bleeding" of the ink)

• Paper must be loose sheets (i.e., not in a binder)
• Delivered in person (If this is not possible, the copies should be boxed to avoid damage.  Students should consider mailing the document by registered or certified mail to the GLSP Office.)
• Must be accompanied by the Binding Form and required binding fee of $20 per copy (check payable to Wesleyan University or credit card information).
• If multiple copies are submitted for binding, all copies must be printed on archival paper.

Completion
Once the essay or project is approved and graded providing all other degree or certificate requirements have been met three units of credit will be awarded, the students program is considered completed, and the student earns the rights and carries the responsibilities of the degree or certificate. Please note that students graduate and diplomas are issued only during the annual spring commencement, held in late May. For letters of completion, students must submit a written request to the Assistant Director for Student Services, allowing 2-4 weeks for requests to be processed. For an official transcript, students should contact the Office of the Wesleyan University Registrar, (860) 685-2810.

Formatting Guidelines
All proposals, essays, projects, or accompanying project narratives must be prepared according to the following formatting guidelines:

• Font: a standard typeface or font must be used throughout the document (e.g., Times New Roman, font size 12).
• Margins: 1 margin on the top, right, and bottom; 1 " margin on the left to accommodate binding.
• Justification: must be left justified.
• Double-spaced based on the standard manuscript format, except where creativity requires something different (as in some poetry formats).
• Single-sided: the document must have print on only one side of the paper.
• Style manual: the document must adhere to requirements in the latest edition of the chosen publication style manual (see Publication Style Manual Guidelines in this document).
• Illustrations: if they are an integral part of the project, illustrations must be originals or commercial quality copies.
• Title page: must be formatted as demonstrated at the end of this document.

• Title page (must adhere to the GLSP format on page 15)
• Copyright page
• Preface or acknowledgements
• Margins
• Table of contents
• Chapters (headers)
• Footnotes or endnotes
• Use and placement of quotes and punctuation
• References, bibliography, list of works cited/consulted
• Citations
• Figures (charts, graphs, maps, photos, drawings) and tables
• Appendices

          American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American psychological association (5^th ed.). New York, NY: American Psychological Association.

         Turabian, K. L. (1996). A manual for writers of term papers, term papers, theses, and dissertations. (6^th ed.). Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.

Copyright 2003 Jane E. Smith