Claude Lévi-Strauss is quoted to have said “The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, he’s one who asks the right questions.” What is the question your work is trying to answer?
In this class, each student formulates his/her research question and begin the formulation of the unknown.
At the end of the session, each student is able to express his/her subject in a single, clear and motivating question.
The classes on February 1st & 8 are dedicated to coaching, on an appointment basis only.
Summary of January 28th Class (By Estève Giraud):
1) Introduction of the course(10 min)
Which grade would you give to your courses this semester? Why? Compared to the previous semester?
Chat with the students. Ask them how they feel about their workload and the other teachers.
2) Students’ presentations of their topic(45min)
Where they are in the process, what they want to do with their thesis, their challenges.
Try to help them to focus during their thinking. Mirror effect of their speech and guidelines for furthering their work. Encourage them, give them ideas.
3) Small group thinking: express your inner interests(20 min)
Why are you interested in this topic? Why is it important to you?
Connect their global interest on the topic to an inner interest
4) Summary (15 min)
What did you lean during the class?
In short:
Be proactive with your topic: read about it, talk about it, write about it
Do not wait for your supervisor’s availability to start searching
Write often not to lose your ideas, it will be a material for the draft
Use a dedicated file to your thesis including all your notes
Make a bibliography as a “to-read” check list
Personally engage with the topic you chose
Follow your intuition in research
Praise yourself and keep your intrinsic motivation
