North Dakota State University
Department of Modern Languages

Spanish 489
Senior Thesis / Capstone
Syllabus & Guidelines

Catalogue Description
Integrative capstone experience for seniors majoring in Spanish;  faculty guided research within the context of a culture or 400-level literature course leading to a substantive written project in Spanish and oral presentation to faculty and departmental majors.  1 credit     Prereq. :  Senior standing; study abroad

Course Description / Objectives
As an integrative experience in the last year of the Spanish major, the capstone gives senior students the opportunity to bring together the skills acquired over their course of studies in Spanish and their study abroad.   For the capstone, students undertake a supplementary one-credit Senior Thesis Research project within the context of a course.  Students enroll in both an approved culture or 400-level literature course and the one-credit Spanish 489 Capstone Course.  The capstone and its associated course will be taught in Spanish;  the capstone thesis will be directed by the course instructor.  The attached Thesis Research Guidelines describe the format of the project and procedures to be followed.  The final paper is expected to meet professional standards for the field.  

Note:  It is very important to initiate discussion with the intended instructor during the SEMESTER PRIOR TO ENROLLING IN THE CAPSTONE.   A thesis proposal will be due at the end of the second week of classes for Spanish 489.

Texts     to be determined in thesis proposal

Grading
The capstone project is offered only on a graded basis.  75% of the final grade will be derived from the written work, 25% from the public presentation of the thesis.   Grading criteria:  1) quality of scholarship, 2) development and organization, and 3) the overall quality of the writing in Spanish.  The expectation is that the thesis will be professional and literate and that it will conform to MLA or Chicago guidelines.  The oral component will be evaluated separately on the basis of its organization, presentation, and the quality of the spoken Spanish.

The academic community is operated on the basis of honesty, integrity, and fair play. NDSU Policy 335: Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct applies to cases in which cheating, plagiarism, or other academic misconduct have occurred in an instructional context. Students found guilty of academic misconduct are subject to penalties, up to and possibly including suspension and/or expulsion. Student academic misconduct records are maintained by the Office of Registration and Records. Informational resources about academic honesty for students and instructional staff members can be found at www.ndsu.edu/academichonesty.  

If you should need any special accommodations as the result of a documented disability, please speak with the department chair as soon as possible.

Senior Thesis Research Guidelines
French / Spanish 489
All Thesis proposals are due by the end of the second week of classes.
Description. 
	The Senior Thesis Research project involves the independent researching and writing of a paper of approximately 4,000 words. Completion of this project and its acceptance by the supervising faculty member fulfills the department’s capstone degree requirement. Majors in French and Spanish write the capstone paper in the respective language of study.  Papers must follow acceptable standards of style and format  (MLA Handbook or the Chicago Manual of Style).
Procedures.
	 In the term prior to beginning the Senior Thesis Research project, students must initiate discussion with the instructor they intend to work with for the thesis in order to begin the development of a proposal.  The proposal is due no later than end of the second week of classes for the 489 course. 
	 The proposal consists of 2 -3 double-spaced pages in which you state: 1)  in broad terms, the issue with which you are concerned;  2) the specific question you have formulated and intend to investigate in your research;  3) the method/structure that will organize your study.  On an additional page, attach a preliminary annotated bibliography.
Schedule 
Semester before enrollment in Fr/Sp 489
	1.	During the semester prior to enrollment in French/Spanish 489 students must consult with the instructor they intend to work with on the project.   They begin to work out a research proposal based on the 400-level class in which they will be concurrently enrolled with Fr/Sp 489.   This proposal will be due at the end of the second week of classes for 489.   

Second week of classes for Fr/Sp 489
	2.	Submit thesis proposal to instructor

Fourth week
	3.	Submit extensive annotated list of bibliographic sources and thorough outline of 			project

Eighth week
	4.	Solid first draft of thesis due.  Number of subsequent drafts to be discussed with 			adviser.  Look ahead to the public presentation of thesis which will take place in 			approximately the 14th week of classes.

Fourteenth week
	5.	 Public presentation for department faculty and majors.

Fifteenth week
	6. 	Final clean copy of thesis due.