Please contact a member of the Training Staff (TO or CA:TO) regarding your thesis topic. If you have a subject you would like to write about, please let us know. Otherwise, the Training Office can provide a topic related to the qualification for your thesis.
Your task is to write a work of fiction, of no less than 3,000 words and no more than 7,500 words, exploring your topic. This may be written from a first or third-person point of view and must be related to the Emperor's Hammer and its members.
Feel free to use any source in the Imperial University in your thesis, and you may also use any reputable external source, so long as you provide a citation, to present additional information (though citations are not required in a fiction).
We want you to succeed with this thesis, and will do all we can to answer any questions you might have. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask a member of the Training Office staff.
Additionally, theses that receive passing marks may be published in an upcoming issue of the Imperial University's journal “Proceedings”, adding to the body of knowledge that comprises the Imperial University (unless a member submits a request in writing to the Training Office).
Formatting is not critical with this thesis. Citations are only needed for external sources (outside the Imperial University), and please use MLA, APA, or Chicago formatting. Headings can also be used. Please note that headings and citations will not count towards the word count. Images or diagrams are not required nor encouraged, but if you feel they are essential to the thesis, they may be included by including a URL link to the image in the thesis text.
This thesis is graded on a Pass/No Pass scale. Since this involves grading and evaluating a complex piece of writing by multiple members of the Training Office, grading times for this course may exceed the normal times for IU courses. If you do not pass with this submission, we will provide guidance on what can be improved, what should be fixed, and how to resubmit. If you do not pass the first time, we encourage you to resubmit a revised thesis!
| Percentage of Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 25% | Clearly addresses the prompt, relates information to the prompt, and the thesis clearly and thoroughly explores the prompt. |
| 20% | The thesis is well organized, presenting the fiction in a logical and consistent manner. |
| 20% | The thesis explores the individuals within the fiction, providing insight to their characters. |
| 20% | The thesis provides analysis on the character's situations, motivations, and emotional states. |
| 15% | Grammar, spelling, mechanics, etc. |