project work / project paper
Loading your saved state.
project work
A form of work or learning in which a complex task (a project) is worked on over a certain period of time, often in a team. It is frequently used in schools, universities, and companies to promote practice-oriented work.
Für das Fach Biologie müssen wir eine Projektarbeit über das Ökosystem Wald erstellen.
For biology class, we have to create a project work on the forest ecosystem.
The word is composed of 'Projekt' (project) and 'Arbeit' (work). The 's' between them is a linking s, which connects the two words. So the meaning is literally the work you do for a project.
Unsere Projektarbeit im Team war sehr erfolgreich.
Our project work as a team was very successful.
The verb often reveals whether the process of working or the finished document is meant. Verbs such as 'erstellen' (to create) or 'arbeiten an' (to work on) refer to the process, while 'abgeben' (to hand in), 'schreiben' (to write), or 'benoten' (to grade) refer to the document.
Wir arbeiten gerade an einer komplizierten Projektarbeit.
We are currently working on a complicated project work.
When the work process is meant, the word is often combined with verbs such as 'durchführen' (to carry out), 'erstellen' (to create), or 'präsentieren' (to present). The phrase 'an einer Projektarbeit arbeiten' (to work on a project work) is also very common.
Die Schüler müssen in Gruppen eine Projektarbeit erstellen.
The students have to create a project work in groups.
When it is about the finished document, typical verbs are 'schreiben' (to write), 'abgeben' (to hand in), 'einreichen' (to submit), and 'benoten' (to grade). These describe how the written result is handled.
Der Professor wird unsere Projektarbeiten nächste Woche benoten.
The professor will grade our project papers next week.
project
'das Projekt' and 'die Projektarbeit' are closely related, but they are not the same thing. 'Projekt' means the whole planned undertaking, with a goal, time frame, and tasks. 'Projektarbeit' can be the way you work on a project, often in a team and over a longer period of time. In school or university, 'Projektarbeit' can also mean the finished written result or product. The words are easy to confuse because you do Projektarbeit while working on a Projekt, and at the end you might hand in a Projektarbeit. If you mean the undertaking, say 'Projekt'. If you mean the form of work or the written assignment, say 'Projektarbeit'.
Im Kurs schreibt du keine normale Klausur, sondern gibst eine Projektarbeit ab.
In the course, you do not write a normal exam; instead, you hand in a project paper.
Ihr habt am Abend das Projekt für die Prüfung fertig geplant.
In the evening, you finished planning the project for the exam.