Graduation with Distinction: English (ENGLISH)
The English department offers its majors two options to earn distinction: a.) the Critical Thesis option and b.) the Creative Writing option.
Option A. The Critical Thesis Option
To be eligible, English majors must have a GPA of at least 3.5 in English. Qualified students must submit an application form that includes a writing sample from an English course, a recommendation from a member of the English department faculty from whom the student has taken a course, and a one-page project description and basic bibliography. Copies of these materials must be submitted both to the DUS and to the faculty member who is to direct the first installment of the guided research/independent study by Nov. 15th (for a spring-to-fall honors project) or March 15th (for a fall-to-spring honors project).
Expected product
A well-researched and carefully revised piece of writing (~70 pp. or more).
Evaluative body
After initial approval by the thesis director, the director of undergraduate studies and his/her advisory committee will evaluate all honors theses.
Evaluation procedure
Upon approval by the instructor, the completed honors thesis is submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by December 1 (for a spring-to-fall honors project) or March 31 (for a fall-to-spring honors project ) of the senior year for evaluation by the DUS and his/her advisory committee.
Levels of distinction
Three levels: Distinction, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction. Levels of distinction are based on the quality of the completed work. Students who have done satisfactory work in the seminars but whose thesis is denied distinction will simply receive graded credit for their seminars and/or independent studies.
Special courses, other activities required, comments
Whereas the standard major in English asks for a total of ten courses, students pursuing honors in English will take nine courses plus either two independent studies or a so-called “home seminar” to be followed by an independent study.
Option B. The Creative Writing Option
Applicants for the distinction program in Creative Writing will be expected to have taken preparatory coursework from Duke's Creative Writing faculty and to have completed at least five 100-level courses in English by the beginning of the senior year and have a GPA of at least 3.5 in English. Qualified students must submit an application that includes a writing sample and two recommendations from a member of the English department faculty.
Expected product
The distinction program in Creative Writing is designed for the department's best and most serious writers whose coursework at Duke has prepared them to make a sustained and successful commitment to a distinction project in creative writing.
Evaluative body
A committee of three English department faculty members will evaluate the project.
Evaluation procedure
Upon approval by the instructor, the completed honors thesis is submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by April 1 of the senior year for evaluation.
Levels of distinction
Three levels: Distinction, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction. Levels of distinction are based on the quality of the completed work. Students who have done satisfactory work in the seminars but whose thesis is denied distinction will simply receive graded credit for their seminar and independent study.
Special courses, other activities required, comments
Students pursuing honors in Creative Writing complete a thesis seminar, English 197BS, in the fall semester and one independent study, English 198BS, with the thesis advisor in the spring of the senior year. English 197BS varies in content and format according to the interests of the instructor and students. It will provide a forum in which to discuss work-in-progress. English 198BS will involve substantial independent work toward completing the thesis, and regular conferences with the instructor. The honors courses do not count toward the English major.
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