Senior Thesis Presentations

Holy Family Academy

Senior Thesis Presentations

Given by the members of the Class of 2014
May 9 & 10, 2014

Each student will deliver a thesis establishing and then responding to his or her chosen question. Each student will raise and offer a reply to the central objections against the position taken in the thesis. After each presentation, time has been allotted for the audience to pose further questions concerning the thesis. The Senior Thesis Presentation represents the culmination of a student’s education at Holy Family Academy, the goal of which is the formation of a Catholic, liberally educated lady or gentleman. When presenting a thesis, each student demonstrates both the ability to search for the truth in a logical manner and the ability to present and defend a position publicly. Each presenter must deliver a thesis according to the Classical Scholastic Thesis Form. This is the form used and perfected by St. Thomas Aquinas. The Scholastic Thesis Form is as follows:

1) State the question.
2) Pose two or more strong objections against the proposed answer.
3) “On the contrary” — Appeal to a recognized authority in support of the proposed answer.
4) Give a well developed, logical argument in support of the proposed answer.
5) Present answers to the proposed objections.

After the written thesis is presented, a spirited discussion follows, in which the student will respond ex tempore to questions from the audience concerning his or her topic.