Tips for the in-Depth Study Project
The in-depth study project is an opportunity to delve deep into a topic that interests you. NDLA offers a varied list of project suggestions. You can either choose one of these tasks, draw inspiration from them to create your own project, or you may choose to design your own project from scratch - this is up to you.
When working on your project, it is important that you know the difference between reliable and unreliable sources, and that you use appropriate references and have a full list of sources.
Beginning the project
Discuss the time frame of the project with your teacher and decide together how extensive it should be. You may also want to agree on a certain number of pages of source material to read.
Also discuss with your teacher what the product should be. Will you write a text or give a presentation for the class? Or perhaps you will make an audio-recording or a film?
Talk to your teacher about how the project will be assessed. This should be clear before you start, as it will give you a goal to work towards. When assessing in-depth projects, the following points are usually emphasised:
a clear thesis statement that is discussed throughout the presentation or text
a good understanding of the topic
strong language skills (relevant and varied vocabulary, clear sentence structure, clear pronunciation, etc.)
a logical and well-structured presentation of the material
correct use of relevant sources and the inclusion of a source list
Choosing a topic
Many choose the path of least resistance when choosing a topic for the in-depth project by choosing something they already know well. While this is permissible, you should remember that you are expected to offer much more than your own thoughts and opinion in an in-depth project. You are expected to use sources and provide a critical analysis of these sources. If you choose to talk about your passion for ornithology or your encyclopaedic knowledge about cars, the project is likely to fall flat unless you can tie it to a thesis that allows for more in-depth research and discussion.
Don't be afraid to move out of your comfort zone to learn something new when working on an in-depth study project. Make sure it is easy to make a thesis statement for your topic, so that you have a good starting point for a thorough discussion. Also make sure you have a topic where you can use several different sources rather than personal experience or opinions.
Why have a thesis statement?
A thesis statement helps you to focus your presentation, and this will make it easier for you to find relevant sources. A clear thesis statement also helps you find a direction for the discussion.