Criteria for Honors in Independent Study at Lawrence
Cum Laude -- Honors with distinction
To achieve honors, the project must fulfill ALL of the following criteria:
- Each of the three components of the project (the work, the written exposition, and the oral examination) demonstrates a substantial knowledge of, and facility with, previous work, underlying principles, and central concepts or theories in areas relevant to the project.
- The paper must clearly show that the student has established an original thesis or hypothesis, an original interpretation or analysis, a substantial and original synthesis or innovative pedagogical exposition of a sophisticated body of established work, or created a new work of art. In other words, the student must demonstrate that the project does not merely replicate, review, paraphrase, or compile previous work by others.
- The paper appropriately frames the original material in the project within the context of established work or relevant traditions in the discipline, provides documentation (e.g., bibliographical citations, tables and figures, illustrations) appropriate to the discipline, contains few and relatively minor grammatical or typographical flaws, is clear, well-organized, and stylistically sound.
- The work itself is of very high quality. The project has been carried out competently, diligently, independently, and in a manner that fulfills the basic standards of the discipline.
- The oral examination reaffirms the high quality of the work, the originality of the contribution, and the student's facility with relevant principles, concepts, and background material.
Magna Cum Laude -- Honors with great distinction
In addition to fulfilling the criteria described above, the project must fulfill ALL of the following criteria:
- Each of the three components of the project (the work, the written exposition, and the oral examination) demonstrates a level of mastery of, and facility with, relevant previous work, underlying principles, and central concepts or theories of which few undergraduates are capable; as well as a solid grasp of related, but peripheral material.
- The thesis, interpretation, analysis, synthesis, pedagogical exposition, or creative endeavor encompassed by the project demonstrates unusual and substantial creativity, conceptual innovation, or theoretical sophistication (i.e., an unusual degree of independence of thought) on the part of the student.
- The framing of the original material in the project within the context of established work or relevant traditions is remarkably sophisticated, revealing a sensitive and advanced understanding of the relationship between the student's contribution and established traditions or theories. The paper contains almost no grammatical or typographical flaws and is particularly well written, lucid, and compelling.
- The work itself is of outstanding quality. The project has been carried out with a degree of technical competence, diligence, and independence of which few undergraduates are capable.
- The oral examination reaffirms the outstanding quality of the work. The student is able to give complete, clear, well-organized, and satisfying responses to the examiners' questions without the need for much guidance or prompting from the examiners.
Summa Cum Laude -- Honors with highest distinction
This level of honors is rarely achieved and is reserved for those instances in which all three components (the work, the paper, and the oral examination) demonstrate a superlative level of excellence. In addition to fulfilling the criteria described above, the project must fulfill ALL of the following criteria:
- Each of the three components of the project (the work, the written exposition, and the oral examination) not only demonstrates an exceptional level of mastery of, and facility with, relevant previous work, underlying principles, and central concepts or theories, but also a sophisticated and original critical perspective on this material (i.e., the student possesses informed opinions about the strengths and weaknesses of previous work, theories, and traditions in the area). The student not only intimately understands relevant background material, but also has the ability to view this material critically in a wider intellectual context.
- The thesis, interpretation, analysis, synthesis, pedagogical exposition, or creative endeavor encompassed by the project demonstrates a superlative level of creativity, conceptual innovation, or theoretical sophistication on the part of the student.
- The framing of the original material in the project within the context of established work or relevant traditions is elegant and subtle, revealing a rare and exceedingly advanced understanding of how the student's project represents a significant contribution to established traditions or theories. The paper is not only technically flawless (or virtually flawless), but is exceedingly well written, compelling, and engaging.
- The work itself exceeds all expectations. The project has been carried out with a superlative level of technical competence, sophistication, diligence, and independence.
- The oral examination reaffirms that the work is a rare achievement that makes an original and sophisticated contribution. The student is able to give extraordinarily complete and persuasive responses to the examiners' questions without the need for guidance or prompting from the examiners.
Special Instructions for Projects in the arts
The above criteria are used in evaluating all Honors in Independent Study projects with the exception of the brief paper written for a project in the arts. While the paper for a project in the arts must be clearly organized and well written, contain appropriate documentation when needed, and display a high quality of thought and presentation, it is considered to be supplementary to the work itself. In the arts, the criteria listed above should be used primarily to evaluate the project itself and the subsequent oral examination.
Supplementary Guidelines for Projects in the Arts
- Keep in mind that honors in independent study are university awards.
- A project in the arts may be undertaken in any discipline (e.g., biology, physics, history, etc.)
- Evaluation of the project will focus on the project rather than the paper. The paper, however, should be well-written and free of error, and its content should be accurate, meaningful, and appropriate to the project.
- The supplementary paper should be at least six to ten pages in length. (A longer paper may be submitted, of course, but again the focus will remain on the project.)
- A bibliography may or may not be necessary, depending on the content of the paper.
- If a project in the arts consists of a performance, some sort of audio-visual documentation (DVD, CD, photographs, etc.) must be included with the final project for archival purposes. A performance program should also be submitted.
- If the project is an art exhibition, an exhibition catalog must be submitted with the final project. Some sort of visual description (photographs, DVD, etc.) should also be included for archival purposes.
- If the project is web based, arrangements must be made to create an archive copy.
