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Junior Symposium

Student reading a book in the hallway

The Junior Symposium is a hallmark academic milestone at The Gunston School—an intensive, year-long independent writing and research project that serves as the capstone of our junior English curriculum.

Designed to mirror college-level humanities research, the project challenges students to develop advanced skills in critical reading, literary analysis, time management, and logical reasoning. In keeping with Gunston tradition, the completion of this major academic milestone is celebrated by the entire school community.

How It Works:

  • The Author Focus: At the start of their junior year, students select an author of focus whose work they are passionate about.
  • The Deep Dive: Throughout the year, students closely read three major works by their chosen author while researching their life, style, and historical context.
  • The Thesis: Students synthesize their findings to construct an original, sophisticated thesis statement.
  • The Capstone Paper: With close faculty mentorship and ongoing drafting feedback, students produce a comprehensive, heavily researched analysis defending their thesis.

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