<![CDATA[Comments on: Discussing a Thesis Topic with an Advisor]]> 2010-08-02 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> Having totally lucked out of having to do a thesis, I thought that a lesson on a thesis would have been a couple of thoughts around a specific hypothesis. 

A casual google search shows that there is indeed a lot of research around migrant workers worldwide, but it appears that the basic assumption is that migrants have no free time.  It would be interesting to know how much free time they actually have, and indeed what they do with it.

Good job cpod.

]]> Having totally lucked out of having to do a thesis, I thought that a lesson on a thesis would have been a couple of thoughts around a specific hypothesis. 

A casual google search shows that there is indeed a lot of research around migrant workers worldwide, but it appears that the basic assumption is that migrants have no free time.  It would be interesting to know how much free time they actually have, and indeed what they do with it.

Good job cpod.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]>

"引导他们参与健康的娱乐活动"

好主意啊！ 比如说。。 ？？ 那个。。

大家为农民工建议很多娱乐活动，可以吗？

]]>

"引导他们参与健康的娱乐活动"

好主意啊！ 比如说。。 ？？ 那个。。

大家为农民工建议很多娱乐活动，可以吗？

]]> <![CDATA[By: mark]]> My B.A. didn't require a thesis.  Do all subject areas in China require a thesis for graduation?  The lesson banter suggests that they might.  (just curious about the situation in China)  I think there was even an option for M.S. candidates to take a comprehensive test rather than write a thesis, but if the option was available that wasn't how my advisor steered me.  I don't think there is another option for Phd students.

]]> My B.A. didn't require a thesis.  Do all subject areas in China require a thesis for graduation?  The lesson banter suggests that they might.  (just curious about the situation in China)  I think there was even an option for M.S. candidates to take a comprehensive test rather than write a thesis, but if the option was available that wasn't how my advisor steered me.  I don't think there is another option for Phd students.

]]> <![CDATA[By: ellen_counselor]]> 问卷调查、实地采访，听起来不错，这才像是搞研究写论文。不过大多数毕业生的论文都是东拼西凑抄出来的。

]]> 问卷调查、实地采访，听起来不错，这才像是搞研究写论文。不过大多数毕业生的论文都是东拼西凑抄出来的。

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> Yes, all subject areas in China require a thesis for graduation.

]]> Yes, all subject areas in China require a thesis for graduation.

]]> <![CDATA[By: henning]]> Hi Jenny,

is there a post-doc-thesis like we have it in Germany ("Habilitation")?

]]> Hi Jenny,

is there a post-doc-thesis like we have it in Germany ("Habilitation")?

]]> <![CDATA[By: lydia1981]]> In Holland, you have to write a thesis when you do your B.A, your M.A. and of course also if you want to have a PhD

]]> In Holland, you have to write a thesis when you do your B.A, your M.A. and of course also if you want to have a PhD

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> I think a lot of American universities only require students to write a thesis if they want to graduate with honors. (Obviously, it's not the only requirement...)

]]> I think a lot of American universities only require students to write a thesis if they want to graduate with honors. (Obviously, it's not the only requirement...)

]]> <![CDATA[By: RJ]]> In the US undergraduate degrees sometimes work as John says, allowing one to graduate with honors having written a short thesis. A master's degree usually requires a thesis but many programs have an extra coursework option. Comprehensive exams are usually required in both cases. The PhD of course requires a dissertation (a large thesis). In my case I wrote a Masters thesis because it allowed me to finish quicker. (I am the kind of guy that will sleep in the lab to get finished). Others are more suited to the extra coursework option since finding time to be in the lab is a problem. (Of course if its not a science degree there is no lab.)

Henning- I dont believe that post doc work in the US requires a paper but at this stage most people will publish their work anyway.

]]> In the US undergraduate degrees sometimes work as John says, allowing one to graduate with honors having written a short thesis. A master's degree usually requires a thesis but many programs have an extra coursework option. Comprehensive exams are usually required in both cases. The PhD of course requires a dissertation (a large thesis). In my case I wrote a Masters thesis because it allowed me to finish quicker. (I am the kind of guy that will sleep in the lab to get finished). Others are more suited to the extra coursework option since finding time to be in the lab is a problem. (Of course if its not a science degree there is no lab.)

