mas.940 preparation for the master's thesis
 

Links
MAS Thesis FAQ
Style, research, & bibliographic pointers
Smith's "Six-chapter thesis"
Writing Practicum
How to
do research in the MIT AI Lab
 
 
 
 
Lorin Wilde
wilde@media.mit.edu
617 253 3612		 Andy Lippman
lip@media.mit.edu
617 253 5113 

 

Mondays 5:00-7:00 PM
room E15-054
see schedule for meeting days


 

Introduction
 The purpose of this course is to help you get through the thesis research process by focusing on a key step: designing a research proposal. 

As you know, this is the year where you write a thesis. Your thesis proposal will be evaluated by your advisor and the departmental committee for graduate studies (DCGS). mas940 is intended to help you organize your ideas, manage the scope of your proposal, plan for the structure and format of a thesis, and review your proposal with your classmates. It's easy to hide within the walls of your research group. This course gives you a chance to collaborate with others in the laboratory. 
Goals
  1. Each student will complete a thesis proposal. 
  2. Each student will discuss their research and their proposal with their classmates and other peers. 
Readings
  • Strunk Jr., W. & White, E.B. (1999). The Elements of Style. Allyn & Bacon.  

  • Barzun, Jacques (1985). Simple and Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers. Harper&Row  
Schedule    
Class 1
 Mon, 9 Sept
5:00-7:00PM 		 Introduction:
MAS Thesis Proposal Requirements
(Linda Peterson) 
discussion: "Introductions."
Assignment 1 

Due Thurs. 9/19
(5PM)

Answer the 5 Questions
Prepare a four minute presentation of your work.

Class 2
 Tues, 24 Sep
5:00-7:00PM 		 Types of Theses
discussion: "What is the problem?"
research presentations
Assignment 2 
 Due Thurs. 10/3
(5PM)

Annotated reference
1. local
2. external, peer-reviewed
 Class 3
 Mon, 7 Oct
5:00-7:00PM

Proposal Content,
Structure and Format
discussion:"Titles, Abstracts and Introductions."
research presentations
Assignment 3
 Due Thurs. 10/31
(5PM)		 write a 2-3 page abstract
prepare illustrations
Class 4
 Mon, 21 Oct
5:00-7:00PM

How To: Do Research
How To: Peer Review
discussion: "Create a How To Manual"
Assignment 4
 Due Thurs. 10/31
(5PM)		 Draft How To Manual
 Class 5
 Mon, 4 Nov
5:00-7:00PM 
Introduction to Peer Reviews
Peer critique of research
Assignment 5
 Due Mon. 11/18
(5PM)		 Draft proposal
 Class 6
Proposal drafts due to instructors!
Mon, 18 Nov
5:00-7:00PM 
Peer Reviews

 
 Class 7
 Mon, 2 Dec
5:00-7:00PM 
Revise How To Manual
Slidetalk and Web site presentations
discussion: Revision Ideas