Project (Sem B

2014):
A brief
guideline
For any enquiry, please contact
Dr. Caesar LUN
Final Year Project Coordinator
ctslun@cityu.edu.hk

Outline
What is FYP?
When to take it?
Why?
How?

How to register?
How is it graded?

Who can help me if any problems?

What is BAL Final Year

Project?

Overall design of BAL programme

Taught courses
core
elective
plus university language requirements

Final year projects

CTL4235 Project, for 1 sem, 3 credits
CTL4236 Extended Project, for 1 yr, 6 credits

When to take FYP?

Dear Dr. Lun,

I am Carol Chan, a BAL Year 2 student I

was told that every BAL student had to take a
final year project before graduation. Can I take
it now?

Answer: No.

FYP is designed for final year students.

Exception: if Year 2 is your final year

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Why final year project?

Scenario:
Since youve learnt so much linguistic
knowledge, and learnt many skills, in so
many taught courses

Syntax, semantics, pragmatics,

Phonetics and phonology
Programming for language technology,
computational linguistics,

Why final year project?

Questions to ask:

Can you apply such knowledge to some real

problem(s) ?

Do you want to learn for yourself some

more, and deeper, knowledge on some
specific language-related topic ?

Knowledge technology

Technology = ?

Application of learnt knowledge to resolve

practical problems

What problems?

Can you identify some problem,

or, ask you supervisor to help you identify it

and, then, resolve it?

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Research = acquiring
knowledge

Research = ?

Application of your learning skills to learn more,

mostly by teaching yourself

What to learn?

you find it out,

or, ask you supervisor to help you to find it out

and then, learn it, by

reading, or experimenting or
surveying, or designing and
implementing

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How to proceed?
Step 1: Registration

Just like taking other courses, you have to

register for a final year project.

When to register?

Choices: Sem A or Sem B

It is preferred that you register slightly before the
beginning of a semester

Which semester should I

choose?

If you intend to do (or simply not to give

up your own opportunity for doing) an
extended project for 6 credits, you should
register for Sem. A.

If you have made up your mind to do a 3

credit project only, you can do it in Sem. A
or B.

If you choose to register for Sem. B, that means you choose

to give up the chance for doing an extended project for 2
semesters
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Whos going to supervise

me?
Step 2: Supervision

At the mean time of registration, you find by

yourself a supervisor who is willing to supervise
you

How?
your interest? professors research interests &
expertise? any match?
talk to them, and find the right one
it is your own choice, not theirs!
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What research topic

should I choose for my FYP?

Follow the following steps

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

identify a small number of research fields of

your own interest
and a small number of supervisor candidates;
talk to them;
choose a supervisor and a research field;
talk to you supervisor and determine a research
topic that both of you agree to work on.

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Then, you can start

Working on your project

Questions:

what is a final year project supervisor for?

let us find some tasks for him/her!

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Fifth week of your project

You have to submit the following to our Bb

site in order to validate your registration
Student name and CityU ID
Supervisor name
Research topic (or project title)
Abstract: 200 words, outlining what youre
going to do
Research schedule (or milestones)
Caution:
Failing to do so may lead to invalid
registration!
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What is a supervisor for?

Guide you, if necessarily, to find an appropriate

research topic and a supervisor at the beginning
of your project

Give you advice for technical problems during

your project

It is wise to talk to him if any doubt or questions

E.g., project extended project?

Remind your supervisor when to do what for you

Meet with him/or for 15 minutes every week at
least.
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When to submit project

report?

Conventionally, right before or after

examination period

The same deadline for all students.

Any penalty for late submission?

Yes.
Conventionally, one grade down per calendar
day.
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How is my project graded?

By your supervisor and a second assessor

(if any)

Final grade =60% supervisors grade +

40% 2nd assessors grade

Grading criteria

overall performance during the semester

report quality (content, organization & language)
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Who is your 2nd assessor?

Conventionally, your supervisor will find

one for you if s/he feels necessary.

An expert with expertise in the field of your

research.

If you have a favorite one in mind, talk to

you supervisor.

But the decision is solely up to your supervisor.

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Workload for a project = ?

Project

3 credits
Workload HWs for a 3-credit class

Extended Project

6 credits
Workload 2 x HWs for a 3-credit class

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How about if I cant finish

If you are unable to carry out a project, you cant

get the credits.

If you are unable to complete your project in time,

you cannot graduate in time.

This happened before!

Q: If I am unable to complete my 3-credit

Project in Sem. A, can I re-take it in Sem.
B?

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Options for late completion

An I (=incomplete) grade will be given as the
temporary grade for your project.
It will automatically turn into F in 4 weeks, if
no grade is given afterall.

that is, you have 4 extra weeks to finish your project.

if you can make it, you may get a minimal grade (usually D)
for passing - to be fair to students who have finished on time.

How about re-taking it in the following

semester?
Yes, for sure, but the best grade you may probably get is also a
minimal grade for passing.
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Which project should I

choose?

Relevant factors

The number of credits you wish to achieve by

taking FYP
3
6

Your interest and progress

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Strategy

If you have made up your mind for an Extended

Project, consult your supervisor first, and then do
it.

Of course, register first

If you are not sure (e.g., not sure whether you

can handle CTL4236, or not sure if you want to
do it, )

A wise strategy for you:

try CTL4235 first

transfer to CTL4236 later

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When to transfer?

Any time during your project

Usually near the end of a semester
Before you have started writing up your project report
depending on your progress and performance
important: two projects <> one extend project
Definitely not after the examination period!
(In particular, not after exam board meeting!)
Consult your supervisor: You need both your
supervisor and course coordinators consent

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What kinds of work can I

do?

Field work, e.g., data collection & analysis

Phonetics & phonology
psycholinguistics
Theoretical work, e.g., syntax, semantics
Studies of some particular theory, problem,
linguistics school, researchers work
Technology development, e.g., computational
linguistics
System implementation, technical review,
termbank construction,
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What to do next?

Register for it right away!

Find a supervisor early next week
Submit your first FTP assignment by the beginning of
the 5th week in order to validate your registration:
Full name, CityU ID
Supervisor
Title or topic of your project
Abstract
Milestones
And come to see me any time you need

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Then,
Work very very hard with your supervisor

Think and plan well

Manage your time reasonably
Write in good English with the right style and
proper format
Enjoy the whole process and learn something
about doing research and writing academic
paper.

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