Henning- I dont believe that post doc work in the US requires a paper but at this stage most people will publish their work anyway.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> My 4th year students write a 论文 but I would translate this as a 'long essay' or 'fourth year project'. Most Chinese undergraduates would complete this requirement without much formal instruction in research methodology. Just my view.

As an aside, and in my province, many 4th year students in China are enjoying freedoms in living arrangements not afforded them in previous years. With that, and learning to drive, and trying to find a job, they don't have a lot of time to focus on their topic. :)

]]> My 4th year students write a 论文 but I would translate this as a 'long essay' or 'fourth year project'. Most Chinese undergraduates would complete this requirement without much formal instruction in research methodology. Just my view.

As an aside, and in my province, many 4th year students in China are enjoying freedoms in living arrangements not afforded them in previous years. With that, and learning to drive, and trying to find a job, they don't have a lot of time to focus on their topic. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: JasonSch]]> A friend of a friend of mine did his masters at Harvard doing documentaries mostly focused on China. (His undergrad was in East Asian Studies, and he spent about 5 years in China before doing his post-grad work) His biggest production that I know of is a film that follows the lives of a group of migrant workers (construction workers) from Sichuan. I haven't seen it myself, but I've heard it's quite good and it's been well received. I'll try to find a link, or more info for anyone that's interested. 

]]> A friend of a friend of mine did his masters at Harvard doing documentaries mostly focused on China. (His undergrad was in East Asian Studies, and he spent about 5 years in China before doing his post-grad work) His biggest production that I know of is a film that follows the lives of a group of migrant workers (construction workers) from Sichuan. I haven't seen it myself, but I've heard it's quite good and it's been well received. I'll try to find a link, or more info for anyone that's interested. 

]]> <![CDATA[By: JasonSch]]> There is actually a temporary housing unit for the workers who are building a hotel on the Cpod office's street (also where I live) that's been up for almost a year now. Walking by it often over the last while, I'd say the most common leisurely activity I see people taking part in is definitely cards. (sometimes very late at night as well) I haven't noticed any gambling, but I wasn't paying a lot of attention. Maybe they're just playing 斗地主, you never know. :)

]]> There is actually a temporary housing unit for the workers who are building a hotel on the Cpod office's street (also where I live) that's been up for almost a year now. Walking by it often over the last while, I'd say the most common leisurely activity I see people taking part in is definitely cards. (sometimes very late at night as well) I haven't noticed any gambling, but I wasn't paying a lot of attention. Maybe they're just playing 斗地主, you never know. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: in_montreal]]> Yes, I would be interested in having that link. This year, I saw a great (sad and slow) documentary called 归途列车 Last Train Home (Le Dernier Train) by 范立欣 (Fan Li Xin). It's about parents from Sichuan who work in Guangzhou. In this film, they don't appear to have any free time at all. But it really focused on another issue (the relationship of parent and child) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Train_Home_%28film%29

]]> Yes, I would be interested in having that link. This year, I saw a great (sad and slow) documentary called 归途列车 Last Train Home (Le Dernier Train) by 范立欣 (Fan Li Xin). It's about parents from Sichuan who work in Guangzhou. In this film, they don't appear to have any free time at all. But it really focused on another issue (the relationship of parent and child) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Train_Home_%28film%29

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> 不能这么说啊！我们大多数同学都是用半年以上的时间来写研究生毕业论文的。一辈子都忘不了那段痛苦的日子！

]]> 不能这么说啊！我们大多数同学都是用半年以上的时间来写研究生毕业论文的。一辈子都忘不了那段痛苦的日子！

]]> <![CDATA[By: alexyzye]]> Is 农民工 only used to refer to peasant farmers who moved to the cities to do labor work? What about other types of migrant workers, such as foreign domestic helpers or multi-national expats?

]]> Is 农民工 only used to refer to peasant farmers who moved to the cities to do labor work? What about other types of migrant workers, such as foreign domestic helpers or multi-national expats?

