Senior Integrated Project (SIP) Handbook
For a departmental SIP in French & Francophone Studies, students should design a project related to an aspect of the French language or the French-speaking world. SIP topics might focus on film, literature, linguistics, or cultural studies of the French-speaking world. A SIP may take the form of an academic research paper or a more creative project involving filmmaking, photography, creative writing, etc. We encourage students to develop a personally meaningful project that will represent a capstone experience for their Kalamazoo College education.
A one-unit SIP should be at least 30 pages in length (not including front matter, appendices, and bibliography). A two-unit SIP should be at least 60 pages in length (not including front matter, appendices, and bibliography). Expectations for creative SIPs will be developed in consultation with the SIP advisor.
French & Francophone Studies SIPs must be written in French. If a student wishes to work with a French & Francophone Studies faculty member on a SIP written in English related to a topic in which that faculty member has expertise, the student will register for a LANG SIP or IDSY SIP and not a FREN 593 SIP.
Students are encouraged to look at prior French Language and Literature Senior Integrated Projects, which are available in the Kalamazoo College Digital Archives or feel free to reference the 2012-2022 list of French SIPs.
SIP Options
- One-unit Fall SIPs – You may conduct research or work independently on your SIP over the summer prior to your fall or winter SIP; however, we do not offer the option of registering for a summer SIP.
- One-unit Winter SIPs
- Two-unit Fall & Winter SIPs – One of these 2 units may also be registered with another department if you are working with a faculty advisor who understands written French. There are many faculty members on campus who do and who may agree to co-direct an interdisciplinary SIP. Please talk to us if you are interested in this option.
Timeline for SIP Planning
SIP planning should start the term before your intended SIP quarter.
- 1st week-4th week (or even earlier) : Meet with one or more faculty members to discuss your ideas for a SIP.
- Tuesday of 4th week : Deadline for applications for Center for International Programs support for SIP research projects outside of the USA (apply directly to the CIP).
- By Friday of 4th week: Preliminary proposal due to the department of French & Francophone Studies
- 5th week: You will be notified if your proposal has been accepted and who your SIP supervisor will be.
- 6th week – 7th week: Meet with your SIP supervisor to further develop your SIP proposal.
- Monday of 8th week: Final SIP proposal due (1-2 pages); register your SIP with the Registrar’s office by filling out the appropriate online form.
Proposals
The Preliminary Proposal
The preliminary proposal should be submitted to the Chair of the Department (L. Dugas) by Friday of 4th week of the term prior to your SIP quarter. This short SIP proposal (½ to one page in length) should identify your tentative topic and the name of the faculty member you are requesting be your SIP supervisor. You should explain why you are interested in pursuing this topic and summarize your preparation to work on it. Your preparation might include specific course work on campus or abroad (list all relevant courses), your ICRP project while on study abroad, previous work or volunteer experience, or other lived experiences.
Final Proposal
The final proposal will be developed in conjunction with your SIP supervisor and should follow the guidelines set forth by your supervisor.
Funding Sources
You may be able to apply for funding to support your SIP research, depending on the kind of project that you will be undertaking. The following centers on campus support some SIP research that meet certain criteria: the Arcus Center, the Center for International Programs (for example, the “Student Projects Abroad” fund supports research projects abroad), the Environmental Stewardship Center, the Center for Civic Engagement. The department of French and Francophone Studies also has some funds available to support SIP research. Please check with these sources individually for application timelines and criteria.
Institutional Review Board Approval for Certain SIPs
Please note that students undertaking SIPs that involve human subjects, including those incorporating interviews, surveys, oral histories, and community-based research, must first obtain approval from the College’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). Visit the IRB website for more information and application deadlines. If you will be working with human subjects, you need to start early and plan ahead because you cannot begin this part of your research until your IRB application has been approved by the IRB committee.
