Junior Independent Work
Slavic majors write two junior papers. The first, 5,000-6,000 words in English, can be on any topic related to Russian literature, language, history, or society. Russian sources must be used, although the extent of Russian will be determined largely by the individual student's linguistic background. Students who wish to write about other Slavic traditions (e.g., Czech or Polish), assuming they have the linguistic competence, are encouraged to do so. The second paper, approximately 2,000 words words in Russian, is normally devoted to the analysis of a Russian short story or poem chosen by the student (in consultation with the departmental representative). Depending on the amount of Russian studied, level of competence and other factors (such as absence from campus for study abroad), the order of these papers can be reversed. In both semesters, final work is due on the last day of classes before reading period.
Students are assigned a faculty advisor, to whom they are encouraged to submit drafts. In the case of the Russian paper, students will meet individually on a regular basis with their advisor to review translations they have prepared from the chosen text. After they have finished reading the text, they will begin work writing the essay. They must submit a draft no later than two weeks before the paper is due. This draft will be returned with grammatical errors underlined (but not corrected). The student is then to rewrite the paper and resubmit it.
For the English paper, quotations from Russian sources may be typed in Cyrillic or in transliteration (speak with the departmental representative about which system should be used). The Russian paper must be written on computer. Russian fonts are available here.
Calendar for Junior Independent Work 2008-2009*
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Fall Semester
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by Thu, 25 September
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Students meet with the Departmental Representative to discuss the preferred order of writing the two papers, as well as potential topic and advisor for the Fall paper
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by Fri, 10 October
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Students meet with their adviser
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by Fri, 24 October
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Students submit to the adviser a paper proposal and preliminary bibliography
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by Mon, 1 December
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Students submit first draft of the paper to the adviser
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by Fri, 12 December
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The adviser returns the paper draft with comments
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Tue, 6 January
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Students submit the final version of the Fall-term junior paper
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Spring Semester
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by Fri, 13 February
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Students meet with the Departmental Representative to discuss a potential topic and adviser for the Spring junior pape
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by Fri, 27 February
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Students meet with the chosen adviser
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by Fri, 3 April
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Students submit full draft of the paper to the adviser
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by Fri, 17 April
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The adviser returns the paper with corrections and comments
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Mon, 5 May
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Students submit the final version of the Spring-term junior paper
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*The schedule assumes that the paper in English will be completed in the Fall semester, and the Russian one—in the Spring. Students who plan to reverse this more typical sequence should adjust the schedule accordingly.
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