]]> <![CDATA[By: timlb]]> You're right that in the US post doc work doesn't usually require a paper, but its reason for existing at all is to provide funds and time for research, so it's assumed that publishing will be an eventual result.

US graduate schools, for Masters students, often allow them to choose thesis, report (a shorter thesis, more like a term paper), or extra coursework. Some doctoral degrees don't require a dissertation, but the Ph.D. does, as it is specifically a research degree. In addition to being larger than a thesis, it usually is required to be considered a unique contribution to the knowledge in a particular field (this also separates it from a Masters thesis, which can be such a contribution but often isn't).

My dissertation (1992) was on Chinese music. :-)

I think that in Canada the thesis is for the Ph.D. (that is, the terms are flipped vis-a-vis the US terms)

]]> You're right that in the US post doc work doesn't usually require a paper, but its reason for existing at all is to provide funds and time for research, so it's assumed that publishing will be an eventual result.

US graduate schools, for Masters students, often allow them to choose thesis, report (a shorter thesis, more like a term paper), or extra coursework. Some doctoral degrees don't require a dissertation, but the Ph.D. does, as it is specifically a research degree. In addition to being larger than a thesis, it usually is required to be considered a unique contribution to the knowledge in a particular field (this also separates it from a Masters thesis, which can be such a contribution but often isn't).

My dissertation (1992) was on Chinese music. :-)

I think that in Canada the thesis is for the Ph.D. (that is, the terms are flipped vis-a-vis the US terms)

]]> <![CDATA[By: alexyzye]]> When I was doing my post-graduate studies (many years ago), I was told that the "thesis" was the proposal or topic to be studied, and the "dissertation" was the report/essay I produced at the end of it. So I was writing a dissertation, not a thesis.

Is 论文 more like the thesis or the dissertation?

]]> When I was doing my post-graduate studies (many years ago), I was told that the "thesis" was the proposal or topic to be studied, and the "dissertation" was the report/essay I produced at the end of it. So I was writing a dissertation, not a thesis.

Is 论文 more like the thesis or the dissertation?

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaoxue101]]> 我今天刚才写完了硕士论文. 太好了! phew. :-)
]]> 我今天刚才写完了硕士论文. 太好了! phew. :-)
]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaoxue101]]> Hey alexyzye,

I have always been confused about the difference between the two. When I did my BA in the UK, we had to write a dissertation. But I've just finished my Master's degree (which I did at a Belgian university) and that required writing a thesis.

So, in fact, I'm still confused! I guess I'll just carry on using 论文for both, until someone tells me otherwise.

]]> Hey alexyzye,

I have always been confused about the difference between the two. When I did my BA in the UK, we had to write a dissertation. But I've just finished my Master's degree (which I did at a Belgian university) and that required writing a thesis.

So, in fact, I'm still confused! I guess I'll just carry on using 论文for both, until someone tells me otherwise.

]]> <![CDATA[By: danchao]]> Well, multi-national expats are definitely not 农民工. Perhaps they can be called 老外工, haha (I have no clue, don't take that seriously).

]]> Well, multi-national expats are definitely not 农民工. Perhaps they can be called 老外工, haha (I have no clue, don't take that seriously).

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> I don't know how common this is around China but a lot of 农民工 where I live are in the city M - F and go home (to the country) for the weekend. So they don't all 'move to the city' as such. Hence, traffic on Monday morning is horrendous - they stream back for the start of the working week. (Things generally do go 7 days a week in China, but there are enough people on the M - F grind for it to be noticeable.)

]]> I don't know how common this is around China but a lot of 农民工 where I live are in the city M - F and go home (to the country) for the weekend. So they don't all 'move to the city' as such. Hence, traffic on Monday morning is horrendous - they stream back for the start of the working week. (Things generally do go 7 days a week in China, but there are enough people on the M - F grind for it to be noticeable.)

