[img]2014m9s/ct_etoefm_etoeflistz_0397_20149[/img] [br] Listen to Track 69.[img]

Narrator
Listen to a conversation between a student and a professor.
Student
Hi, uh ... Professor Anderson ... wondering if you had a couple minutes ...
Professor
Of course, Paula ...
Student
Thanks ... uh, you sent me a letter recently about doing, uh, an honors project—inviting me to come in and talk about...
Professor
Right, right, well, as your academic advisor, it’s my job to look out for your academic interests, and based on your grades, and some very positive feedback I’ve heard from your professors, I wanted to formally invite you to consider doing an honors project...
Student
Yeah ... well, thanks ... uh, actually I kinda wanted to ask you ... quite frankly—like how much work it would probably be? I mean, I’m gonna be spending a lot of time applying to law schools next semester and . ..
Professor
Well, let me tell you how it works ... and then you can decide from there.
Student
OK.
Professor
Basically, the honors project is an opportunity to do . . . some in-depth work on a topic you’re interested in before graduating college. You register for the class, but it doesn’t work the same way a regular class does—you find a professor who you want to work with—you ask the professor—a sort of mentor who’s knowledgeable on the topic you’re interested in—the topic you’re gonna write your honors thesis on ...
Student
Writing a thesis? That’s part of the project? Ah, like how many pages are we talking?
Professor
Usually about 50 ... but it’s a valuable experience, writing a thesis paper.
Student
So, basically, after I register for the class, I need to ask a professor who’ll sorta help me...
Professor
Actually, you need to do that—a professor needs to agree to oversee your honors project—before you register.
Student
Oh, OK ...
Professor
I mean, I know it sounds kinda daunting, but that’s what the professor’s there for—to help guide you through the different steps of the process and . . . uh ... most students are very pleased with the experience ... they’re able to demonstrate advanced research skills, which is important; especially in your case, writing an honors thesis would be a big plus ...
Student
You think so?
Professor
Absolutely. Especially considering your plans, since you’re applying to law schools. It shows initiative, that you’ve done well as an undergraduate—to be allowed to do the honors project... that you’re able to work independently and, of course, you would graduate with honors ...
Student
Yeah, it does sound good—it’s just, you know, I’ve never written something like that before, so ...
Professor
Well, you choose something you’re interested in—maybe you can even expand a shorter research paper from another class or...
Student
So, like, maybe .. . You know, I took this course from Professor Connelly—his course on Comparative Governments last semester and, uh .. . did pretty well—I wrote a paper actually, on political parties in Venezuela and—and he seemed to like my research. Anyway, he, uh, I got an A in the course.
Professor
Good, so it sounds like you do have a general idea for a topic, and you might know what professor you want to work with . .. and look, it’s still a couple weeks before registration, maybe you should talk to Professor Connelly and then get back to me.
Student
Yeah, I will—thanks. I’ll come by again sometime next week.
Professor
That’s fine. Good luck.

Narrator
What does Professor Anderson imply when he says this:
Professor
... they’re able to demonstrate advanced research skills, which is important; especially in your case, writing an honors thesis would be a big plus …