French & Francophone Studies SIP List
2012-2022 SIPs
Lettres Chinoises: Une Traduction: Analyse des Implications du Style sur la Traduction des Émotions – Annika Canavero (2023)
Les politiques linguistiques de l’Algérie post-indépendante : Comment l’arabisation a semé la division – Kanase Matsuzaki (2023)
Une Analyse de la Situation Linguistique en Martinique – Shanon Brown (2022)
Entre les murs : l’appartenance, l’identité et la citoyenneté pour des élèves migrants – Juan Ibarra (2022) Lieux de vie de migrants à Calais : Stratégies d’Etat et Tactiques de migrants – Ashtekar, Avani (2021)
Intersection de l’Histoire Orale et de l’Analyse Académique en Algérie d’Après-Guerre Watkins, Eleri (2021)
Identité Française – Gougeon, Jessica (2021)
Les Musées Coloniaux dans l’Imagination Française : Un Examen Critique de la Représentation des Africains sub-sahariens à l’Exposition Internationale Coloniale de 1931 – Woods, Julia (2020) Bande Dessinée et Identité Nationale Pendant la Guerre Froide aux États-Unis et en France – Sauget, Harriet A. (2020)
Analyse des facteurs clés du succès de la culture pop coréenne en France et prévisions sur son avenir – Park, ChaeRin (2020)
Qui peut définir les femmes ? Étude sur l’article Femme de Denis Diderot en Relation à l’Éducation d’Angélique Diderot – Terterian, Ani J. (2019)
La Discrimination Auditive des Voyelles Françaises Non-Natives par des Locuteurs Anglais-Américains aux Niveaux Variés en Français – Walsh, Timothy (2019)
L’Identité Franco-Américaine dans l’État du Maine – Toll, Jane (2019) Les gens qui s’identifient au genre non-binaire et la langue française – Madgwick, Alicia (2018)
Cette existence complexe de l’immigré dans l’espace de l’entre-deux. – Ndiaye, Laetitia Marie (2018)
La progression d’une modernité patriarcale et les oeuvres féminines comme mode de résistance : une analyse du triptyque Héritières de Marie Redonnet – Merkel, Molly (2017) Une menace à la langue française ? Une observation sur le gouvernement français et son rapport avec sa langue – Dunnell, Lotte L.H. (2017)
Un marriage entre la poésie à la musique: Une analyse littéraire des Romances sans Paroles par Paul Verliane et des Ariettes Oubliées par Claude Debussy – Stavropoulos, Vethania (2017)
Traduire I’Asile: Une enquête sur le systême d’asile – Wickline, Eli (2017)
Ostacles à l’intégration des immigrés nord africains et de leurs descendants en France : L’espace scolaire comme lieu d’intégration – Smith, Alexandra (2016)
L’évolution et développement du concept légal de « Crime contre l’humanité » pendant les procés Bousquet, Touvier, et Papon – Cares, Olivia (2016)
La loi de la laïcité du 2004 en France : un mécanisme de discrimination utilisée avec la couverture de l’assimilation – Herrera, Lucia (2016)
« La Guerre est notre passé » Une analyse quantitative de la mémoire collective du Jour J en France et aux États-Unis – Swearer, Mira (2016)
Les femmes de la Résistance – Olsen, Hannah (2015)
L’évolution historique des pronoms d’adresse tu et vous du latin au français modern – McIntosh, Angus (2015)
“Libre de tout casser, de tout construire” Les motivations des adolescents français d’apprendre l’anglais et une façon d’encourager le développement de ces motivations – Donk, Kelsey (2014)
Un peuple à part: La marginalisation des Algériens pendant Ia période coloniale, Ia guerre d’indépendance et à Ia fin du vingtième siècle en Algérie et en France – Majlof, Lisa (2014)
“Beatrice of the Kongo” by Bernard Binlin Dadie: A translation – Carey, Fiona Dupuis (2014)
Le Cowboy dans un magasin de porcelaine: Une analyse qualitative du soft power américain en France – Mouradian, Hagop D. (2014)
Origines idéologiques du Front national La lignée de l’extrème-droite française Farmer, Jessica (2013)
Littérature française inspirée par la Bible – Yang, Elizabeth (2013)
“Dieu le veut et tant pis pour le reste!” Une étude littérature des croisades médiévales et la rhétorique utilisée pour diaboliser l’ennemi. – Jannette, Lauren (2012)
L’influence de la Terreur sur le genre fantastique – Perry, Rene (2012)
L’immigration des Juifs français en Israël – Geller, Aaron (2012)
Issues de l’Immigration et de la Discrimination en France pour les Roms : En Comparaison avec les Maghrébins – Lutz, Kailee (2012)