]]> <![CDATA[By: timlb]]> xiaoxue101， 恭喜恭喜！

]]> xiaoxue101， 恭喜恭喜！

]]> <![CDATA[By: weibwo]]> I would be interested in the link also. As to the question of whether a thesis is required it depends on the University and the discipline. I currently have a business where I assist Chinese students who are getting their PHD or Masters at an American University or Chinese who want to get into print in an English language learned journal or professionsl magazine. I use a Socratic method by discussing with the student what they are trying to get across their readers. So is also a didactic exercise as well. When they are through they are capable of Western Critical thinking. I have attended graduate classes in China on various subjects and it still seems like the 8 legged process where the instructor puts out the information and then expects to get the same thing back when testing the student. Certainly not the Western way of education. Chinese students don't see to be responsible for thinking on their own in the Chinese tradition but I could be wrong.

]]> I would be interested in the link also. As to the question of whether a thesis is required it depends on the University and the discipline. I currently have a business where I assist Chinese students who are getting their PHD or Masters at an American University or Chinese who want to get into print in an English language learned journal or professionsl magazine. I use a Socratic method by discussing with the student what they are trying to get across their readers. So is also a didactic exercise as well. When they are through they are capable of Western Critical thinking. I have attended graduate classes in China on various subjects and it still seems like the 8 legged process where the instructor puts out the information and then expects to get the same thing back when testing the student. Certainly not the Western way of education. Chinese students don't see to be responsible for thinking on their own in the Chinese tradition but I could be wrong.

]]> <![CDATA[By: gaopeng]]> 我上大学的时候，我些了一篇论文。我的专业是经济和中文（ 我是双专），所以我决定些一篇关于三峡水坝的文论。我从经济的，环境的，还有社会的角度进行理论分析。我的大学也给我科研津贴，所以我借这个机会为了到中国去看三峡。非常有意思。

怎么说 “Senior Thesis"？ ”大四论文“ 还是 ”四年级论文”？

]]> 我上大学的时候，我些了一篇论文。我的专业是经济和中文（ 我是双专），所以我决定些一篇关于三峡水坝的文论。我从经济的，环境的，还有社会的角度进行理论分析。我的大学也给我科研津贴，所以我借这个机会为了到中国去看三峡。非常有意思。

怎么说 “Senior Thesis"？ ”大四论文“ 还是 ”四年级论文”？

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> "Senior Thesis" 跟中国的"毕业论文"不一样，叫"大四论文"可能更合适。

在中国上大学，大四要毕业的时候，每个人都要写一篇跟专业相关的毕业论文，论文通过答辩了，才能毕业。这是强制性的。

对于文科生来说，写论文是最头痛的一件事。因为平时选修的一些课程，老师在课程结束的时候，可能也会让学生们写一篇论文，这种叫做课程论文。有时候一个学期要写很多课程论文。

]]> "Senior Thesis" 跟中国的"毕业论文"不一样，叫"大四论文"可能更合适。

在中国上大学，大四要毕业的时候，每个人都要写一篇跟专业相关的毕业论文，论文通过答辩了，才能毕业。这是强制性的。

对于文科生来说，写论文是最头痛的一件事。因为平时选修的一些课程，老师在课程结束的时候，可能也会让学生们写一篇论文，这种叫做课程论文。有时候一个学期要写很多课程论文。

]]> <![CDATA[By: mk1977]]> Yeah it's confusing.

In the UK the one you do for a Master's is generally referred to as a 'dissertation', and the one for PhD a 'thesis', i.e. the opposite of the American (and other) naming.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thesis_or_dissertation

I have a Chinese friend with a UK Masters who was told she was arrogant by a prospective employer for referring to her Masters 'dissertation' on her CV...

]]> Yeah it's confusing.

In the UK the one you do for a Master's is generally referred to as a 'dissertation', and the one for PhD a 'thesis', i.e. the opposite of the American (and other) naming.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thesis_or_dissertation

I have a Chinese friend with a UK Masters who was told she was arrogant by a prospective employer for referring to her Masters 'dissertation' on her CV...

]]> <![CDATA[By: gaopeng]]> 谢谢你！你解释得很清楚。

]]> 谢谢你！你解释得很清楚。

]]>