Help Needed: Surviving Year-Long Placement with Mid-Semester Report

[The_shadow]

Hi guys,

I'm an undergraduate studying at uni currently on a year long "placement". I say "placement", more like "do meaningless tasks that benefit my advisor and his research" - but ultimately nothing to do with my thesis. Anyway since my advisor puts in no effort and the university have completely abandoned me (This is what I get for being the top student - lesson for you folks, don't bother). Anyway I have a mid semester report due and its worth about 10% of my overall degree. All I have been given in the way of advice is the data and time at which its due. Great. So my question is this - what do I need to include?? I assume the structure is say:

Introduction - observations, data reduction ect??
method? how much detail do I go into?
What I will do - yeah like I have any freaking idea

Its a 2000 word limit. I'm working with Hubble and Chandra data. I really need advice - its ridiculous I'm a third year under grad and expected to produce Ph.D. quality research with nothing more that a library card and thesis title! Have had no training in thesis writing dissertation or anything - I've been sat in a class room for the last two years studying - This is way to much pressure!

Any and all coments welcome. Thanks guys!

 

[Chronos]

Find examples of well received past papers. They will serve as a template to follow. I would imagine your advisor is willing to help upon request. This is more a test of your research and organizational skills. I doubt anyone is expecting a thesis quality paper with this excercise. Arxix is another resource you can consult for examples of how ]and sometimes how not] to organize a paper. Whatever you do, do not forget to give citations!