Structure and Share It!: Guiding and Engaging Undergraduate Researchers at a Public Liberal Arts College

At New College of Florida, a four-year public liberal arts college, all students must complete senior thesis projects, thus placing original undergraduate research at the center of New College's mission to "prepare intellectually curious students for lives of great achievement." In Art History, two key elements define our approach to the development of the research skills and critical reflection necessary to a successful thesis project: 1) scaffolded assignments and courses that familiarize students with the recursive process of research and writing; and 2) peer and/or public engagement that highlights the dialogic character of these activities. I will present both a smaller research assignment (adaptable to different courses/contexts) that prepares students for more ambitious projects and the sequence of courses and assignments that build toward the senior thesis. The first brings students together to research and present on a set of related local artworks; in January 2019 students wrote object labels for public artworks on campus, followed by a docent-style presentation delivered first to their classmates and then the broader public. The senior thesis project develops within an undergraduate methods seminar and a senior thesis seminar; both involve scaffolded assignments -- whether a regularly shared research journal, an exploratory essay designed to process and focus research, various oral presentations, or a thesis prospectus -- that guide students in the ongoing development, research, and (re)writing of their thesis. Overall, opportunities for students to share their work with one another and a wider audience have inspired stronger, more enthusiastic undergraduate research and writing.