CIMS graduating seniors have the option to complete a Senior Honors Thesis in Cinema and Media Studies if they have a GPA of 3.5 or above in the major. A senior thesis is a culmination of a student’s journey through the major. It presents a unique opportunity to utilize one’s skills in research, critical analysis, creative skills, and sustained written argumentation while developing a topic of choice.
Honors Thesis can either be:
- A research paper on a chosen topic related to film, TV, or media (30-35 pages).
- A screenplay (completed under the supervision of Kathy DeMarco or Scott Burkhardt), with a companion paper of about 7 pages that explains the premise, and contextualizes the screenplay within the current film landscape (genre, form, etc.)
- A creative project—a short film, documentary, video essay—with a 5-7 pages companion paper that contextualizes the project.
Please Note: Since senior honors thesis presents a culmination of your academic journey, you are highly encouraged to work on a research project. Regardless of which option you choose, however, keep in mind that a scholarly paper is an essential component of a senior thesis, even if you’re working on a screenplay or a creative project. That is, if your primary interest lies in completing a screenplay or a short film, but you don’t want to embark on a research component of a project, you can complete such a project as an independent study, rather than a senior thesis. Once you choose to work on a senior thesis, a research/scholarly element has to be given equal weight to the creative component, and will also be an important part of project evaluation.
Initial Selection Process
The deadline for applications for seniors to the Honors Program is September 1st of their first semester seniors. The application includes a project proposal, which will be evaluated by a selection committee comprised of three CIMS faculty members. Please consult with your prospective advisor before applying. If your application is approved, then you can register for CIMS 4998, a year-long independent study course, which includes meetings with your thesis advisor. The project proposal should be 250 words (excluding references/bibliography), and should have a title, clearly defined theme/topic, the objective of the study, and approach to the topic.
Honors Thesis Process
Students will be guided through the honors thesis in a step-by-step process managed by CIMS Undergraduate Chair and CIMS Associate Director Undergraduate Studies Mr. Nicola M Gentili (ngentili@upenn.edu):
Step 1: Identify a topic and faculty advisor, who is a department or affiliate faculty with CIMS, during your junior year and develop a proposal.
Step 2: Submit your proposal by September 1st of your first semester seniors. If your proposal is accepted by the honor thesis selection committee, you will be enrolled in CIMS 4998, a year-long independent study course.
Step 3: Attend two workshops (one in Fall first semester seniors and another in Spring second semester seniors) with a group of CIMS seniors writing honors theses. Your work-in-progress will be evaluated in the firs workshop to make sure it meets the standards to continue.
Step 4: Attend regular meetings with your Faculty Advisor (at least 4 per semester).
Step 5: Prepare outlines, drafts, or chapters according to the timeline agreed upon with the Faculty Advisor.
Step 6: Present work in progress at the end of Fall semester, and final work at the end of the Spring semester.
** Important note: the group meetings and workshops are designed to give you the tools that you need to complete your honors thesis. However, the honors thesis process is largely a self-guided one, and it is critical that you are able to set and make deadlines, and keep on track with the research and writing process. If you ever find yourself having difficulty, please do not hesitate to reach out. **
Deadlines and Meeting Times
- September 1st of their first semester seniors: Email the attached CINEMA & MEDIA STUDIES SENIOR THESIS PROPOSAL to Nicola M Gentili to submit your proposal to the committee, and eventually enroll in CIMS 4998 if your proposal is accepted.
- Mid-November first semester seniors: We will conduct our first thesis workshop in which all students will be required to present a proposal, bibliography, methodology, and research plan, as well as provide feedback to other theses writers
- January 2nd semester seniors: Email Nicola M Gentili to be enrolled in CIMS 4998 for the Spring.
- Mid-February second semester seniors: A second workshop, in which students present their arguments, major claims, and provide an excerpt (about 15 pages) for feedback
- Third week of March second semester seniors: Deadline for submitting the thesis to primary advisor and to Nicola M Gentili.
Option 1: Research Paper
This is a paper based on original research using primary and secondary source documents, texts, material objects, or data. The thesis will present substantive material in its own right, but should also engage with theoretical and secondary literature on film and media history and theory, cultural studies, critical theory, or philosophy. Primary source materials could include film archives, trade magazines, newspaper reports, field notes from ethnography of a film exhibition space.
Through the process, students will learn the following skills and will be assessed in these areas:
- How to formulate concise, manageable research questions
- How to organize a large volume of material and meet self-imposed deadlines
- How to evaluate evidence and analyze primary material
- How to make a logical and appropriately substantiated argument
- How to relate and connect evidence to existing literature/research on the topic
- How to present scholarly work to an audience of peers and respond in thoughtful ways
A senior research thesis is intended to be an essay that explores in-depth a topic of interest to the student in the field of cinema and media. A thesis, by definition, is a proposition, an assertion, supported by arguments, not a mere collection of data or summaries of existing sources on the topic. This does not mean that students must start their research with a definite theme or argument, but it does mean that toward the end of the process, they should systematically try to arrange their material in such a way that the reader will be aware of their purpose and direction.
Students should define in the thesis introduction the problems with which they are going to deal with, explain how they plan to approach the issues, and how the main argument adds to the current knowledge. Every part of the body of the thesis should be part of an argument. Just as the reader should never be in doubt about what the writer is trying to argue, so the thesis writer should never be in doubt about how a particular point fits into the development of the thesis. Finally, in the conclusion, you should summarize your findings as well as relate the conclusions to a larger context.
Option 2: Screenplay
If you choose this option, you will write a feature length screenplay or television pilot. Television pilots will also require a pitch document. If the student chooses to write a half hour comedy pilot, the student will be required to write the first TWO episodes of the show.
Students who choose this option will develop the screenplay or television pilot under the close supervision of Kathy DeMarco or Scott Burkhardt. The screenplay or television pilot should display a flawless understanding of formatting, and a solid grasp of storytelling to include plot, characters, and theme.
In addition, you will write a 7-page companion paper that explains the premise of the screenplay or television pilot, contextualizing it within a specific genre, body of work, or film/media landscape. It should discuss the following: What are some comparable scripts/films/influences? What was your approach to writing the script? Why is it told the way it is told? What is it bringing to the genre/form that is new and unique?
Option 3: Short Film/Documentary/Video Essay
A short film, documentary, or video essay can be anywhere between 3-20 mins. You will work with your advisor on the concept and practicality of executing the production plan. Approval should be received for each checkpoint by the specific deadline.
If you choose a creative project that is personal in nature, it is important to connect this personal experience to the social/cultural/political dimensions. We are part of our social, political, or cultural environments, so our personal interpretations or experiences are always contextual. Therefore, reflecting on the context/s in which your personal experiences take shape is key to this project and may reveal contradictions, amplifications, or affirmations of your personal experience/s. You may do so in any creative way you find most appropriate.
You may use any recording equipment (your phone or camera), and any editing software you’re familiar with.
Completing this project is a process similar to writing a research paper, so the benchmarks, assignments, and workshops participation is the same as for other students, even as individual assignments may be modified to fit the needs of your particular project. Your faculty advisor must be involved in all the steps of your project’s development and you should discuss progress with them on a regular basis. Just submitting a finished project at the end of the year, no matter how brilliant or creative, is unacceptable.
In addition, you will write a 5-7-page companion paper that explains the premise of the project, contextualizing it within a specific genre, body of work, or film/media landscape. It should discuss the following: What are some comparable films/influences? What was your approach to the thematic and aesthetic nature of the project? Why did you choose to work with a specific aesthetic or generic mode? What is it bringing to the genre/form that is new and unique?