1So you were both given your project assignments for your senior thesis today, right?
2Yes, and we already have to submit our topics next week!
3But how could they give us a grade this soon?
4No, next week's due date will not be counted towards your final grade.
5The teachers are just going to read your topic and give you feedback.
6Oh, I see.
7So first we should come up with our topics, and then what?
8Well, once you know what you want to study,
9you need to think about how you'll study it.
10You need to decide on your research methods.
11The methods will be the main part of your paper.
12What about the results section?
13Well, I can give you feedback on that,
14but you will be the one carrying out an experiment
15and thus will have to produce the results on your own.
16What I would like to do today is practice writing research papers before you even begin your report.
17I'll give you samples of old data from past experience.
18And you can practice writing results and drawing conclusions.
19I think that would be really helpful.
20Yeah, it sounds like a lot of extra work,
21but I'm sure it would make our actual project easier.
22You're exactly right!
23So let's get started.
24First, let's try this simple experiment on fruit flies.
25Read the information, and then take 25 minutes to summarise a results and conclusion section.
26That's really important - pay attention to the time limit.
27OK, does it still have to be 6,000 words?
28No, don't worry about that.
29What if we get off topic?
30I wouldn't worry too much -
31you will have so much information to write about
32that it should be easy to stay on topic.
33But what about other sources?
34Well for this assignment, you can use the one from your textbook.
35In your actual paper, you should find old experiments that support your topic.
36So do we need to find different types of sources?
37For instance, should I be conducting lots of interviews to use in my paper?
38No, there's no need to conduct lots of interviews or anything like that.
39OK, I'm ready to get started.
40I'm still a little confused though, on how we should format our paper.
41Don't worry about it for now,
42but on your final paper, make sure to pay attention to the format.
43It should follow the guidelines exactly.
44Oh man, I'm starting to understand why they give us all semester to do this.
45Are there any other small details like that that we should know about?
46Not a whole lot,
47make sure you provide two copies - one for your teacher of course,
48but one for yourself as well.
49And of course, you know the due date, right?
50Uh, it's April the 11th, right?
51What? No!
52It's May 11th. Right?
53Yes.
54The due date is May 11.
55Write it down!
56Oh wow. Yeah, I need to note it.
57Also, I'm having trouble finding information on my topic.
58What if I can't find enough good sources?
59It's alright to change your topic.
60Just make sure to do it before the beginning of April.
61Oh really?
62Wow, I'm definitely going to change it then.
63Just make sure to write a note to your teacher letting him or her know.
64Okay. So getting back to writing this sample paper, where do we start?
65Should I just explain the experiment and what happened?
66Well, you need to start with your hypothesis -
67what you think will happen -
68and then describe your procedure.
69Then you can write up the results and your conclusions.
70Oh boy, I don't know if I can handle any more instructions...