Senior Luther English majors publicly presented their completed senior paper projects on December 5, 2012 in Main 111 and 112. Fellow students and faculty gathered, snacked on appetizers, listened to the formal oral presentations, and asked questions about student’s research and writing.

The presentations were as follows:

• John Dimit, “The Social Constructions of Jane Austen: Literary Resistance in the Early Novel”

• Emilie Taylor, “Watership Down: From Everyman to Epic Hero”

• Kathleen Towell, “The Effects of Illness on Identity Formation in Young Adult Literature”

Kathryn Baratto (no photo available), “The Mute Madwoman and the Educated Speaker: Two Women Resisting Male Control in Jane Eyre.”

Together with the required Senior Seminar, the Senior Project is the English major’s culminating experience. Projects build upon the students’ previous experience with scholarly research, creative writing, or the secondary education program, and include both a substantial piece of writing and an oral presentation. Registration is completed during the term preceding the semester in which the project is begun.

English Senior Projects take many forms: some build upon a particular piece of previous work; some involve new materials or fields of inquiry; some are completed in one semester, some require a year-long commitment; projects earn one, two, or four credits. All projects are done under the supervision of an assigned faculty advisor, and all projects are evaluated by at least two faculty readers.