JAMES: Could I ask for some advice about writing the paper I'm working on about the Vikings?

詹姆斯：您可以给我一点建议吗，关于我正在写的论文，有关维京人的。

I have to do that this week, and I'm a bit stuck.

我必须要在这周内完成，我遇到点困难。

BETH: Of course. Have you decided yet what to write about?

贝丝：当然。你已经决定好要写什么了吗？

JAMES: No, I haven't.

詹姆斯：不，没有。

There's so much that seems interesting - Viking settlement in other countries, trade, mythology...

有太多有感兴趣的话题了——维京人定居其他国家，贸易，神话……

BETH: Well, what I suggest is that you read an assignment a student wrote last year, which is kept in the library.

贝丝：好的，我的建议是你读一篇去年学生写的作业，可以在图书馆找到。

It's short and well focused, and I'm sure you'll find it helpful.

文章简洁并且要点集中，我保证你会觉得很有帮助。

I'll give you the details in a moment.

我一会儿给你一些细节。

Textbooks usually cover so many topics, it can be very difficult to choose just one.

课本上通常会包含很多话题，从中选择一个会非常困难。

JAMES: OK. I've got a DVD of the film about the Vikings that came out earlier this year.

詹姆斯：好的。我有一张光盘，是关于维京人的电影，是今年早期出版的。

Should I watch that again?

我应该再看一遍吗？

BETH: If it's the one I am thinking of, hmm, I'd ignore it - it's more fantasy than reality.

贝丝：如果是我想的那种，额，就不用看了——那个比事实更虚幻一些。

But I've got a recording of a documentary that you should watch.

但是我有一套纪录片，你应该看一下。

It makes some interesting and provocative points, which I think will help you to focus your topic.

里面有一些有趣的，和激进的观点，我相信会帮助你聚焦你的话题。

JAMES: Right.

詹姆斯：好的。

JAMES: So then should I work out an outline?

詹姆斯：所以我应该列提纲吗？

BETH: Yes. Just headings for different sections, at this stage.

贝丝：是的。只是把每个部分的标题列一下就行了，就到这个程度就可以。

And then you should start looking for suitable articles and books to draw on, and take notes which you organise according to those headings.

然后你应该开始寻找合适的文章和书籍借鉴参考，记笔记。根据那些标题组织内容。

JAMES: I see.

詹姆斯：我明白了。

BETH: Then put short phrases and sentences as bullet points under each heading.

贝丝：然后在每个标题下列出短语和句子作为要点。

Make sure that this skeleton makes sense and flows properly, before writing up the paper in full.

确保提纲有意义并且行文流畅，接下来在完整的写全文。

JAMES: OK. Thanks, that's very helpful.

詹姆斯：好的。谢谢，非常有帮助。