Today is a day that I have been waiting on for a few weeks. I just got my first glance at the thesis statements from our Seniors (the propositions that our they will be defending in May). They are working on their paper now.
They have been doing research and building arguments to this point in the year. They are creating drafts now, and will be ready to present and defend near the end of the year.
Now, for three big things:
First, a note on senior thesis and why we do it. Veritas is following an academic tradition: the tradition of creating and defending a thesis at the end of their academic work. The papers that they are writing are long ones. Most will be around 30 pages. (Our longest, I believe was 106.) Being able to write and defend a thesis proves that the student is ready to make arguments (i.e., they can think clearly and critically about ideas) and that they can present them effectively (i.e., that they are rhetorically apt). These are the great end goals of a classical education, so thesis is a perfect way to prove that the students have reached those goals! (Note, I was recently at a meeting with admissions people for Harvard and Princeton. They require thesis writing for graduation as well!)
Second, I wanted to note how proud I am of our students and faculty. These thesis statements show a breadth that I really enjoy. Students get to choose their own area of interest and I am glad that we have arguments about the arts, the military, Christian philosophy, dietary wisdom, and board games. I love the diversity of thought. God is interested in all of these areas and so we should be too!
Third, I wanted to share the thesis statement with you so that you could start to get excited about the defense in May. (Note, that there is one "extra" senior this year. Sterling Wells is a junior, but is participating in Sr. Thesis because he is a year ahead on our Math pace. He is taking Calculus II as a junior--Go Sterling!) Here are the thesis statements:
2013-2014 Thesis Statements
- 1) Bender, Clayton: Although genetic research gives us the capacity to modify our genetic code, it is unethical to alter our genes for therapeutic or elective purposes.
- 2) Droz, Dana: Playing board games is valuable not only for entertainment but also as a catalyst for developing social skills, decision making, and general knowledge.
- 3) Duty, Kayla: The US method of organ donation, while inadequate, is superior to China’s method of organ donation.
- 4) Graber, Josh: Our culture's truncated view of education begets an inadequate conception of human flourishing.
- 5) Hanson, Brent: Labors unions have outlived their usefulness and benefit to the American worker.
- 6) Heine, Carissa: A whole-food, plant-based diet is consistently more effective than conventional drugs and surgery in treating, healing, and preventing cancer and heart disease.
- 7) Kessler, Shawn: It is not incompatible to be a virtuous Christian and an obedient infantry soldier.
- 8) Kline, Hannah: The environment in American prisons undermines the genuine repentance and reform of the inmates.
- 9) Knepley, Sarah: Rather than representing a regression in modern medicine, the Civil War played an essential role in the development of the modern medical system.
10) Martin, AJ: Due to the nature of modern warfare, traditional just war theory can no longer be appropriately applied.
11) Martin, Carrie: Our culture’s preoccupation with originality diverts the focus of the arts away from beauty towards the artist.
12) Miller, Connie: Myth is necessary for both the development and retention of virtue in a healthy civilization.
13) Ploutz, Michaela: Contemporary fiction's humanization of Demonic creatures reveals a lack of understanding in our culture about genuine romantic love as it pertains to women.
14) Sailer, Matthew: In ancient Greek battles, those who did not understand history were doomed to repeat it.
15) Shimp, Kai: The South was justified in entering the Civil War because it's cause was constitutionally valid and because it's rights as states had been violated by the Union.
16) Spykstra, Seth: The human body is better designed for endurance running than that of any other species.
17) Strawbridge, Jenna: Birth order affects how an individual interacts socially and therefore is a significant factor in the formation of personality.
18) Wells, Sterling: In order to facilitate cognitive development, social interaction, and character growth, schools need chess in K–12 education.
