I'm one of those read an article and make an outline of it then go through that outline to compose a short report. I'll do this with several articles then in the end I will combine them all into one usable piece.

Of course it is completely natural. Just goes to show that you do not want for complacency but for a change of pace and that is good. Until you find what it is you REALLY want to do in your field it's always good to shop around and see what else is out there.

It really all depends on where you wish to go in your field. The old saying used to be, and still rings true, publish or perish. I fyouw ant to advance and garner a higher wage than publish and hope it received well.

Your first mistake is probably trying too hard to get noticed by your peers - what makes them so difficult to befriend? You're in your 20's and they are in their 30's - there has to be some sort of common ground. Maybe they feel you're too standoffish? Now - the whole doing something big thing - that's the movies. So and so doing something HUGE at 15 is few and far between. Just remember you are your own person - don't hold yourself to some standard you can't reach.

You seriously need to recharge your batteries - school be damned. If you fall apart completely you will really be in hardship. Go out - have fun - blow off steam. get to a pub and get fall down stupored.

Think about who is reading your thesis and see what they like and don't like then go that way to begin constructing your introduction. Look at your thesis outline and run it down in a constructive manner as your introduction.

I'm guilty of the same thing but you have to get over the laziness of life. Get started on the PhD stuff now - get yourself acclimated to the routine so you will not falter and screw over your work when it counts toward your PhD.

It is not a bad idea to take on a partner of sorts - especially someone who has been published prior. Just keep your name first even if they don't contribute much to it - it's a foot in the publishing door. Also - fight for your ground if you think it's worth fighting for - might gain you some respect from your professor. If you have the money handy you could hire a writer to polish your actual writing to make it more acceptable.

I pretty much consider anything you do between the course of actually getting stuff done is work. It's still a sort of labor - not your fault you had to wait for this or that - still counts.

Ok - first things first.. breathe! If your professor wants you to write a paper with him and do a lecture then OBVIOUSLY you are good at what you are doing so stop being your own worst critic. It sounds as if you have some anxiety issues you need to work out before being fully successful in your field.