Upper-Intermediate - Discussing a Thesis Topic with an Advisor (D1468)

A: 潘宇,你论文准备写什么?
Pān Yǔ, nǐ lùnwén zhǔnbèi xiě shénme?
Pan Yu, what are you preparing to write your thesis on?
B: 我想写关于农民工生活的。
wǒ xiǎng xiě guānyú nóngmíngōng shēnghuó de.
I want to write about the lives of migrant workers.
A: 农民工生活?这个选题已经有很多人做过了,想创新还是有一定的难度的。
nóngmíngōng shēnghuó? zhè ge xuǎntí yǐjīng yǒu hěn duō rén zuò guo le, xiǎng chuàngxīn háishì yǒu yīdìng de nándù de.
The lives of migrant workers? Too many people have already done this topic. If you want to do something new with it, it certainly won't be easy.
B: 我也觉得这个题目有点老套,不过我之前接触过一些农民工,我觉得可以挖掘一下他们的精神生活。
wǒ yě juéde zhè ge tímù yǒudiǎnr lǎotào, bùguò wǒ zhīqián jiēchù guo yīxiē nóngmíngōng, wǒ juéde kěyǐ wājué yīxià tāmen de jīngshén shēnghuó.
I think this subject is a little worn out as well, but I've come into contact with some migrant workers before, and I think I could dig a little deeper into how they spend their free time.
A: 哎,这个想法好,人们很少会关注弱势群体的精神生活。
āi, zhè ge xiǎngfǎ hǎo, rénmen hěnshǎo huì guānzhù ruòshì qúntǐ de jīngshén shēnghuó.
Hey, this is a good idea. People don't often focus on how disadvantaged groups spend their free time.
B: 是啊,精神文明和物质文明一样重要,而且,现在很多农民工手头宽裕了,精神生活也逐渐丰富起来。
shì a, jīngshén wénmíng hé wùzhì wénmíng yīyàng zhòngyào, érqiě, xiànzài hěn duō nóngmíngōng shǒutóu kuānyù le, jīngshén shēnghuó yě zhújiàn fēngfù qǐlái.
Yeah, the cultural world is just as important as the material world. Also, these days a lot of migrant workers are better off than in the past. Their cultural lives are gradually becoming richer.
A: 看来你早有准备啊,具体说说你的想法吧。
kànlai nǐ zǎo yǒu zhǔnbèi a, jùtǐ shuō shuo nǐ de xiǎngfǎ ba.
Looks like you've been prepared for quite a while. Tell me about what you're thinking specifically.
B: 前期我准备印一些调查问卷,去农民工聚集的企业和工厂发一下,了解一下目前的情况。再采访一些农民工。最后对结果进行理论分析,得出结论。
qiánqī wǒ zhǔnbèi yìn yīxiē diàochá wènjuàn, qù nóngmíngōng jùjí de qǐyè hé gōngchǎng fā yīxià, liǎojiě yīxià mùqián de qíngkuàng. zài cǎifǎng yīxiē nóngmíngōng. zuìhòu duì jiéguǒ jìnxíng lǐlùn fēnxī, déchū jiélùn.
For the first stage, I'll print some questionnaires. I'll then go to the businesses and factories where migrant workers are and learn a bit about the present situation. Then I'll interview some of the workers. In the end, I'll use the results to conduct theoretical analysis, then reach a conclusion.
A: 不错,但是我觉得还可以适当地加以引导。据我了解,有些农民工因为文化水平不高,工作之余会聚众赌博打发时间,在论文里可以推荐一些可行的办法,引导他们参与健康的娱乐活动。
bùcuò, dànshì wǒ juéde hái kěyǐ shìdàng de jiāyǐ yǐndǎo. jù wǒ liǎojiě, yǒuxiē nóngmíngōng yīnwèi wénhuà shuǐpíng bù gāo, gōngzuò zhīyú huì jùzhòng dǔbó dǎfā shíjiān, zài lùnwén lǐ kěyǐ tuījiàn yīxiē kěxíng de bànfǎ, yǐndǎo tāmen cānyù jiànkāng de yúlè huódòng.
Not bad, but I feel like you could also provide some guidance in a relevant way. As I understand it, because some migrant workers aren't very educated, when they get together outside of work, they gamble to whittle the time way. In your thesis, you could recommend some practical solutions and guide them towards some healthier recreational activities.
B: 嗯,我记下了。
ng4, wǒ jì xià le.
OK, I wrote that down.
A: 多看一些前人的研究成果。问卷的每一个问题都要好好设计,否则调查不出什么的。问卷做好后给我看一下。这个周末先确定题目,把提纲发给我。
duō kàn yīxiē qiánrén de yánjiū chéngguǒ. wènjuàn de měi yī ge wèntí dōu yào hǎohāo shèjì, fǒuzé diàochá bù chū shénme de. wènjuàn zuò hǎo hòu gěi wǒ kàn yīxià. zhè ge zhōumò xiān quèdìng tímù, bǎ tígāng fāgěi wǒ.
Really look into the existing research. Also, every question on the questionnaire must be carefully planned, otherwise nothing will come of it. After you've finished making the questionnaire, let me take a look at it. Have the subject finalized this weekend, and send me an outline.
B: 好的,胡老师。
hǎo de, Hú lǎoshī.
OK, Mr. Hu.
A: 要抓紧时间。下个月月底交初稿。
yào zhuājǐn shíjiān. xià ge yuè yuèdǐ jiāo chūgǎo.
You'll have to work quickly. At the end of next month you'll have to turn in a first draft.
B: 啊?这么快?
ǎ? zhème kuài?
Huh? That soon?

Key Vocabulary

论文 lùnwén thesis
农民工 nóngmíngōng migrant worker
选题 xuǎntí topic
创新 chuàngxīn to be innovative
老套 lǎotào outdated, cliché
挖掘 wājué to unearth, to excavate
弱势群体 ruòshì qúntǐ disadvantaged groups
精神文明 jīngshén wénmíng non-material civilization
物质文明 wùzhì wénmíng material civilization
宽裕 kuānyù comfortably-off
前期 qiánqī early stage
问卷 wènjuàn questionnaire
采访 cǎifǎng to interview
理论 lǐlùn theory
加以 jiāyǐ to undergo, to handle
引导 yǐndǎo to guide, to lead
可行 kěxíng practical, feasible
题目 tímù subject
提纲 tígāng outline
初稿 chūgǎo initial draft

Supplementary Vocabulary

强势 qiángshì advantaged
导师 dǎoshī supervisor, tutor
学士 xuéshì bachelor's degree
硕士 shuòshì master's degree
博士 bóshì doctoral degree
草稿 cǎogǎo draft
第二稿 dì èr gǎo second draft
定稿 dìnggǎo final draft

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